ALBION – A man was arraigned in Orleans County Court this morning for second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation for allegedly choking and hitting an 85-year-old man.

Andrew Coley, 25, was living with the victim at the time, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

Coley, a former Albion resident who now lives in Rochester, entered not guilty pleas in court today. He has already posted a $25,000 bond for bail, which remains at that level.

Coley also is accused of refusing to take the injured man to the hospital. His attorney, Zack Baisley, disputed that in court today.

Judge Sanford Church issued a temporary order of the protection for the victim who has suffered partial paralysis, according to the DA’s office.

In other cases in court today:

• The judge sentenced Andre Shine, 39, of Medina to four months of weekends in the county jail, plus a year of a conditional discharge. Shine pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child for providing alcohol and marijuana to an underage girl.

• Imani Williams, 33, an incarcerated woman at the Albion Correctional Facility, pleaded guilty to attempted assault in the second degree.

She said she struck another inmate with her hand after being pushed by that inmate. That person suffered facial lacerations and an orbital fracture, and suffered substantial pain from the injuries, said Susan Howard, assistant district attorney.

Williams accepted a plea deal where she faces 1 ½ to 3 years of additional time in state prison. She was headed to a trial starting on April 3 and could have faced a longer sentence if convicted of second-degree assault.

She will be sentenced on May 31.

ALBION – Three people were sentenced today to incarceration by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Patrick Casanova, 29, of Medina received the longest sentence with 2 to 4 years in state prison.

Casanova pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in a previous court appearance. He admitted to punching a woman in the face in Aug. 11, which fractured her orbital bone and damaged her sinus.

• Gerald Berg of Lee Center in Oneida County was sentenced to four months of weekends in the county jail plus five years of for attempted promoting prison contraband in the second degree.

Berg admitted to trying to bring fentanyl to the Albion Correctional Facility on July 23. He told the court he was aware it was a dangerous substance for someone to use.

• Austin Buzzard, 24, of Carlton was sentenced to 60 days in the county jail plus three years of probation for criminal trespassing in the third degree and petty larceny. He admitted to entering a garage without permission and taking a four-wheeler that wasn’t his. He needs to pay $510 in restitution.

Buzzard could have faced up to 364 days in jail. He told Judge Church he is eager to get back to working and being a productive citizen. Buzzard has struggled with his health since he was shot four times in Rochester last July 19 while doing an estimate for a paving company. Buzzard said he had a final surgery on Jan. 15 and is finally feeling better.

• Nicholas Amos, 43, of Medina pleaded guilty to attempted assault in the second degree and could face up to six months in the county jail and five years of probation. Amos was in an altercation with five different people on Oct. 9 in Medina.

• Paul Morrow, 43, of Medina pleaded guilty to felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the second degree. He was charged in Medina on Jan. 24 and has a previous DWI in 2016. He could face a maximum of 3 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentence don May 17, as well as a fine up to $1,000 and court surcharges and fees of $520.

ALBION – A Medina man admitted in Orleans County Court that he was in possession of two vehicles and also broke into a barn.

Brandon Fuller, 28, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth degree and third-degree burglary. He could face 2 to 6 years in state prison when he is sentenced on May 10.

Fuller admitted in county court on Wednesday that he had a 2005 Ford 500 passenger vehicle on Nov. 15 and 2005 Chevrolet Silverado on Feb. 1. Both vehicles were stolen and in either fairly good or good condition.

Fuller also admitted that on Sept. 30 he entered a barn on Gaines Basin Road without permission. Fuller had items stacked up by doors of the barn, and was hiding from law enforcement when they were called to the scene, Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard told County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Fuller was most recently charged on Feb. 1 after a high-speed vehicle pursuit from Route 31A in Barre to near Redman Road in Brockport.

Fuller’s plea agreement on Wednesday also will satisfy other misdemeanors charges he faces, as well as violations of probation.

In other cases in court on Wednesday

• Bryton M. Hitzges, 20, of Albion pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. He admitted to breaking into a West Avenue building in Albion on Dec. 30 to steal items.

He could face a maximum of 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison when he is sentenced on May 10.

The plea satisfies other charges against Hitzges. He is suspected in several burglaries to dwellings, garages, sheds and larcenies from vehicles.

As part of the plea he needs to pay $85 restitution for a broken window and could be fined up to $5,000.

• Patricia Capen of Lyndonville pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny and could face up to a year in the county jail when she is sentenced on May 10. Capen admitted in court that on Jan. 25 she took gel blaster guns from the Walmart in Albion which are valued at $1,470.

• Robert Quinonez, a former inmate at the Orleans Correctional facility, pleaded guilty to attempted assault after he kicked a corrections officer. Quinonez, 22, could be sentenced to an additional 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison. He is now at the Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus, Seneca County.

ALBION – A man who caused about $3,000 in damage to laundry machines and also stole a rifle was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison on Wednesday.

Richard J. Capen pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree during a court appearance on Nov. 30.

Orleans County District Attorney Joe Cardone asked County Court Judge Sanford Church for state prison for Capen.

The judge imposed the sentence of a minimum of a year in prison and maximum of three years. Capen also needs to pay $3,250 in restitution to Richard Colonna, owner of Washboard Willy’s, and $586 to the owner of the stolen rifle.

The judge also issued orders of protection for eight years for Colonna and his Washboard Willy’s locations, and the gun owner.

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

In another case in court on Wednesday, Travis Bloom, 30, of Medina was arraigned on eight counts of first-degree criminal contempt. Bloom allegedly called a person eight times while he was in the county jail and that person had an order of protection from him.

David Simoni deemed competent to assist in his defense

ALBION – A Holley man who spent more than a year in a Rochester psychiatric facility has been deemed competent to aid in his own defense and the case against him will proceed, County Court Judge Sanford Church ruled today in court.

David Simoni, 34, was charged with attempted murder on June 15, 2021 after he allegedly lunged at a Holley police officer, attempting to stab him, when the officer was dispatched to the Holley waterfalls on Frisbee Terrace that evening.

Simoni has been transferred from the psychiatric facility to the Orleans County Jail where he remains on $50,000 cash bail and $100,000 bond.

Simoni was allegedly walking around that day with a knife antagonizing people, Robert Barton, Holley police chief, said a day after the incident.

Simoni also has been arraigned on menacing a police officer, reckless endangerment in the first degree, attempted assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, menacing in the second degree, criminal obstruction of breathing, criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, criminal mischief with intent to damage property, acting in an injurious manner to a child younger than 17, and resisting arrest.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said the case against Simoni will now proceed through the court process.

In other action in court today:

Joe A. Cortez, 40, of Batavia pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection. He could face up to nine months in the county jail when he is sentenced.

Cortez also is facing a more serious charge of first-degree rape and third-degree rape in Genesee County for allegedly having forcible sexual intercourse with a juvenile victim under the age of 17.

ALBION – A Buffalo was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Dennis Bach, 36, pleaded guilty on Nov. 16 to to fourth-degree grand larceny. He admitted to taking about $11,000 worth of construction supplies from Pride Pak in Medina.

Judge Church ordered Bach to pay restitution to Pride Pak and also issued an order of protection for Bach to stay away from the company’s property on Maple Ridge Road.

Bach’s attorney Jeffrey Malaber asked the judge to sentence Bach to five years of probation so he could work and support his family. Malaber said this is Bach’s first felony conviction.

“He stands prepared to prove to the court that this isn’t who he is and won’t be who he is going forward,” Malaber told the judge.

Judge Church said he will recommend the option of shock camp in prison, which could be a sentence of about six months if the Department of Corrections accepts Bach into the program.

ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to 3 ½ years in state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Brennen D. Callara, 24, was sentenced for first-degree attempted robbery and petty larceny. He faced a maximum of 4 years in prison as part of a plea agreement. The judge gave him less than the maximum.

Callara admitted in a previous court appearance that he threatened a cashier at Crosby’s in Medina on July 20 by displaying a knife and demanding money. Callara also admitted to stealing a chain saw sharpener from Tractor Supply in Medina on Aug. 30.

The sentencing also satisfies other charges he faced in Shelby and Ridgeway courts.

In another case, Brandon Belski, 27, of Holley pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment, a class D felony.

He admitted in court today that on April 1 he pointed a shotgun at someone in a car and discharged the gun, hitting tires on the passenger side of the vehicle.

As part of a plea, he will face up to 9 months in the county jail when he is sentenced on March 29.

ALBION – Three people were sentenced to incarceration today by Orleans County Court judge Sanford Church.

Travis Cook, 34, of Le Roy received the longest sentence at 3 to 6 years in state prison for third-degree burglary and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Cook in May took a wallet from a vehicle in someone’s garage. The wallet had four credit cards. He also had a handgun without a license, and is accused of taking a bottle with pills, and attempting to steal from another vehicle. District Attorney Joe Cardone said Cook threw a loaded firearm out onto the road when he was pursued by law enforcement.

A Lockport man was sentenced to two months of intermittent jail and five years probation for first-degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection.

Dana Scott, 45, apologized in court. He asked he be allowed to continue running his business so he can support his children.

The judge sentenced him to two days a week in the county jail, as well as probation.

Cardone, the district attorney, asked for some incarceration because Scott entered the home of a woman at night in Ridgeway and took some of her property, despite an order of protection. Cardone said he is concerned the situation could escalate.

“There has to be consequences for violating an order of protection when there is aggression towards other people, particularly females,” Church said.

Scott was fined $1,000 and ordered to take a domestic violence class.

The victim of the crime has since asked the order of protection be removed, and the judge agreed to that in court today.

Darius Jones, 31, was sentenced to 1 ½ to 3 years in state prison for promoting prison contraband. He sharpened plastic to resemble an ice pick, creating a dangerous situation in the prison.

Jones already is serving a 12 to 15 year sentence for crimes in Genesee County. He now is incarcerated at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, Erie County.

ALBION – Three people were sentenced to state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Isaiah Casanova, 22, of Medina was sentenced to a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years in state prison for third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and violating his probation.

Casanova admitted in a previous court appearance that he driving a vehicle in August that had a 9 mm gun in the glove compartment. As a prior convicted felon, he isn’t allowed to have a gun. He also was driving a vehicle with a suspended registration.

Casanova apologized in court today. His attorney Ian Penders asked for leniency for Casanova, who was working a full-time job and in treatment.

“He is a good kid who screwed up,” Penders told the court. “He was on a path to getting his life together.”

Quincy Casanova, 25, of Medina was sentenced to 1 ½ to 3 years to prison for attempted assault and violation of parole for an incident on Aug. 11 where he stabbed his brother. A second felony offender, he also will have a year of post-release supervision.

Matthew S. Williams, 35, of Batavia was sentenced to 2 to 4 years in prison for fourth-degree grand larceny. He took about $10,000 worth of truck batteries, radiators and agricultural parts from Torrey Farms.

Nicholas Amos, 43, of Medina was arraigned on five counts of second-degree assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He allegedly got in an altercation with five different people on Oct. 9 in Medina and five people were stabbed.

The judge agreed to keep bail at $1,000 in cash or $10,000 bond, which was originally set at the town court.

The judge issued orders of protection for the five victims in the case.

ALBION – A Clarendon man was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

William Grathouse III, 49, of Clarendon faced charges of third-degree arson, second-degree insurance and fourth-degree criminal solicitation.

Grathouse, a second-felony offender, allegedly had someone start a fire at his home at Holley-Byron Road on Nov. 29, 2020 so he could collect the insurance money.

In other cases in county court today:

Jeremiah Thomas, 36, of Albion was sentenced to 6 months in the Orleans County Jail and 5 years of probation. He pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree and reckless endangerment in the second degree in a road rage incident.

Thomas admitted in court to using his pickup to drive into the front of a car in the McDonalds in Medina on May 18. The incident caused more than $8,000 in damage and put the other driver at risk of significant injury, according to the District Attorney’s office.

Thomas said he has been making progress through a anger management program. His attorney asked for a probation sentence with no jail time so Thomas could continue working and supporting his family, including a baby due to be born in March.

But Judge Church said Thomas has a history of absconding and trying to avoid his sentences. The judge said incarceration was warranted, but he gave Thomas a reduced sentence. As part of a plea agreement, Thomas could have faced 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison.

Assistant DA John Sansone said Thomas’s actions on May 18 were “a very serious road rage incident” where he twice stopped the other driver between Albion and Medina, and then ran into his car while the other driver had a child in the vehicle.

Thomas said the other driver was taking photos of his truck, which made him think that driver intended to steal the truck or vandalize it.

The judge also issued an order of protection for the other driver.

Patrick Casanova, 29, of Medina pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. He admitted to punching a woman in the face in Aug. 11, which fractured her orbital bone and damaged her sinus. He could face 2 to 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on March 8.

ALBION – An Oneida County man admitted in Orleans County Court on Wednesday that he tried to ring fentanyl into the Albion Correctional Facility.

Gerald Berg of Lee Center pleaded guilty to attempted promoting prison contraband in the second degree. He could face up to 6 months in the county jail and five years of probation when he is sentenced on March 15.

He admitted to trying to bring fentanyl to the prison on July 23, and told the court he was aware it was a dangerous substance for someone to use.

In other cases in County Court on Wednesday:

• Judge Sanford Church set Feb. 6 as the start of a trial for Ajea McCoy of Elmira, who is accused of mailing methamphetamine and fentanyl in June to an inmate at Albion Correctional Facility. She is charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and promoting prison contraband in the first degree. The drugs were allegedly in another package.

• Imani Williams, an inmate at Albion Correctional Facility, was arraigned for second-degree assault after allegedly physically assaulting another inmate. On Nov. 15, 2021 she allegedly struck another inmate, causing a fractured orbital bone.

• Tafari Holley was arraigned for trying to bring OxyContin into the Orleans Correctional Facility on Sept. 4 while visiting an inmate. She is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and promoting prison contraband in the first degree.

ALBION – An Albion man was sentenced to 8 years in prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

Prince Z. Wilson, 23, of Albion pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He could have faced up to 15 years in prison for each charge.

As part of a plea, his sentence was capped at 8 years with the sentences to be served at the same time.

Wilson in August 2021 exchanged gunfire with another man in Albion, and wounded the victim in the leg. He was charged a second time after that arrest with having gun.

Wilson didn’t speak when given a chance by the judge during sentencing today. Wilson will face five years of post-release supervision when he is out of prison. He also was fined $2,000.

In other cases in court today:

Jacoun Harden, 35, of Holley and formerly of Medina, was sentenced to six months in the county jail and five years of probation.

He pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree for having a loaded firearm. Harden admitted in court in a previous appearance that he had a loaded 9 mm handgun when he was arrested and was intending to use it but didn’t fire it at anyone.

Brennen D. Callara, 24, of Medina pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted robbery and petty larceny. He could face a maximum of 4 years in prison as part of a plea agreement.

Callara admitted in court that on July 20 he threatened a cashier at Crosby’s in Medina by displaying a knife and demanding money.

Callara also admitted to stealing a chain saw sharpener from Tractor Supply in Medina on Aug. 30.

He is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 25.

Today’s plea would satisfy other charges he is facing in Shelby and Ridgeway courts.

Richard J. Capen pleaded guilty to criminal mischief in the third degree and grand larceny in the fourth degree.

He admitted in court today to stealing a rifle on July 17, and selling it. He also admitted to damaging laundry machines on July 26 that were owned by Richard Colonna, causing about $3,000 in damage.

He will be sentenced on Feb. 1.

Austin Buzzard, 23, of Carlton pleaded guilty to criminal trespassing in the third degree and petty larceny.

He admitted to entering a garage without permission and taking a four-wheeler that wasn’t his.

He could face up to 364 days in the county jail when he is sentenced on Feb. 1.

Mikel Love of Kendall was arraigned of charges of course of sexual conduct against a child in the second degree and endangering the welfare of a child. Love rejected a plea offer and pleaded not guilty. An order of protection was issued for the alleged victim of the crime.

Dale Shawver, 60, of Albion was assessed as a level 1 sex offender, the lowest level. He currently is serving a six-month sentence in the county jail for first-degree sexual abuse and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree. He will be on probation for 10 years when he is released from jail, and also will be on the sex offender registry for 10 years.

United States Attorney Trini E. Ross, Western District of New York

BUFFALO – U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced today that Jason David Willis, 50, of Gasport, who was convicted of receipt of child pornography following a prior conviction, was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison by Senior U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron J. Mango, who handled the case, stated that in 2011, Willis was sentenced to serve 132 months in prison following his conviction on a federal child pornography charge.

On May 18, 2021, an acquaintance of Willis’ brought his iPhone to the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office and stated that it contained child pornography. The following day, on May 19, 2021, a U.S. Probation Officer searched the iPhone and observed two videos in the “recently deleted” folder on the phone that were produced by Willis on October 24 and October 28, 2020. Both videos depicted explicit images of a 17-year-old minor female. Further review of the iPhone revealed internet history for at least one website containing child pornography.

At the time of his second arrest, Willis was on federal supervised release from his previous conviction and a registered sex offender.

The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Acting Special Agent-in-Charge Michael Stansbury, the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Michael Felicetti, and the U.S. Probation Department, under the direction of Chief Probation Officer Timothy C. Englerth.

ALBION – An Albion man was sentenced to seven years in prison today by Orleans County Court Judge Sanford Church.

David W. Snyder, 53, was sentenced to the maximum as part of a plea deal for attempted course of sexual conduct against a child. Snyder sexually abused a child for over six years from June 2014 to June 2020, Assistant District Attorney Susan Howard said.

The victim of the crime spoke in court today, telling Snyder, “you’re sick.”

“I’m the one crying every day,” said the 14-year-old girl. “I hate what you did. You took away my ability to be a child.”

She asked Snyder to apologize. When he was given a chance to speak by the judge, Snyder said, “I’m sorry.”

Snyder left Orleans County soon after his arrest on July 21. He was extradited from North Carolina.

In addition to seven years in prison, he will be on post-release supervision for 15 years.

In other cases today in County Court:

• Danielle Rowe, 36, an inmate at Albion Correctional Facility, was sentenced to another 1 ½ to 3 years in prison for prison contraband and for criminal possession of a controlled substance by having suboxone without a prescription.

• Jacqueline Garrett, 43, of Le Roy was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for third-degree burglary and petit larceny.

She was on a judicial diversion program but didn’t make it through without committing more crimes.

Garrett most recent offense was taking aerosol cans from a hardware store in Albion so she could use them for huffing.  Her attorney, public defender Joanne Best, said Garrett has been struggling with drug addiction. She was doing well but had a relapse.

Garrett said she will use the time while she is incarcerated to “better myself.”

Judge Church said a treatment court with supervision was tried with Garrett but it wasn’t successful. He said incarceration will keep her away from drugs.

• Towonna Baxtrum, 35, of Rochester was sentenced to five years of probation for bringing suboxone into Orleans Correctional Facility. She also was fined $500.

“I made a horrible mistake,” she told Judge Church.

• Dennis Bach, 36, of Buffalo pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny. He admitted to taking about $11,000 worth of construction supplies from Pride Pak in Medina.

He faces a maximum of 1 to 3 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 9.

• Patrick Casanova, 29, of Medina was arraigned on felony assault with intent to cause serious physical injury, and two counts of misdemeanor acting in a manner injurious to a child under age 17.

Casanova is accused of striking a woman in the face in front of her two children on Aug. 11.

District Attorney Joe Cardone asked for high bail because Casanova has two prior felonies. Church set bail at $25,000 cash and $50,000 bond.

• Shane Dipilato, 25, of Albion (formerly of Holley) pleaded guilty of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and driving while ability impaired.

He was charged on June 16 after running into a tree at Hillside Cemetery in Holley.

Dipilato admitted to drinking alcohol while using fentanyl before driving that day. He also said he had fentanyl that he gave to friends, which is considered “selling” in a criminal definition.

Judge Church accepted Dipilato into a diversion program with treatment. If Dipilato is successful, the felony charged will be reduced to a misdemeanor in about a year and he won’t have to spend any time incarcerated.

If he is unable to complete the diversion program he could face 1 to 2 ½ years in prison.

The cellmate of Delmus Tanner admitted he strangled the Albion native at the Greene Correctional Facility in Coxackie near Albany on Nov. 9, 2018.

Delmus Tanner

Anthony J. Paradise, 44, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last month on the third day of jury selection of his trial.

Paradise had been serving a 1 1/3 to 4 year sentence for three-degree robbery in Washington County. Tanner was in prison on a five-year sentence on drug charges.

Paradise and Tanner, 38, were double-bunked in the Special Housing Unit of the prison. Paradise used a torn bed sheet to strangle Tanner, Greene County District Attorney Joseph Stanzione said, according to a report from the Hudson Valley 360.

Paradise allegedly choked two other incarcerated people while in jail and prison, the DA said. Tanner’s family has filed a lawsuit against the state.

Tanner died on Nov. 13, 2018, four days after he was taken to the Albany Medical Center and put on life support. He was taken there on a Friday. It wasn’t until the following Monday that his family was made aware of the seriousness of his condition, his ex-wife Ashley Farrell previously told the Orleans Hub.

Tanner, a father of three children, was a Medina High School graduate and looked forward to being a good citizen when he was released from prison, Farrell said.