Adam Mesiti, retired Brockport police sergeant, admits to having sex with girl, 16

HOLLEY – A former security guard at Holley Central School admitted in court today he had sex with a 16-year-old girl on Oct. 22, 2014.

Adam Mesiti

Adam C. Mesiti, 46, of Brockport pleaded guilty to third-degree rape today. As part of a plea deal, he will face no more than six months in the county jail, plus 10 years of probation when he is sentenced on Aug. 21 at 2 p.m. He also will likely have to register as a sex offender.

Mesiti was arrested in early March, 60 counts of sex crimes – 10 counts of third degree rape, 20 counts of third degree criminal sexual act and 30 counts of sex misconduct.

Mesiti was employed by C.O.P. Security, a private firm contracted to provide security services at the Holley School District in 2014 when the alleged incidents took place.

The Holley School District and C.O.P. Security fully cooperated with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office during this month-long investigation, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said when Mesiti’s arrest was announced on March 4.

Mesiti appeared in court this afternoon with his wife and two sons.

As part of the plea, Judge James Punch asked Mesiti if he had sexual intercourse on Oct. 22, 2014 with the 16-year-old victim. Mesiti said he did.

He remains free on $1,000 bail. The judge issued an order of protection, with no communication allowed from Mesiti to the victim.

Mesiti’s attorney Christian Kennedy asked the judge to stop many of the unfounded allegations in the community against Mesiti. Punch said he wasn’t going to put a “gag order” on the case.

Mesiti, owner of Five Sons Winery/RG Brewery, stopped working out of the Holley school district following the 2014 school year.

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ALBION – Two long-time Orleans County deputies were arraigned in Orleans County Court this morning on charges of first-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records.

Covis

Sgt. Dean Covis and Deputy Thomas Marano both entered not guilty pleas. They are accused of submitting false time sheets and collecting about $18,000 they weren’t entitled to for part-time security work for Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners, which runs power plants in Orleans County at the Waterport Dam and in Medina.

Marano

The deputies were allegedly collecting their $20 an hour pay for the security work while they were also on the clock for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office from November 2013 to January 2015. Covis received about $14,000 and Marano about $4,000 for the security work while they were also working shifts for the Sheriff’s Office, according to The Daily News in Batavia.

The State Police handled the investigation and made the arrests on Monday, The Daily News reported.

Both have been suspended, Sheriff Randy Bower said.

“It is with great disappointment that I announce the arrest of two members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office,” Bower said in a statement. “The arrest of Thomas Marano and Dean Covis, both Deputy Sheriffs, stemmed from a lengthy investigation into alleged conduct by the above named deputies during 2013 and 2014. The New York State Police conducted the investigation along with a Special Prosecutor assigned to the case.”

Bower said the Sheriff’s Office is conducting its own internal investigation in the matter.

Sara Sheldon of Niagara County is serving as judge in the case with Lawrence Friedman, the Genesee County district attorney, serving as prosecutor.

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ALBION – Two people were sentenced to multiple years in state prison today for crimes in Orleans County.

Trevis Baker

A Rochester man received the longest sentence, 6 years, for selling crack and heroin.

Trevis D. Baker, 38, of Chili Avenue pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He faced a maximum of six years in prison as part of a plea deal, and County Court Judge James Punch gave him the maximum today.

“You are clearly profiting from the heroin epidemic,” Punch told Baker this afternoon. “You are a drug dealer and I feel it’s my responsibility to keep you off the streets for as long as I can.”

Baker allegedly sold heroin and cocaine to an informant from Orleans County between March 15 to March 24. He was arrested March 30 after an investigation into heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine sales in Orleans County.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force, along with Rochester and Albion police, raided Baker’s house and seized more than three ounces of cocaine, more than an ounce of crack, five bundles of heroin, a loaded pistol, more than $8,000 cash and drug paraphernalia.

Michael Thompson

In the other sentencing today, a Medina man was given four years in state prison for second-degree assault.

Michael Thompson, 49, was out of jail and awaiting sentencing for a drug crime when he was arrested on Sept. 7 after allegedly getting in an altercation with another person and stabbing that person, causing non-life-threatening injuries.

(He has since been sentenced to two years in state prison for the drug charge – criminal possession of a controlled substance.)

Thompson was scheduled to go to trial for the assault charge. If found guilty he could have faced up to seven years in state prison. Thompson agreed to a plea deal before the trial, with the maximum set at four years.

Judge Punch gave Thompson the maximum as part of the plea agreement.

“I’m sorry to the court for what happened,” Thompson said. “I’m not a violent person.”

Punch said Thompson has a long criminal history, and the latest incident was a violent crime.

Both Thompson and Baker also need to pay $325 court surcharges and $50 DNA fees.

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ALBION – Correction officers were injured in three separate incidents at Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion, the NYS Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association said in a news release today.

The union worries that more illegal drugs are making their way inside the prison.

“In the past three months alone at Orleans, we have had 106 inmates fail urine tests because of illegal substances,” said Joe Miano, Western Region Vice President for NYSCOPBA. “Obviously, DOCCS Administration must do more to stop the influx of contraband inside the walls or these type of incidents will continue to occur.”

The first incident occurred on April 28 at approximately 10:15 p.m. at the Orleans Correctional Facility. An officer conducting his count for the evening found an inmate unresponsive in his cell. Officers entered the inmate’s cell and it appeared he was on some type of illegal substance, the union said.

The officers got the inmate to his feet and were escorting him to medical to get checked out when an officer observed the inmate reach into his pocket and place a balloon like material into his mouth.

The officers began to struggle with the inmate as they attempted to get him to spit out the substance. The inmate was taken to the ground. On the ground, the inmate bit an officer’s left hand. A second officer injured his thumb in the struggle, NYSCOPBA said.

The inmate was placed in restraints and frisked. He was found with three additional cellophane bags on him that officers believe contained synthetic marijuana.

The officer who was bitten was treated at Medina Memorial Hospital. He was treated, released and returned to duty.

The inmate, whose name is not being released, is 24 years old and is serving a four-year sentence after being convicted of Assault 1st in Bronx County in 2016.

In another incident at Orleans, on May 7 at approximately 4:40 p.m., an officer heard yelling near one of the cubes in the dorm at Orleans. He observed an inmate running to the back of the dorm and fall to the floor.

The officer responded and found the inmate unresponsive. He called for medical immediately. Still with the inmate, the officer observed him begin to yell and violently thrash his body. The inmate attempted to get off the floor several times. As the officer attempted to help the inmate, he was violently kicked directly in his face, the union said.

Medical personnel arrived on the scene and the inmate became calm and was placed in restraints. The injured officer was taken to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital for treatment of a lacerated lip and bruising on his face. He was treated and released.

The inmate, 22, who was believed to be on synthetic marijuana at the time of the incident, is serving a five-year sentence for Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, Assault 2nd and Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd after being convicted in 2014 in Niagara County.

The third incident occurred on May 8 at approximately 8:15 a.m. Acting on a tip, an officer was going to search the living quarters of Inmate Anwar Cohen for illegal drugs. The officer entered the dorm and located Cohen on the phone. He was ordered to the wall to be frisked, NYSCOPBA said.
The officer located four baggies that contained synthetic marijuana and Percocet pills in his pocket. The inmate was placed in restraints and additional officers responded to the scene. As Cohen was going to be removed from the dorm, he kicked backwards and hit an officer in the shin. Three officers attempted to get the inmate under control but he struggled with them. During the struggle the officers and Cohen fell to the ground where he then became compliant.

Cohen, 38, was removed from the dorm and faces disciplinary charges. He is serving a 10-year sentence for Burglary 1st and Robbery 1st after being convicted in Suffolk County in 2011.

“Contraband continues to be a serious problem at all state prisons,” stated Miano, Western Region VP for NYSCOPBA. “Since 2010, we have almost doubled the amount of contraband seized in our facilities.”

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Erika Poole

ALBION – A Medina woman was found guilty during a trial that concluded today. Erika Poole, 37, was charged last July for criminal sale and possession of a controlled substance.

Jurors found her guilty of selling and possessing cocaine. During a search of her residence on Salt Works Road, police also found a shotgun.

Poole, who had a prior felony, wasn’t allowed to have a weapon, District Attorney Joe Cardone said this afternoon.

Poole was found guilty of three counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (for having cocaine with the intent to sell) and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree (for having more than 500 milligrams of cocaine). She also was found guilty of unlawful possession of a weapon.

She will be sentenced in July and could face several years in prison.

The Poole trial may have been the final criminal trial for Judge James Punch, who is retiring July 29.

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ALBION – A Rochester man was arraigned in Orleans County Court on Monday for 13 counts of drug charges, including six counts each of third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Victor T. Simmons, 46, of 1399 North St. also was arraigned for one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch set bail at $300,000 for Simmons. District Attorney Joe Cardone said Simmons has a “37-page criminal history” that includes four felonies in New York State and other out-of-state convictions.

Punch cited that “remarkable criminal history” as well as numerous failures to appear in court for setting bail at $300,000.

Simmons was arrested in March along with a 17-year-old male from Rochester after an investigation into the sale and distribution of heroin and cocaine from Rochester to the Village of Albion, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.

The Task Force and the Albion Police Department, with its K9 unit, executed a search warrant on a vehicle and the two occupants on Wednesday. Officers seized a quantity of heroin and crack cocaine that was packaged for sale.

In other cases in County Court:

• Shawna N. Weis, 29, of the Holley Hotel was arraigned for criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

She allegedly sold both heroin and cocaine at the Holley Hotel, police reported. She was arrested on April 4.

Her attorney, Michael O’Keefe, entered not guilty pleas on her behalf. He said Weis would like to enter a drug treatment program.

Weis has a prior felony and two misdemeanors. Punch set bail at $10,000.

• Cynthia Lopez-Lopez, 39, of Monroe-Orleans Countyline Road was arraigned on one count each of criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. Lopez-Lopez allegedly sold suboxone in Albion, police said. She pleaded not guilty.

She has a criminal history in Georgia, Kentucky and Virginia, Cardone said at the arraignment. Punch set bail at $15,000.

• A Murray resident was prepared to plead guilty to attempted assault in the third degree after an alleged domestic violence incident on Jan. 1.

Todd J. Knight II, 25, of Hulberton Road admitted in court to injuring a woman. He caused a concussion, “massive swelling” on the right side of her head, a fractured rib, contusions and other injuries, Cardone said.

The woman has recovered and there is a question whether she sustained a level of “serious physical injuries” to meet the threshold for attempted second degree assault.

The case was adjourned until May 15 to determine the victim’s level of injuries.

If the injuries are severe enough, Knight could face 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison as part of a plea deal.

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ALBION – A Dansville man was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for scheme to defraud in the first degree, after he accepted more than $30,000 from three customers in Orleans County for new pole barns, but didn’t do the work.

Michael W. Oldfeld, 48, also was ordered to pay restitution, plus 5 percent interest for three Orleans County residents. The restitution includes $13,618 for one resident, $9,600 for a second victim, and $9,500 for another.

Oldfeld also has 13 victims in six other counties. Those cases are separate from the three in Orleans.

“This conduct was extensive throughout western and central New York,” District Attorney Joe Cardone said during sentencing on Monday afternoon. “There are many victims and thousands of dollars.”

Oldfeld is represented by attorney Nathan Pace, who said Oldfeld has taken responsibility for the crime and is determined to pay back the victims.

“Since day one, Mr. Oldfeld has stated his desire to make people completely whole,” Pace said.

Oldfeld will likely have his future pay garnished as part of a restitution plan for the victims, Pace said.

“You have a man truly trying, hoping to work on the debts,” Pace said.

Pace said the state Attorney General’s Office is working on a restitution number for the 16 victims. Pace asked that County Court Judge James Punch hold off on the sentencing until the Attorney General has a total restitution figure.

Punch said he is focused on the three victims in Orleans County and wasn’t going to wait on the Attorney General’s determination for total restitution for all 16 victims in seven counties.

“I have three victims in my county who were ripped off,” Punch told Oldfeld during sentencing. “You did enough here to go to prison.”

Pace said Oldfeld’s business was struggling, and he used payments from customers to try to keep up with his bills.

“He didn’t intend to steal,” Pace said. “He was robbing Peter to pay Paul.”

Punch said the crimes, taking the sizable funds and not doing the work, has been difficult for the victims.

“It isn’t so easy to scrape together $10,000,” Punch told Oldfeld. “You have destroyed the plans for three families.”

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HOLLEY – The Holley Police Department has charged three people for endangering the welfare of children for allegedly encouraging 13- and 14-year-old children to fight.

Police arrested Tina M. Krueger , 36, of Holley; David E. Brege, 30, of Holley; and Launey M. Dambra, 35, of Holley.

In addition to endangering the welfare of a child, they also have been charged with disorderly conduct.

The fight was supervised and allowed to take place by parents of the children involved and an additional adult, Holley Police Chief Roland Nenni said.

The fight was also captured on video by other bystanders. The video clearly shows the adults watching and encouraging the conduct, Nenni said.

The Holley Police Department was assisted in the investigation by the Holley Central School District.

Further details and video footage obtained will not be released to protect the identity of the children involved, Nenni said.

The three adults charged were arraigned in the Murray Town Court and released in their own recognizance. Krueger and Brege are to return to court on May 17. Dambra is to return to court on June 14.

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Andrew Coley

ALBION – An Albion man who will be sentenced in Orleans County Court on June 19 for endangering the welfare of a child is now facing felony drug charges.

Andrew Coley, 19, of 160 Platt St. was charged on Thursday with three counts each of third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. He is accused of being part of the sale and distribution of crack cocaine in Orleans County.

Police did a search warrant on Coley in Holley and also searched an apartment in Medina at 11105 Telegraph Rd., Room 7.

The Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task was assisted by the Holley and Medina police departments in conducted the search warrants.

Coley was arraigned in Ridgeway Town Court by Town Justice Joseph Kujawa, who remanded Coley to the county jail on $100,000 cash bail. Coley is to appear in Ridgeway Town Court on May 9 at 9 a.m.

The Task Force said further arrests and charges are pending.

Coley and a 17-year-old girl were arrested at a motel on Oct. 6 after being found with cocaine and a 15-year-old runaway.

The drug charges were dropped against the two defendants because a search warrant wasn’t properly executed in the case and that evidence couldn’t be used.

Coley and the 17-year-old pleaded guilty on April 3 to endangering the welfare of a child for exposing the 15-year-old to drugs and alcohol. Coley and the 17-year-old admitted in court to having alcohol and cocaine in the motel room.

They face a maximum of a year in jail when they are sentenced June 19 for endangering the welfare of a child.

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ALBION – Two people pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Monday and could be sentenced to state prison.

Harold D. Hill Jr., 38, of Lockport admitted he had cocaine on July 6, 2016 when he was arrested at Salt Works Road in Medina.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Hill had the cocaine, which weighed 0.65 ounces, concealed in his mouth.

Hill pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, which normally carries a maximum of 8 years in state prison.

As part of a plea deal, Hill will face no more than 5 years in state prison and up to two additional years of post-release supervision.

He will be sentenced on June 26.

A Holley resident also pleaded guilty to violating his probation. Kevin A. Truesdell, 39, of Hurd Road has multiple prior convictions for driving while intoxicated.

He was arrested for DWI on Dec. 15. He also was driving without a license and was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree.

As part of a plea deal, he will face a maximum sentence of 1 to 3 years in state prison when he is sentenced on June 5.

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Provided photo: Police seized 113 bags of crack cocaine, cash and other drug paraphernalia in Albion on Monday.

ALBION – Three people have been arrested after an investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine from Rochester to the village of Albion, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force is reporting.

Shanya Beasly

The Task Force worked with the Albion Police Department and the Orleans County Multi-Agency SWAT Team is executing a search warrant at 201 West Ave. in Albion on Monday.

Police seized 113 individual bags of crack cocaine packaged for sale, cash, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia. An aggressive pitbull also was encountered during the execution of the search warrant and was subsequently removed by animal control officers, the Task Force said.

The following were arrested:

Virginia Rivera

• Shanya Beasley, 38, of 73 Kingston St., Rochester. She was charged with 4 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies) and 6 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies).

Beasley was arraigned in Clarendon Town Court by the Town Justice Thomas DiFante. She was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond.

• Virginia A. Rivera, 36, of 201 West Ave., Albion. She was charged with 1 count of criminal sale and 3 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies).

Rivera was arraigned by DiFante, who set bail at $5,000 cash or $10,000 bond.

Lamar Nelson

• Lamar L. Nelson, 28, of 1064 Monroe Ave., Rochester. He was charged with 2 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (Class B felonies).

Nelson was arraigned by DiFante, who did not set bail due to Nelson’s previous criminal history. He was committed to the Orleans County Jail. Nelson is currently on federal probation and a detainer was filed with the Orleans County Jail.

All three are to appear in Albion Town Court on May 5 at 9 a.m.

The Task Force said the investigation is ongoing and further charges and arrests are pending.

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ALBION – A Houston, Texas man was sentenced to seven years in state prison by Orleans County Court Judge James Punch on Monday.

Daniel Guzman

Daniel Guzman and a co-defendant were arrested on June 17 for trying to smuggle a kilo of cocaine from Texas into Orleans County. It was the largest cocaine seizure in Orleans County history.

As part of a plea deal, Guzman, 29, faced up to 7 years in state prison. Punch gave Guzman the maximum.

A co-defendant, Luis Alberto Sanchez-Garza, 31, of Mexico has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing on June 5.

Both men pleaded guilty to criminal possession of controlled substance in the second degree.

Law enforcement searched a vehicle on June 17 after getting a warrant. Police heard from an informant that Guzman and Sanchez-Garza were allegedly bringing the cocaine to Orleans County.

Police, including the Albion K9, searched the vehicle that was stopped on East Avenue in Albion and found 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of cocaine hidden in the engine compartment.

District Attorney Joe Cardone praised law enforcement for intercepting the cocaine, which was targeted for sale in Orleans County. Getting the drug off the street spared the community some misery from the drug, Cardone said.

In two other sentencings:

• A Gaines resident who was facing a felony weapons charge was spared going to jail.

John P. Klotzbach, 66, of Ridge Road pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, which could have included a year in the county jail.

Punch said Klotzbach doesn’t have a serious criminal history. The judge gave Klotzbach a one-year conditional discharge where he is not allowed to have firearms or ammunition. Klotzbach must also pay a $200 court curcharge and $50 DNA fee.

In a previous court appearance, Klotzbach admitted he had a shortened shotgun on May 20, 2016. The judge asked Klotzbach is the gun was operable, and Klotzbach said it was.

Klotzbach was charged about a year ago following an investigation by the Task Force, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Klotzbach allegedly attempted to purchase a shotgun and refused to complete the required ATF form 4473 for the federal background check and was subsequently denied the purchase.

Several days later, a female acquaintance allegedly went into the gun store and wanted to purchase the same gun that Klotzbach attempted to buy. The gun store owner became suspicious when he noticed the woman was riding in the same vehicle as Klotzbach, as well as attempting to purchase the same gun that Klotzbach wanted. The store owner then contacted law enforcement authorities.

• A Kent resident was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree.

Daniel Flanagan, 31, of Bills Road was given the maximum sentence as part of a plea deal. He admitted he had been drinking alcohol when he was stopped Dec. 7, 2013 on East State Street in Albion. Flanagan registered a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.23 percent and also was driving without a license.

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