county court

Lyndonville man on parole pleads guilty to aggravated DWI

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 September 2025 at 8:59 am

ALBION – A Lyndonville man pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Wednesday to felony aggravated driving while intoxicated.

Jason Dusett, 50, is being held in the county jail for a parole violation. In January 2019 he was sentenced to four years in state prison for first- and second-degree sexual abuse.

In the DWI charge, he was stopped on June 12 and a state trooper recorded Dusett’s Blood Alcohol Content at 0.19 percent, more than double the legal limit. Dusett has a previous DWI in Victor in 2018.

He pleaded guilty in County Court on Wednesday and faces up to 6 months in the county jail when he is sentenced on Nov. 12.

In another case in county court on Wednesday:

Richard Kress, 37, of Albion pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and faces a maximum 1 to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 19.

Kress and a co-defendant, Daniel Fritz III of Clarendon, are accused of taking a safe from a  Clarendon home that had cash and jewelry inside. There will be a restitution hearing. District Attorney Susan Howard is seeking $5,000 in restitution for the victim of the crime.

Fritz has pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in the third degree and could be sentenced to up to 2 to 4 years in state prison.

In cases in court last week, Joseph Reamer, 53, of Medina was arraigned on first-degree rape, forcible touching and unlawful imprisonment in the second degree. He posted a bail bond for $20,000.

Charles Santiago, 37, of Albion also pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree for having a loaded Taurus handgun on April 13 without a permit.

Santiago faces a split sentence of up to 6 months in the county jail and five years of probation when he is sentenced on Nov. 19.

Bail set at $100K cash, $200K bond for U-Haul driver charged with manslaughter

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2025 at 11:38 am

ALBION – Bail has been set for a man facing manslaughter after his passenger died Tuesday following a high-speed chase that ended when the driver plunged a U-Haul truck into the Erie Canal.

Ryan S. Armstrong

Ryan S. Armstrong, 43, of Brockport has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after his passenger drowned.

Armstrong has a prior felony record. He was being held in the Orleans County Jail pending a bail application hearing this morning.

Judge Sanford Church set bail at $100,000 cash, $200,000 insurance bond or $500,000 partially secured bond at 10 percent. Those were at the levels requested by the District Attorney’s Office.

Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard was represented by first assistant DA Daniel Punch while Armstrong was represented by Public Defender Joanne Best.

Armstrong is next to appear in Murray Town Court on Sept. 24.

He is accused of stealing items from the Walgreens in Brockport at about 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday. He and his passenger were putting merchandise in a U-Haul truck when law enforcement were called.

Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies and Brockport police officers attempted to stop the vehicle once it was on the move but Armstrong refused, leading law enforcement on a pursuit throughout the west side of Monroe County and into Orleans County.

Armstrong eventually drove onto the Erie Canal path in the Town of Murray. The pursuit ultimately ended when he suddenly veered the vehicle into the canal, just east of Bennetts Corners Road.

Monroe deputies observed Armstrong exit the vehicle and swim to the opposite side, where he exited the canal and fled on foot. The passenger also exited the vehicle in an attempt flee. Deputies could see he was struggling to swim and jumped into the canal to rescue the passenger, losing sight of him when he went under in the murky water, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The MCSO Underwater Search and Recovery Team worked with fire companies and the Orleans County Sheriff’s marine patrol to search the canal for the passenger. Following a thorough search of the canal, they were able to recover the male, who had drown.

Armstrong faces the manslaughter charge due his “reckless actions” that led to the death of the passenger, whose name hasn’t been released.

Man fleeing police charged with manslaughter after passenger drowns in Erie Canal

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2025 at 12:46 pm

Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters and law enforcement officers responded to a U-Haul that plunged into the Erie Canal, just east of the Bennetts Corners Road canal bridge. The body of a man who drowned was recovered by the dive team from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

A Monroe County man has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after his passenger in U-Haul truck drowned in the Erie Canal last night.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said Ryan S. Armstrong, 43, recklessly caused the death of his passenger.

Armstrong was driving the U-Haul box truck with Arizona license plate and attempted to evade law enforcement, topping 85 miles per hour.

Armstrong and his passenger were allegedly stealing items from the Walgreens on Main Street in Brockport and loading the items into the U-Haul. The passenger’s name hasn’t been publicly released yet.

Brockport Police Department and Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies both attempted to stop the U-Haul, but Armstrong refused to stop and recklessly attempted to evade law enforcement, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office stated in the felony complaint filed against Armstrong.

He was arraigned this morning by the Orleans County District Attorney’s Office and is being held in the Orleans County Jail without bail.

Armstrong also drove into a field to evade law enforcement. After successful deployment of spike strips in the area of Bennetts Corners Road, deflating the left rear tire, Armstrong kept driving at a high rate of speed, the felony complaint states.

He turned down an Erie Canal service road and turned sharply to the left, plunging the vehicle into the water at about 7:16 p.m. Armstrong and his passenger both escaped from the cab of the U-Haul. Armstrong was able to swim ashore across the canal while the passenger drowned.

The numerous reckless actions by Armstrong led to the passenger’s death, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office stated.

Armstrong was located and detained after deputies formed a perimeter on the north side of the canal between Bennetts Corners and Countyline roads. A drone picked up a heat signature to help law enforcement locate Armstrong, said Chief Deputy Michael Fowler of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

2 sentenced to state prison after Medina stabbing in Canal Basin on Nov. 1

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 September 2025 at 12:19 pm

MEDINA – Two people have been sentenced to state prison for their roles in a stabbing in Medina’s Canal Basin on Nov. 1.

Edward Gibson, 43, and Deon Jackson, 25, both of Medina, were charged with first-degree assault.

Gibson used a knife to cut a woman’s throat and stab a man. But were treated at Erie County Medical Center for their injuries.

Gibson was sentenced to 12 years in state prison last week by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Deon Jackson was the accomplice in the crime, and helped lure the two to the basin where they were attacked, the district attorney’s office said.

Jackson was sentenced to 7 years in state prison by Judge Church in court this morning.

Jackson also faces a new charge since he was being held in the county jail. He was charged with aggravated harassment of employees by an inmate. He allegedly through feces and urine at corrections officers. Jackson could face an additional 2 ½ to 5 years in state prison for that charge.

Albion man, 22, arraigned in County Court for 1st-degree rape

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 July 2025 at 10:45 am

ALBION – Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church this morning arraigned an Albion man on multiple charges, including first-degree rape.

Allan Bieber, 22, allegedly raped a 15-year-old girl at St. Joseph’s Park on South Clinton Street on April 25. It was dark at the park at about 9 p.m. when the alleged rape occurred.

Bieber also has been charged with third-degree rape, first-degree sexual abuse, sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child.

Judge Church set bail at $5,000 cash, $15,000 bond or $30,000 partial secured bond.

Bieber is to next appear in County Court on Aug. 13.

Medina man pleads guilty in federal court to child pornography

Posted 9 July 2025 at 3:23 pm

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

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Kyle Stack, 39, of Medina pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. to possession of child pornography involving prepubescent minors, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles M. Kruly, who is handling the case, stated that in July 2020, Stack possessed a cellular phone, which contained more than 4,000 images and videos of child pornography. The child pornography included prepubescent minors less than 12-years-old and images of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In addition, Stack possessed a laptop, which contained more than 9,000 images and videos of child pornography.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Amie Feroleto, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Mark Grimm.

Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 7 before Judge Sinatra.

Bergen man who had machine guns discarded in Orleans County pleads guilty in federal court

Posted 29 May 2025 at 4:04 pm

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

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Peter Celentano, 36, of Bergen pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to illegal possession of machine guns, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey E. Intravatola, who is handling the case, stated that 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 machine guns.

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 plea 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 Miller, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 6 before Judge Vilardo.

Hochul, DAs want reform with discovery laws

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 April 2025 at 8:44 am

Governor willing to delay state budget until changes with discovery requirements

Photo by Mike Groll/Office of Governor – Governor Kathy Hochul on March 24 convenes a domestic violence prevention roundtable with survivors, advocates and law enforcement. She said “technicalities” are causing too many cases to be dismissed due to the discovery laws where the prosecution has strict timelines to turn over evidence.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said too many cases in the court system are being dismissed due to “technicalities” on how quickly the prosecution has to turn over evidence to the defense.

She is demanding changes in the discovery laws that set strict timelines for handing over evidence to the defense. She is joined by the district attorneys around the state in seeking changes to the discovery laws.

Hochul is so adamant she is willing to hold off on approving the state budget.

“I’m really proud to be fighting on their behalf, and people all over this state who are denied the justice because of some technicality in the discovery laws that are written out,” Hochul said on Thursday in Albany after meeting with domestic violence survivors. “And they put their heart and soul into trying to get justice and it’s thrown out because something minor, irrelevant, is missing — I’m going to keep fighting until we fix this. I’m going to keep fighting to put this in the budget.”

 The Orleans County Legislature on March 24 also passed a resolution seeking changes in the discovery laws.

The Legislature said early and thorough discovery of evidence is not only fair to defendants, “but also facilitates meaningful plea discussions and efficient resolution of cases.”

However, the state’s reformed discovery laws in 2019 have put an “unreasonable drain on resources and forces DA offices to make difficult decisions on which cases they can prosecute,” county legislators said.

The new laws force prosecutors to collect all material that “relates to” a case within short timeframes, and then to certify the entirety of evidence by filing a Certificate of Compliance.

“The breadth and scope of discoverable material under New York’s new discovery statute is unparalleled nationwide, and includes any material that merely ‘relates to’ an incident regardless of its utility, relevance, or admissibility,” according to the Legislature’s resolution.

New York is the only state that allows cases to be dismissed due to minor discovery violations. Since the new discovery laws were enacted, speedy trial dismissals in the state are up from 12,398 cases in 2019 to 42,212 cases in 2023, according to the Office of Court Administration.

The District Attorneys Association of the State of New York wants the discovery laws amended.

Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard is among the district attorneys seeking discovery law changes. Before 2020, it was a much simpler process of handing over the paper police reports to defendants, she said.

Now, there is a digital management system where a the initial discovery obligations must be submitted within 20 calendar days after arraignment if the defendant is in custody, and 35 calendar days if the defendant is not in custody.

“That’s not a lot of time,” Howard said. “Small departments don’t have the staff to download and get in the files. The discovery laws have made it very difficult for us.”

Hochul is seeking to not have cases be automatically dismissed if the all the evidence isn’t turned over in the time frames. The governor also wants to narrow the required materials to be those “relevant” to a case and not “related” – which would lower the workload on law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney offices.

Local law enforcement hear from experts about investigating sex abuse cases

Posted 27 March 2025 at 8:07 pm

Orleans DA, Justice for Children Advocacy Center coordinate the training

Provided photo: Pictured from left include Kathy Colgan, expert forensic interviewer; Susan Howard, Orleans County district attorney; Matt Stegner, retired State Police investigator; and Trisha Reynolds, program coordinator for Justice for Children Advocacy Center.

Press Release, Orleans County Crime Victim Coordinator Michelle Wirth

ALBION – Members of every law enforcement agency in Orleans County gathered today at the Orleans County Legislative Chambers to hear expert speakers share ideas and information as to advanced techniques in the investigation of child and adult sexual abuse cases.

The Justice for Children Advocacy Center, based in Genesee County with a satellite office in Albion, organized the event along with the District Attorney’s Office.

Expert Forensic Interviewer, Kathy Colgan, advised attendees in the best practices of handling these special victims with empathy, and outlined the services provided by the Advocacy Center.

Retired New York State Police Investigator Matt Stegner educated officers by offering a 10-step investigative checklist to guide these types of cases to a successful prosecution.

Orleans County has a very active Sex Abuse Task Force that meets monthly and consists of the District Attorney’s Office, the Child Advocacy Center, Child Protective Services, Probation, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, the New York State Police, the Albion Police Department, the Holley Police Department and the Medina Police Department.

These Special Victims’ cases are of utmost importance and the collaboration of all of the above agencies is essential.

This training was well-received by all and future educational opportunities are being planned.

Woman sentenced to probation, ordered to pay restitution for HIPPAA violations in Medina

Posted 20 March 2025 at 5:53 pm

Press Release, U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo, Western District of NY

ROCHESTER – U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced today that Tonya D’Agostino, 53, of Farmington, who pleaded guilty to HIPAA: unlawfully obtaining/disclosing individually identifying health information, was sentenced to serve one year probation by Chief U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford. D’Agostino was also ordered to pay $13,410.42 in restitution.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Katelyn M. Hartford, who is handling the case, stated that on March 23, 2023, D’Agostino mailed a USPS Priority Mail parcel to an individual in Medina, NY, which contained individually identifiable health information of four individuals.

D’Agostino did not have authorization to obtain or disclose the individually identifiable health information. She did this in an attempt to obtain $216,000 from the individual who received the parcel.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, and Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Naomi Gruchacz.

Magee gets 15-year max for manslaughter in Kingdollar death

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2025 at 11:39 am

Noah Magee

ALBION – Noah Magee was sentenced to up to 15 years in state prison this morning, the maximum for second-degree manslaughter.

Magee, 20, offered a tearful apology for the death of Roger Kingdollar III,  who was 24 when he died after being hit by a pickup truck driven by Magee in Barre on Feb. 8, 2024. Kingdollar was riding a dirt bike when Magee crossed the opposite lane and hit Kingdollar on the north side of McNamar Road.

“I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart,” Magee said during sentencing today. “I would give my life to have Roger back.”

Magee said he and Kingdollar had their differences, but Magee said he didn’t mean for him to be killed.

“I’m really not a monster and the heartless person I’ve been made out to be,” Magee said. “I hope you won’t hate me and despise me forever.”

But Magee’s conduct caused the death of Kingdollar, and Magee has refused to take responsibility for his actions, said Joe Cardone, the recently retired Orleans County district attorney and acted as an assistant DA during sentencing today.

Magee has maintained the fatal collision with Kingdollar was an accident and random, the result of making too wide of a turn from Angevine to McNamar roads, Cardone said.

“There is no question what happened was deliberate on the defendant’s part,” Cardone said in court. “His actions have a lasting impact on everyone, most certainly the Kingdollar family.”

Kingdollar’s sister, Vanity Bennett, said her brother was a positive force for his friends and family, especially her three children.

“He will always be my baby brother,” she said during sentencing. “He was the light of the room.”

Her brother loved riding his dirt bike, and never missed a birthday party for Bennett’s three children.

She decried Magee for causing her brother’s death “in such a senseless and ruthless way.”

“He drove his truck as a weapon,” Bennett said. “We don’t ever want to see him on the streets. I hope he rots in prison.”

Magee’s attorney Paul Vacca insisted the collision was an accident. He said Magee has maintained his innocence throughout the case, since his arrest the night of Feb. 8, nearly a year ago.

Vacca asked for five years of probation for Magee, who has no prior criminal record. Vacca also noted Magee wasn’t found guilty of the more serious charge of second-degree murder.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church said Magee is deserving of the stiffest sentence, 5 to 15 years in state prison.

“You certainly caused his death,” Church told Magee, who was wearing the orange clothing for inmates in the Orleans County Jail.

The judge said Magee hasn’t been truthful about why he veered across the road, and hasn’t taken responsibility for the crime.

Magee also was sentenced to 2 ½ to 7 years in state prison for leaving the scene of a fatal accident, 30 days in the county jail for reckless driving, and 15 days in jail for failure to keep right. Those sentences will be served concurrently or at the same time with the longer sentence for manslaughter.

When the judge announced the maximum sentence for Magee, up to 15 years in state prison, many of Kingdollar’s friends and family clapped and shouted in support.

Magee sentencing for manslaughter set for Friday

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 January 2025 at 11:13 am

ALBION – The sentencing for Noah Magee has been moved from Wednesday to Friday at 10:30 a.m.

Magee, 20, on Dec. 4 was convicted of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Roger Kingdollar III, age 24.

Magee faced a more serious charge of second-degree murder but was instead found guilty of second-degree manslaughter.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church said on Dec. 4 the case didn’t meet the level of “depraved indifference to life” for second-degree murder but did for manslaughter, which is “recklessly causing another person’s death.”

Magee could have faced up to 25 years in prison if found guilty of second-degree murder. With the manslaughter charge, he faces 5 to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced. He has been held in the county jail without bail until sentencing.

Magee also was found guilty of leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and failure to keep right.

Magee was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado truck when crossed over the center lane and went to the north side of McNamar Road on Feb. 8, 2024. Kingdollar was driving a dirt bike on the north side of the road.

The truck struck the dirt bike’s handle bars. Kingdollar suffered a fatal fracture in his neck.

Inmate at Albion Correctional who assaulted CO gets more time in prison

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 January 2025 at 12:21 pm

ALBION – A woman who was incarcerated at the Albion Correctional Facility was sentenced to more time in state prison today for allegedly assaulting a corrections officer.

Caitlyn Jacobs, 34, was charged with second-degree assault, which was reduced to attempted assault in the second degree as part of a plea agreement.

She was sentenced this morning to another 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Jacobs has been moved to the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility where she is finishing a 5-year sentence for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, and criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. She was convicted of those charges in Cayuga County in October 2022.

In another case today, Judge Church sentenced Erika Poole, 44, of Medina to time already served and a conditional discharge to stay away from controlled substances for a year.

Poole pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

Poole admitted to having cocaine on Nov. 10, 2022. She has a credit of 92 days in jail and won’t need to do additional time. She also was ordered to pay $250 in court charges.

An ‘historic day’ as Susan Howard sworn in as DA

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2025 at 11:13 am

Howard is first woman to serve as county’s top prosecutor

Photos by Tom Rivers: Susan Howard, the new Orleans County district attorney, signs the oath of office next to County Clerk Nadine Hanlon after a brief swearing-in ceremony this morning in the Orleans County Courthouse.

ALBION – Susan Howard was sworn in as district attorney this morning in a brief ceremony in the Orleans County Courthouse.

Many of the law enforcement officials, county department heads and staff of the District Attorney’s office attended the ceremony.

Howard succeeds Joe Cardone as DA. He served in the role for 33 years. Howard was Cardone’s first assistant DA since 2011. He told a crowd at the swearing-in that he has full confidence in Howard as she takes over as district attorney, the county’s top prosecutor.

“It is an historic day in Orleans County with our first woman district attorney,” Cardone told about 30 people at the swearing-in. “Susan, I know you are prepared to do this job. It is a very difficult job as you well know from many years already. I know you are prepared to discharge the responsibilities of district attorney and do justice for the people of Orleans County.”

Howard won a Republican primary in June against John Sansone and was unopposed in November for the general election.

Susan Howard says the oath of office, vowing to support the constitution of the United States, the constitution of the State of New York and to faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of District Attorney of Orleans County, according to the best of her ability. Howard’s sister Judy Schult holds the Bible while County Court Judge Sanford Church administers the oath.

Howard became a lawyer in 2004. She didn’t go to law school until she was 33. Before that she was a paralegal and a caseworker with the Department of Social Services.

Her father, the late Richard Schult, owned the Lakeland restaurant at Point Breeze. He also worked at Kodak and flipped houses. He often reached out to a lawyer for advice, Howard recalled in an interview in June.

Howard said she wanted to be that person who could help people through a problem. It wasn’t until she did an internship at the DA’s Office that she turned her attention to being a prosecutor. After that experience in 2000, she said she found her passion as a lawyer.

Susan Howard is congratulated by County Court Judge Sanford Church after she was sworn in as the county’s new district attorney this morning.

She said she is ready to get to work and is proud of a team of full-time assistant DAs. That includes Daniel Punch as the first assistant DA. Punch, the son of retired County Court Judge James Punch, has worked as an assistant DA the past 13 years in Erie County.

He welcomed the chance to return to his home county. His father was the DA before becoming the county judge.

“This is my hometown and I wanted to work with Sue,” Punch said after the ceremony. “It’s an opportunity to do good in Orleans County.”

The other full-time assistant Das include Alex Eaton and Katie Buckley. Eaton worked as an intern in the District Attorney’s Office with Howard. He has been working for the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. He is married to Joe Cardone’s daughter, Rosalind.

Buckley was working out of the Livingston County District Attorney’s Office.

“It’s a strong team,” Howard said. “We will hit the ground running.”

Photos by Marsha Rivers: Susan Howard gets a photo taken with her successor, Joe Cardone, after the swearing in ceremony at the Orleans County Courthouse. Susan Howard is pictured with current County Court Judge Sanford Church, left, and retired County Court Judge James Punch, who also is a former district attorney for the county.

Magee found not guilty of murder but convicted of manslaughter

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 December 2024 at 1:54 pm

Faces 5 to 15 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 29

Noah Magee

ALBION – A judge found Noah Magee not guilty of second-degree murder but instead convicted him of second-degree manslaughter in the death of Roger Kingdollar III, age 24.

Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church said the case didn’t meet the level of “depraved indifference to life” for second-degree murder but did for manslaughter, which is “recklessly causing another person’s death.”

Magee, 19, could have faced up to 25 years in prison if found guilty of second-degree murder.

With the manslaughter charge, he faces 5 to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 29. He is being held in the county jail without bail until sentencing.

Judge Church also found Magee guilty of leaving the scene of an accident, reckless driving and failure to keep right.

Magee waived his right to a jury trial with Judge Church making his ruling today after a bench trial concluded on Nov. 19.

Magee was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado truck when crossed over the center lane and went to the north side of McNamar Road on Feb. 8. Kingdollar was driving a dirt bike on the north side of the road.

The truck struck the dirt bike’s handle bars. Kingdollar suffered a fatal fracture in his neck.

During the trial, District Attorney Joe Cardone noted the 9,200-pound truck far outweighed the 236-pound dirt bike.

Cardone said Magee’s actions showed a depraved a indifference to life. A reasonable driver would have slowed down after turning from Angevine Road to McNamar, Cardone said during his closing comments on Nov. 19. But Magee instead sped up until hitting his brakes just before the collision, the DA said.

Paul Vacca Jr., Magee’s defense lawyer, argued in his closing statements that the collision was an accident with no ill intent from Magee.

Cardone said a surveillance video from a neighbor showed Kingdollar riding just north of the road in the grass, doing nothing wrong. Two of his friends on four-wheelers were nearby.

The video shows Magee cross the center line, go past the opposite lane and shoulder of the road and then strike Kingdollar in the grass, Cardone said.

During court today at 1:30 p.m. about 50 people were sitting on the right side of the courtroom for the prosecution, many of them Kingdollar’s friends and family. Magee had about 10 supporters on the left side for the defense.

After Judge Church announced his verdict, Cardone asked that Magee be held without bail until sentencing. D’Amato asked that Magee remain free on bail, saying he has shown up early for all of his court appearances and continued to work full-time.

The judge said Magee will be held without bail. Magee was led out of the courtroom by security personnel, taking a route away from the people sitting in the courtroom.

Cardone spoke with Kingdollar’s supporters in the courtroom after the verdict was announced. He said he would advocate that Magee get the 15 years maximum for second-degree manslaughter.

“We’ll be pushing for the highest sentence we can get,” Cardone said.