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.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Aaron D’Angelo walks out of the courtroom in the Orleans County Courthouse on July 15 being arraigned before Judge Sanford Church.

ALBION – The man accused of stabbing one man to death and gravely wounding that man’s brother has been offered a plea deal that would keep him behind bars for 20 years to life.

Aaron 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 today 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.

He also would need to plead guilty to menacing a police officer and would serve no more than eight years on that charge.

In addition, he faces charges of strangulation and criminal contempt in the first degree for violating an order of protection.

The plea deal would satisfy all charges and the sentences would be served concurrently or at the same time with the 20 years to life maximum, Howard said.

D’Angelo is represented by Public Defender Joanne Best. The plea offer wasn’t rejected today. It will be held over and discussed at the next court appearance.

MEDINA – Two people from the Hemp House in Medina pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court today to attempted criminal possession of cannabis in the first degree.

Mitchell Kwandrans, 38, of Medina and Marcus Verratti, 40, both admitted in court today to attempting to possess more than 10 pounds of marijuana on Nov. 5, 2025. A Niagara County lab weighed the cannabis at 10.16 pounds.

Kwandrans is the owner of the Hemp House which has been shut down by the NYS Office of Cannabis Management for possessing and selling unauthorized cannabis products. Verratti was an employee of the Hemp House.

Both were offered a plea deal and won’t face jail time as part of their pleas in court today.

They could face probation and a fine when they are sentenced on Sept. 30. They are both first-time felony offenders.

In another case, Medina man pleads guilty to sex abuse against child

ALBION – A Lyndonville man was sentenced to four years in state prison this morning by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Stanley Jenks

Stanley Jenks, 55, on April 29 pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted sex abuse involving a child under age 11.

He was arrested on March 10 for sex abuse in the first degree. As part of a plea agreement, he admitted to attempted sex abuse in the first degree, by trying to have a child under age 11 touch his penis. Jenks said he did that for his own sexual gratification.

But today in court Judge Church and District Attorney Susan Howard said Jenks didn’t take responsibility during pre-sentencing interviews. Howard said there were also three other complaints against Jenks. Howard said Jenks hasn’t taken responsibility for the crime, and instead engages in “whole lot of victim blaming.”

Jenks is represented by Public Defender Joanne Best. She said Jenks has no other criminal charges in the prior 20 years. She asked for no incarceration and instead 10 years of probation where he would be monitored. The sex offender registry also means additional supervision for Jenks, she said.

Taylor Valovic

Judge Church opted for the maximum sentence in a plea deal of four years in state prison. Jenks will also be on post-release supervision for 10 years. He also issued an order of protection for the victim of the crime for eight years.

In another sex abuse case against a child, a Medina man pleaded guilty to first-degree sex abuse and could face up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Oct. 28.

Taylor Valovic, 30, of Medina admitted in court to putting his hand on a girl’s private parts for his sexual gratification. The victim is under age 11.

He was arrested by the Medina Police Department on March 25. He is currently in the Orleans County Jail with bail set at $100,000 cash, $200,000 bond and $500,000 partial secured bond.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Aaron D’Angelo walks out of the courtroom in the Orleans County Courthouse this morning after being arraigned before Judge Sanford Church. D’Angelo is being held without bail in the Orleans County Jail.

ALBION – The man who allegedly stabbed two brothers in February, killing one and seriously wounding the other, was arraigned in Orleans County Court today.

Aaron D’Angelo, 36, of Medina was charged with 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.

D’Angelo was arraigned in county court this morning for second-degree murder, attempted murder in the second degree, first-degree assault, menacing a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

He also was arraigned on a separate indictment from November for second-degree strangulation, and two counts of criminal contempt in the first degree, for allegedly choking his mother and violating orders of protection she had against him.

County Court Judge Sanford Church continued to have D’Angelo be held in the county jail without bail for the murder and attempted murder charges. For the charges against his mother, D’Angelo is being held on $50,000 cash bail, $100,000 bond and $200,000 partially secured bond.

Public Defender Joanne Best is representing D’Angelo. She asked for “reasonable bail,” saying he has always shown up for his court appearances.

D’Angelo has been in the county jail since his arrest. There was a 730 exam to determine his mental capacity and he was found to be competent, District Attorney Susan Howard said.

D’Angelo is next scheduled to appear in county court on July 29 for a conference.

ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to five years in state prison today for having a gun. He also will have five years of post-release supervision.

Reginald Kendrick, 50, pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. He was charged after law enforcement on Nov. 12 seized a loaded unbranded polymer “ghost” semi-automatic 9 mm pistol with an extended 30-round magazine. District Attorney Susan Howard said the gun was tested by a Niagara County lab and determined to be operable.

Kendrick is a prior felon after being convicted of selling cocaine in October 2016.

His attorney, Christian Catalano from the Public Defender’s Office, asked Judge Saford Church not to give Kendrick the five-year maximum in prison. Catalano said Kendrick has three young children and is recovering from back surgeries.

Kendrick said he has changed from his criminal past, which also includes charges in Georgia.

“As a person I have changed,” he said. “I just want to spend time with my kids. I’ll never do this again.”

Judge Church cited Kendrick’s “extensive criminal history” in giving him the maximum as part of a plea agreement.

In other cases in County Court today:

• Richard Neal, 36, of Medina was sentenced to six months in the county jail plus five years of probation for felony driving while intoxicated.

He was charged by State Police on Aug. 25 after allegedly driving a motorcycle on Route 31 in Ridgeway while intoxicated and without a license. He registered a BAC of 0.10 percent, just above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. He has a previous DWI conviction on May 29, 2025 in the City of Batavia.

Neal’s attorney, Public Defender Joanne Best, asked that Neal be sentenced to weekends in jail so he can continue working full-time.

But Judge Church said Neal didn’t do a substance abuse evaluation and was driving with a revoked license as well as being intoxicated.

Neal also needs to pay $570 in court fees and surcharges.

• Mitchell Gardner, a former inmate at Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion, pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate, a misdemeanor.

Gardner, 24, allegedly threw a cup of urine at a corrections officer and hit the officer in the face with the urine while in the Albion prison on Dec. 20, 2023. Gardner said he intended to hit another inmate with the urine, not a corrections officer.

Gardner was originally charged with aggravated harassment of an employee by an inmate.

Judge Church allowed him to plead to the misdemeanor and time served after being in the county jail for a few days. Gardner is now an inmate at Midstate Correctional Facility in Marcy, Oneida County. He is facing a felony charge there after allegedly biting a corrections officer.

He is currently serving an 8-year sentence for second-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

• Glenn Quintern, 67, of Rochester was arraigned for second-degree grand larceny. The former Batavia resident allegedly stole a struck from Orleans Ford.

File photo by Tom Rivers: Seanna Corwin-Bradley speaks during a July 28, 2024 celebration for a new Barker village hall and public library. Corwin-Bradley was the village mayor at the time. She also served as president of the Barker public library. Barker celebrated the new building which opened 5 ½ years after the village hall and public library burned down on Jan. 20, 2019.

ALBION – A former mayor of Barker in Niagara County was sentenced today in Orleans County Court to six months in the county jail and then five years of probation for felony driving while intoxicated.

Seanna Corwin-Bradley, 42, of Barker was charged on July 22, 2025 with a BAC at .193, more than twice the legal limit. She was in a car accident on Ridge Road in Ridgeway, where she allegedly crossed the center line and sideswiped a camper that was being pulled by a truck. She has a previous DWI conviction in Erie County in September 2024.

Corwin-Bradley was driving with a conditional license and was returning from a trip to the Thousand Islands. That conditional license didn’t allow her to drive that distance, County Court Judge Sandford Church said in court today.

Corwin-Bradley was very apologetic and tearful during the sentencing.

“As a former public official, I understand how important public safety is,” she said during sentencing. “I think about the people I could have hurt every day. I thank God no one was hurt.”

Corwin-Bradley said she has learned to accept help and do the hard work of dealing with her alcohol addiction.

“I feel guilt every day,” she said. “I feel guilt every day. I don’t know if those feelings will ever go away.”

Corwin-Bradley said she is humbled by the support of her family and friends, her counselor and the community.

“No matter how far someone falls there is still hope,” she said. “It is possible to rebuild your life.”

Timothy Brooks, the attorney for Corwin-Bradley, said addiction is an “insidious, vicious disease.” He said Corwin-Bradley has been a very productive member of society. He asked that she just be sentenced to probation with no incarceration.

Judge Church said Corwin-Bradley has put others in danger with her drunken driving.

“You are a dangerous driver while drinking,” he said. “I need to do my best to protect society.”

In addition to six months in jail and five years of probation, Corwin-Bradley had her license revoked for a year, must use a inter-lock ignition device which measures her BAC and needs to pay $570 in court surcharges and fees.

Former Clarendon official avoids jail in plea agreement, must pay restitution

File photo: Melissa Ierlan

ALBION – Melissa Ierlan pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree today in Orleans County Court, admitting to taking $62,000 without authorization from the Clarendon Historical Society when she was the group’s president.

Ierlan won’t have to go to jail, but will need to pay full restitution and will be on probation for five years as part of a plea agreement. She is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 26 by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

The amount of funds missing from the Clarendon Historical Society was down from the $102,752 initially determined by the state comptroller’s office. The comptroller’s office then lowered the amount to $70,000.

Ierlan was able to show how some of the funds were spent for the Historcial Society, said Susan Howard, the county’s district attorney.

Ierlan’s attorney George Muscato said the $62,000 “was a fair and reasonable number.”

Judge Church asked Ierlan, who was under oath this morning, if she stole money from the Clarendon Historical Society from Dec. 16, 2020 to Sept. 27, 2025. She replied yes.

She acknowledged she took actions to take the money out of the bank without authority. The Historical Society allowed her to be the sole signer for writing checks.

Ierlan worked many years as the Clarendon code enforcement officer and cemetery administrator. She also has been president of the Clarendon Historical Society. In the Historical Society role she is alleged to have falsified records to steal $102,752.

The grand larceny charge as an E felony would carry a maximum of 4 years in state prison. The charge was reduced from a C felony where more than $50,000 is stolen and the maximum would be 15 years.

One issue during the plea deal this morning was whether the Historical Society agrees to the $62,000 in restitution. Howard said the Historical Society is currently reorganizing and doesn’t have people in place yet.

“I want to know whoever gets the restitution agrees to the amount,” the judge said.

Howard said the Historical Society “was pretty much just her,” she said referring to Ierlan.

Howard said the community is working to add members to the Historical Society and get the organization functioning.

“By sentencing I hope there will be a Historical Society properly in place,” she said.

The plea agreement today also included an order of protection for a witness who helped inform authorities of the missing funds.

The judge continued to let Ierlan be free without bail. She was joined at the court appearance today by her family, including husband Fred Seeman, who likely won the Republican primary for town supervisor on Tuesday. He has a 15-vote lead over Marc Major with 16 potential absentee ballots that could come in.

ALBION – An Albion man admitted in Orleans County Court today that he was driving under the influence and without a license when he was driving recklessly in the village on May 18, crashing into two Albion patrol cars.

Timothy Ausman Jr., 56, of Albion pleaded guilty to two felonies in county court today, and faces a 1 to 3-year sentence in state prison when he is sentenced on Aug. 26.

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

He has a previous DWI in 2010, which caused him to lose his driver’s license.

He appeared before County Court Judge Sanford Church this morning. Ausman agreed to pay $14,259 in restitution for damaging two Albion Police Department patrol cars. That restitution covers the cost of repairs, towing and getting decals replaced.

Ausman admitted that he intentionally drove into the patrol cars, intending to damage them, and said he had been drinking alcohol before driving on May 18.

Ausman has been in the county jail for about six weeks. Judge Church was asked by Public Defender Joanne Best to either reduce Ausman’s bail or let him be released on his own recognizance.

But Judge Church said he would keep bail at $10,000 cash, $20,000 insurance bond and $50,000 ten percent partially secured bail bond.

In other cases:

• Mohammed Ayash, 35, of Cheektowaga was arraigned for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal nuisance in the second degree.

Ayash, owner of D-R Smoke Shop in Albion, was charged in September after undercover controlled buys by the Orleans County major Felony Crimes Task Force.

One of the numerous controlled buys was a chocolate bar infused with mushrooms (Psilocin) which is a controlled substance classified as a hallucinogen.

Ayash entered not guilty pleas to the charges in court this morning.

• Allan Bieber, 22, admitted to violating terms of his probation. Judge Church said they were substantial violations and revoked Bieber’s probation and will sentence him up to a year in the county jail on July 22.

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 are terms of his probation.

Former Ogden police officer also was briefly chief deputy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

Steven Ploof

ROCHESTER – Steven Ploof, who briefly was chief deputy of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office in 2023, was sentenced to 14 months in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Meredith A. Vacca.

Ploof, 48, of Greece was convicted of threatening to assault a member of the immediate family of a federal law enforcement officer with the intent to impeding that law enforcement officer while engaged in the performance of official duties, or with intent to retaliate against such law enforcement officer on account of the performance of official duties.

Ploof, who worked 16 years for the Ogden Police Department, resigned from the Orleans County in June 2023 after being put on administrative leave relating to suspected drug use, according to Channel 10 News in Rochester.

Ploof on September 15, 2025, went to the Ogden residence of an FBI special agent and his family. When he arrived at the house, Ploof placed two posterboard signs on the front porch. One sign read “Corrupt FBI AGENT!” and the other sign read “I Want To (expletive) Your Kids!”

Video of Ploof placing the two signs on the front porch was obtained from a residential security system, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Everardo A. Rodriguez, who is handling the case for U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo of the Western District of New York.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Allen D. Davis II, the Greece Police Department, under the direction of Acting Chief Ryan Parina, the Ogden Police Department, under the direction of Chief Travis Gray, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Christopher Bourke.