ALBION – A Rochester man who was found passed out in a car with drugs in his backpack was sentenced today to six months in the Orleans County Jail, plus five years on probation.

Malcolm Power, 21, pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on June 17 to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree.

Today he was sentenced by County Court Judge Sanford Church. The judge declined to only sentence Power to Probation and instead gave Power the maximum sentence in a plea agreement.

In other cases:

• Tony Thompson, 59, of Albion was arraigned on eight counts of drug charges for allegedly selling crack cocaine in the Village of Albion. Thompson was arrested on May 12.

Today he was arraigned on four counts each of criminal possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.

He was released on his own recognizance because the crimes aren’t bailable offenses.

• An inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility was offered a plea agreement where he could face four additional years in state prison for allegedly introducing dangerous contraband into the men’s prison in Albion.

James Kaiser, 51, allegedly had the precursors to make methamphetamine and also allegedly possessed 5.25 grams of meth.

He is charged with three counts of promoting prison contraband in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

If he pleads guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, he would face up to four more years in prison. He next appears in court on Oct. 14 to consider the plea offer.

Kaiser is currently serving a sentence of 3 years, 6 months for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

ALBION – An Albion man was sentenced to 4 years in state prison this morning in Orleans County Court.

Corey Wilson, 20, pleaded guilty to attempted possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He was charged after a traffic stop on July 21, 2025 in the town of Gaines. He allegedly had two containers of cocaine, including one with 2.17 ounces of cocaine, as well as a loaded gun.

Public Defender Joanne Best asked for less time in prison for Wilson, saying he is a young man with a family. As part of a plea agreement, he faced up to five years in prison. Best asked for 1 ½ or 2 years, plus 3 years of post-release supervision.

County Court Judge Sanford Church said Wilson was already on probation when he committed the crimes. The judge sentenced Wilson to four years in prison plus 1 ½ years of post-release supervision.

Wilson also needs to pay a $300 court surcharge, a $50 DNA fee, and $25 for a crime victims fee.

In other cases in court today:

• Christopher Bescherer, 44, of Albion was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for attempted aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Bescherer was driving without a license when he was in a car accident.

He was twice on probation where it was revoked for not following the guidelines.

He also was fined $500 and needs to pay $438 n other court surcharges and fees.

• Glenn Quintern, 67, of Rochester pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for his role in passing a fraudulent $5,500 certified check to Orleans Ford to buy a new pickup truck.

The truck was then delivered to Quintern’s residence when he lived in Batavia, and then taken the next day to New Jersey.

The pickup truck valued at $67,995. The scheme was orchestrated by Quintern’s ex-fiance. He admitted his role in handing off the fake check and then possessing the truck for the brief time.

He could face a 1 1/3 to 4-year sentence in state prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 18.

Quintern could have gone to trial, trying to convince a jury he didn’t realize the extent of the deception. But with second-degree grand larceny, he could have faced up to 15 years in prison if found guilty in a trial.

Quintern is being held in the county jail on $10,000 cash bail and $20,000 bond.

ALBION –  The owner of the D-R Smoke Shop in Albion today pleaded guilty to misdemeanor for criminal drug possession.

Mohammed Ayash, 36, of Buffalo won’t have to serve any time in jail or on probation. He also can keep the business open as long as he doesn’t have any more criminal offenses.

Ayash was charged last September with two felonies, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal nuisance in the first degree.

Through a  plea agreement, he admitted in court today to having chocolate bars infused with Psilocin, which is a controlled substance classified as a hallucinogen. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, which is an A misdemenaor.

Ayash needs to comply with any conditions imposed by the NYS Office of Cannabis Management. He currently has a license to sell tobacco products at 139 South Main St.

In other cases in County Court today:

• Glenn Quintern, 67, of Rochester was prepared to plead guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree for his role with a truck allegedly stolen from Orleans Ford.

Judge Sanford Church wanted more clarity in Quintern’s role in the crime. Quintern allegedly handed Orleans Ford a down payment of $5,500 towards a new pickup truck valued at $67,995. The check, however, was fraudulent.

Church wanted to know if it was a physical check or an electronic transfer. Quintern said he didn’t write a check, only passed along the funds from his former girlfriend without nowing there was a scheme to not pay Orleans Ford.

District Attorney Susan Howard said there are text messages between Quintern and the former girlfriend showing he was aware of the conspiracy.

The case will be back in court next Wednesday. The judge wants to see more evidence on how Quintern was involved with the crime.

As a second felony offender, if Quintern does plead guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree, he could face a 2 to 4 year sentence in state prison.

• The judge held a bail hearing for a woman with three prior felonies. Katie Loffler, 27, of Albion was charged on Sept. 1 with attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon in the third and fourth degrees.

Loffler allegedly tried to hit someone with her car on Sept. 1. She allegedly accelerated the vehicle towards someone, but didn’t hit the person.

The judge set bail at $1,000 cash, $5,000 bond or $20,000 with a partially secured bond.

• In the case against Aaron D’Angelo, who has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder, the judge set Oct. 1 at 1:30 p.m. for a Huntley hearing to determine which statements allegedly made by D’Angelo will be admissible.

Public Defender Joanne Best said there are five issues she wants to address at the hearing.

D’Angelo, 36, of Medina has been charged with second-degree murder and attempted murder after two brothers were stabbed on Feb. 7 in Shelby.

D’Angelo allegedly caused the death of Dale R. Lang, 65, who was pronounced deceased at the scene, 4643 South Gravel Road (Route 63). His brother John Lang, 67, also suffered multiple stab wounds and was transported to Medina Memorial Hospital and then Erie County Medical Center. John Lang has recovered after being stabbed about 20 times.

District Attorney Susan Howard in court on July 29 offered D’Angelo a plea agreement where if he pleads guilty to second-degree murder and attempted murder in the second degree, he would face a maximum of 20 years to life in prison.

ALBION – Two people were arraigned in Orleans County Court on Wednesday for felony drug possession and weapons charges.

Daniel Busch, 34, and Kayli Burrows, 28, both of Albion, were arraigned on two different indictments.

They both face charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree after being charged on April 30 for allegedly having 690 milligrams of cocaine as well as scales and baggies.

In a separate indictment, they face criminal possession of a weapon in the third and fourth degrees, as well as criminal possession of a controlled in the third degree allegedly for having on Sept. 14, 2025 a loaded handgun and 14-round large capacity magazine. Busch faces an additional charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree due to a prior conviction.

Both have been released on their own recognizance with conditions that they attend UConnectCare appointments and not break the law.

ALBION – An Albion man today was given the maximum of 1 to 3 years in state prison through a plea agreement.

Timothy Ausman Jr., 56, admitted in court on June 24 that he was driving under the influence of alcohol and without a license when he was driving recklessly in the village on May 18, crashing into two Albion patrol cars.

He also needs to pay the full restitution for repairing the cars at $14,320. That restitution covers the cost of repairs, towing and getting decals replaced. Ausman will need to pay back the village’s insurance company, NYMIR.

Ausman and his attorney, public defender Joanne Best, asked for mercy from County Court Judge Sanford Church, saying Ausman is a critical caregiver for an 8-year-old daughter with life-threatening kidney disease.

Ausman’s other daughter died from a kidney disease last year at age 8. After being sober for six years, Ausman said he struggled after his daughter’s death and returned to drinking alcohol.

He has already been in the jail for 101 days. Best asked for a split sentence of the local jail plus probation.

She acknowledged he has a criminal history but has no prior felonies the past 16 years.

On May 18, he was charged with petty larceny, and then drove a Chevrolet Trailblazer without a license. When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Ausman failed to comply and fled from officers through portions of the Village of Albion. Officers initiated a pursuit with emergency lights and sirens activated.

During the pursuit, Ausman allegedly failed to stop at multiple stop signs, drove on road shoulders and sidewalks, operated recklessly through residential neighborhoods, and repeatedly refused commands to stop his vehicle, the Albion Police Department said.

Officers attempted multiple controlled tactics to slow and stop the vehicle due to concerns for public safety and the belief that he was highly intoxicated driving near residential areas and public parks. The pursuit concluded on South Clinton Street after Ausman struck a patrol vehicle and lost control while entering a residential property.

“Unfortunately on that particular day things just unraveled for him,” Best said at sentencing this morning.

Ausman pleaded guilty on June 24 to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and attempted criminal mischief in the second degree.

Best asked that Ausman not be sentenced to state prison “so he can provide some comfort and care to his daughter.”

Ausman apologized and said he would be committed to his ailing daughter.

Judge Church said Ausman’s actions on may 18 put the community at risk, including police officers, other motorists and people in the neighborhoods due to his reckless driving.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ausman will need to pay $375 in court surcharges and fees.

Long-time Clarendon official called ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ by judge

Melissa Ierlan

ALBION – A former Clarendon official with a long list of good works in the community was sentenced today for fourth-degree grand larceny for taking $62,000 from the Clarendon Hisotrical Society.

Melissa Ierlan, 59, has to pay full restitution and will spend the next four months with weekends in the county jail.

County Court Judge Sanford Church insisted on some jail time for Ierlan. A plea agreement from District Attorney Susan Howard called for five years probation, full restitution and no jail time.

But Judge Church during sentencing today said he couldn’t agree to that arrangement without some incarceration.

He also insisted that Ierlan clearly state she stole the money. The judge said many of Ierlan’s supporters have been saying she didn’t take any money.

There has been some disagreement on the precise amount. The amount of funds missing from the Clarendon Historical Society was identified as $102,752 by the state comptroller’s office. That office then lowered the amount to $70,000.

Ierlan was able to show time stamps of cash withdrawals from the bank and photos of items purchased on behalf of the society to lower the amount to $62,000.

Her attorney, George Muscato, said Ierlan did steal money – clearly at least $20,000. She is agreeing to repay the $62,000 and acknowledge that is the number for missing funds without proper authorization.

The judge still wanted it to be known that Ierlan was admitting to stealing the money, not simply using it without proper authorization.

“You did steal the money?” Judge Church asked Ierlan.

“Yes, sir,” she responded.

When Ierlan admitted in court to taking the money, the judge agreed to proceed with sentencing but he made it clear there would be some jail imposed. Ierlan could have withdrawn the plea, but she opted to go forward with sentencing.

“I realize what I have done has hurt the whole community and broken a lot of trust,” Ierlan said during sentencing. “I’m embarrassed and I’m sorry.”

Ierlan intends to remain in the Clarendon community. Her husband, Fred Seeman, is a Clarendon town councilman who won a Republican primary in June to be town supervisor. He will be unopposed on the ballot in the November election, but is facing a write-in campaign from Kathy Harnischfeger.

Ierlan was the town’s code enforcement officer for 20 years, and also served as the Hillside Cemetery administrator, town historian and president of the Historical Society. The comptroller found no misappropriated funds in her roles with the town government as codes officer, historian and cemetery administrator.

The Historical Society has its own board and that board allowed her to be the sole signer for writing checks. The board has since reorganized and the group said it is satisfied with the $62,000 in restitution, Howard told the judge.

Ierlan has been a dynamic community member, volunteering on the Holley Board of Education, and repainting about 50 historical markers around the county. She organizes Clarendon’s annual lighted Christmas parade and has Santa at the Historical Society to greet children.

She has spearheaded historic preservation initiatives in the community, and helped Boy Scouts earn their Eagle rank through projects in the cemetery.

Judge Church acknowledged he received testimonial letters about Ierlan’s good works.

But he said the amount of theft and the division its caused in the community warrants time in jail.

“We have a bit of a wolf in sheep’s clothing here,” Judge Church said.

Ierlan was able to pay $40,000 in restitution today. The remaining $22,000 will be paid at $1,000 a month. Ierlan is working at a business in Murray.

She also needs to pay $375 in court charges.

The judge in refusing to only sentence Ierlan to probation noted a previous case in March where a man received four months of weekends in jail, plus five years of probation for stealing $49,000 in lottery tickets from a Clarendon business.

Howard said she agreed to the plea deal for Irelan without jail to try to bring the case to closure.

“This incident has polarized the Town of Clarendon where I was worried they would never get back on track,” Howard said.

The judge said Ierlan shouldn’t avoid jail when the other person who took the lotto tickets got weekends in jail.

“This seems more heinous than the other one,” Judge Church said, comparing Ierlan’s crime to the man who took the lottery tickets.

ALBION – A man pleaded guilty for his role as  one of three co-defendants in a series of burglaries at Brockport-Clarendon Self-Storage at 4510 Hall Rd. in Clarendon.

Antonio Suarez, 38, admitted in Orleans County Court on Wednesday that he entered Unit 7 at the self-storage on Jan. 3 to steal property. He acknowledged he was committing the crime with the two other defendants, Erin Starkweather and Phillip Martinez.

Suarez pleaded guilty burglary in the third degree. As part of a plea agreement, he faces a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 18. Without a plea agreement, the charge would carry a sentence of 2 1/3 to 7 years in prison.

Suarez and the codefendants need to repay restitution of $11,178 to cover the costs of damages and for items not recovered.

In other cases in court on Wednesday,

• Michael Savage, 38, of Murray was sentenced to three years of probation for endangering the welfare of a child. He also will pay $750 in court fees and fines.

Savage faced more serious charges of course of conduct against a child, two counts of sexual abuse in the first degree, and forcible touching. The crimes allegedly occurred between 2020 and March 2025, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The victim’s father said the crimes left his daughter suicidal and traumatized.

Frederick Rarick, Savage’s attorney, said the sexual abuse allegations were never brought up when the victim was interviewed by teachers, a therapist and physician.

“Cases like this are very difficult to defend,” Rarick said.

Judge Sanford Church issued an order of protection for five years for the victim in the case.

• Madison Desso of Lockport pleaded guilty to felony DWI on March 30 while in Murray. He faces a split sentence of six months in jail and five years on probation when he is sentenced on Nov. 18. He has a prior charge of driving while under the influence of alcohol in Syracuse in 2016.

• James Kaiser, 51, an inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, was arraigned on three counts of promoting prison contraband in the first degree and two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Kaiser on Nov. 22 is accused of knowingly introducing dangerous contraband into the men’s prison in Albion. He allegedly had the precursors to make methamphetamine and also allegedly possessed 5.25 grams of meth.

Kaiser is currently at Orleans Correctional Facility, serving a sentence of 3 years, 6 months for attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Over 200 firearms were seized in Bergen, Lyndonville and Medina

Press Release, U.S. Attorney for Western District of New York, Michael DiGiacomo

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Peter Celentano, 37, of Bergen, who was convicted of illegal possession of machineguns, was sentenced to serve 41 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.

On September 29, 2024, the New York State Police, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, executed a search warrant at Celentano’s residence in Bergen.

During the search, law enforcement recovered numerous items, including 3D printed pistol frames, firearm parts and accessories, ammunition reloading equipment, tools for constructing privately made firearms, a drill press, and two 3D printed machinegun conversion devices.

Law enforcement also conducted additional searches at properties in Lyndonville and Medina, during which they seized numerous AR-style lower receivers, 3D printed handguns, and additional firearm parts and accessories. In total, law enforcement seized over 200 firearms tied to Celentano.

During the investigation, law enforcement learned that Celentano provided another individual with nine lower receivers, two of which contained the “third pin hole,” qualifying them as machineguns. An individual known by defendant had subsequently discarded these firearms off the Beals Road Bridge into the Erie Canal. A New York State Police dive team searched the Erie Canal beneath the bridge in Medina and recovered a cardboard box containing 10 AR-style receivers, an unmarked handgun, ammunition magazines, and additional firearm parts.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Adler. The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Kevin Sucher, the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Joseph M. Graff, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Bryan DiGirolamo, New York Field Division.

ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to 5 years in state prison during a recent sentencing in Orleans County Court.

Nicholas Boryszewski, 43, pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in the second degree. He also faces five years of post-release supervision.

He was arrested on April 1 in the town of Gaines after a burglary in Gaines. Boryszewski has a previous conviction for second-degree attempted burglary in 2020 in Shelby.

In other cases last week in county court:

Three people accused of selling fentanyl and cocaine in Orleans County were arraigned by County Court Judge Sanford Church.

• Jerry Robinson Jr., 36, of Rochester allegedly was trying to sell 1.19 ounces of cocaine as well as fentanyl.

He was arraigned for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the second degree, criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree, and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

• Richard Button, 35, and Alaina Reece, 25, of Albion were both arraigned for four counts each for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fourth degree and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree.

They are to appear in court on Aug. 12 for an initial conference.

• Jose A. Rivera Gonzalez, 21, of Rochester pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for stealing an iPhone from the Albion Walmart valued at $1,249.

He faces 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 28. That sentence will run concurrently with the sentence from the Wyoming County Court where he pleaded guilty to larceny from a retail store in Warsaw.

• Allan Bieber, 22, of Albion was sentenced to 364 days in the county jail for violating terms of his probation. Bieber in December was sentenced to 10 years of probation for third-degree rape for having sex with a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. Bieber is a first-time offender.

He has missed many of his appointments for probation, a job training program, sex offender counseling and mental health counseling. Those appointments were terms of his probation.

ALBION – A Medina man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court this morning to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Milton Hinckley IV, 32, admitted to having cocaine on Jan. 23 when he was stopped in a vehicle in Medina by the Medina Police Department. The cocaine weighed 1.07 ounces.

Hinckley faced other drug and traffic charges, including aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. His plea in County Court today satisfies all charges against him.

He could face up to 2 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 30.

In another case today in County Court, a Newfane man facing several charges, including first-degree arson, appeared on a bail hearing.

Marquis Harrell, 22, allegedly went to the mother of his children’s residence in Albion early Saturday and threw a Molotov cocktail at the home, causing charring and siding damage, said Daniel Punch, assistant district attorney.

Harrell also faces charges of criminal mischief in the first degree, four counts of reckless endangerment in the first degree, two counts of endangering the welfare, criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, and two counts of criminal contempt.

Harrell is represented by public defender Joanne Best. She said Harrell may likely have been “overcharged” in the case with first-degree arson.

“Is there sufficient evidence to charge him with what is alleged?” Best said in court today.

Punch said there are threatening text messages from Harrell to the victim and photos showing the damage to the residence.

Even if the charge was attempted arson, Punch said that is a serious enough charge to hold Harrell on bail.

Best asked that Harrell be released on his own recognizance without being held on bail.

Punch acknowledged Harrell has a limited criminal history but also faces a pending criminal mischief charge in Royalton. Punch asked the judge to set bail at $10,000 cash. Judge Sanford Church agreed to that amount of cash bail, or $20,000 bond or $50,000 partially secured bond.

The judge also is continuing orders of protection for the victims of the alleged crime.