ALBION – Two people who pleaded guilty to drug crimes won’t be going to jail, but instead will be on probation.

County Court Judge James Punch had stern warnings for both on Monday. If they test positive for a drug while on probation, they would likely be put in jail.

Betty Russell, 57, of Medina was sentenced to four years on probation. She pleaded guilty on Oct. 3 to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, which normally carries a maximum sentence of 1 ½ to 3 years in prison.

Russell is battling health problems and is on disability. She has a “very limited criminal history” with her last misdemeanor from 41 years ago, her attorney Mark Lewis told Punch.

Russell in a previous court appearance admitted to selling hydrocodone and acetaminophen pills on Jan. 29, 2016.

“This is an aberration,” Punch said during sentencing on Monday. “It’s not something you would normally do but you did it and there has to be some consequences.”

Russell also was ordered to pay $89 in restitution to the Orleans County Major Felony Crimes Task Force. She also had her driving privileges suspended for six months.

Maja L. Pugh, 19, of Lockport was sentenced to three years probation for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. She admitted to using meth at an Albion apartment on April 19.

Pugh is a first-time offender who didn’t have a role in the meth manufacturing, Punch said.

She apologized for the crime in court on Monday.

Punch told Pugh to stay away from drugs.

“It will suck the soul right out of you and destroy you,” Punch said.

The judge also sentenced her to 40 hours of community service and suspended her driving privileges for six months. He said she will be tested regularly while on probation and if there is a positive test she will face a year in jail.

“I can’t stop you from using but here is my therapy for you. If you use, you will go to jail for a year,” Punch said.

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Judge sets Feb. 7 as trial start for man facing assault charge

ALBION – Two people were sentenced in Orleans County Court on Monday.

Jarred Hodgins, 28, of South Townline Road in Lyndonville was sentenced to 1 ½ years in state prison plus 2 years of post-release supervision.

Hodgins in a previous court appearance admitted to having cocaine and selling it on March 16 in Ridgeway. Hodgins pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, which carries a maximum sentence for 4 years in state prison.

Hodgins has struggled with substance abuse issues for many years, his attorney Jon Ross Wilson told County Court Judge James Punch.

Hodgins has been in prison before. His attorney asked for “shock incarceration.”

Punch said he would recommend the state Department of Correctional Services provide shock incarceration where Hodgins would receive treatment for drug addiction.

Heather Pratt, 32, of Countyline Road in Kendall was sentenced to four months of weekends in jail plus 5 years of Probation for felony driving while intoxicated.

She was arrested for DWI in Kendall on Sept. 11, 2016, her third DWI. She registered a 0.16 Blood Alcohol Content.

Judge Punch also revoked her license for one year.

In another case, a Medina teen was offered a plea deal for an alleged assault on Nov. 6.

Lucas Porter, 17, was charged with first-degree assault, which could carry a maximum of 25 years in state prison.

Porter allegedly stabbed a Buffalo man at a house party in Ridgeway, puncturing his lung and just missing his heart, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.

The DA told Judge Punch there is no argument for self defense for Porter in the case.

Cardone offered a plea deal where Porter could plead guilty to second-degree assault, which carries a maximum of seven years in prison. Porter and his attorney were given a couple weeks to consider the offer from the DA.

In another case, the judge set 1 p.m. on Feb. 7 as the start of trial against Michael Thompson, 49, of Medina.

Thompson 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.

Thompson faces charges of second-degree assault, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and second-degree menacing.

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

The latest charges against Thompson are being prosecuted separately from the drug charge.

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ALBION – A Medina man with a lengthy criminal record had bail set at $500,000 cash or bond today by Orleans County Court Judge James Punch.

Robert A. Beedham Sr., 54, faces first-degree assault charges after he allegedly used a knife to seriously injure a person on Dec. 30 in Medina.

Beedham, a resident of 12 East Center St., has three prior felonies and numerous misdemeanors, District Attorney Joe Cardone told Judge Punch today.

The judge listed off some of the prior crimes – assault, menacing, criminal contempt, burglaries, larcenies, criminal mischief, resisting arrest, and injuring a person while confined in a correctional facility.

“I am asking for extremely high bail,” Cardone told Punch during the bail application hearing. Beedham had already been arraigned in Ridgeway Town Court but Punch set the bail.

Beedham’s attorney Nathan Pace said Beedham has always made his court appearances in the past. Pace asked for “reasonable bail.”

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David P. Perry Sr.

ALBION – A Kendall man sentenced to 4 years in state prison last week now faces child pornography charges that could keep him in prison even longer.

David P. Perry Sr., 68, of Norway Road was arraigned this afternoon in Orleans County Court on 21 counts of possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child.

Judge James Punch set bail for Perry at $300,000 cash or bond.

Perry was sentenced last Tuesday to sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of five girls ranging in age from 13 to 15.

Perry allegedly got children drunk and then performed sex acts on them.

“I accept responsibility and I’m sorry for everything that happened,” Perry said during his sentencing last week.

Perry allegedly forced juvenile victims to smoke marijuana and drink alcoholic wine and vodka over several months in 2015. At times, the victims would reportedly consume these substances to the point of becoming impaired and intoxicated.

In May he was arrested for possession of an obscene sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old.

Approximately 15,000 images of suspected child pornography were found on Perry’s devices that were submitted for analysis. Many of the images found were children between the ages of 2 and 9 years of age, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said when Perry was charged in May.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said the victims in the child pornography are not the same victims who were intoxicated with Perry in the other crime.

Nathan Pace is the assigned counsel for Perry. Pace entered a not guilty plea on Perry’s behalf during this afternoon’s arraignment.

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ALBION – A Kendall man who allegedly got children drunk and then performed sex acts on them was sentenced to a maximum four years in state prison.

David P. Perry Sr., 67, of Norway Road was called a “child molester” by County Court Judge James Punch.

Perry faced a 1 ½ to 4 year sentence in prison. The judge gave Perry the maximum, saying he is “a serious danger to society.”

Perry had pled guilty previously to sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of five girls ranging in age from 13 to 15.

“I accept responsibility and I’m sorry for everything that happened,” Perry, wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, said at sentencing today.

Perry allegedly forced juvenile victims to smoke marijuana and drink alcoholic wine and vodka over several months in 2015. At times, the victims would reportedly consume these substances to the point of becoming impaired and intoxicated, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office reported when he was arrested.

He was charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child because Perry would allegedly made five girls undress, then he would perform various criminal sexual acts and sexual abuse, according to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

It is also alleged that Perry would force the victims to pose for pictures while undressed or partially dressed.

Perry also was arrested and charged with 15 counts of possession of an obscene sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old.

Approximately 15,000 images of suspected child pornography were found on Perry’s devices that were submitted for analysis. Many of the images found were children between the ages of 2 and 9 years of age, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said when Perry was charged in May.

Those charges against Perry are still pending.

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ALBION – A Medina teen who allegedly stabbed a Buffalo man on Nov. 6 at a party, nearly causing his death, was arraigned in Orleans County today.

Lucas Porter, 17, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of first-degree assault, one count of criminal mischief in the third degree, one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and violation of probation.

He had been free on $10,000 bail after being arraigned in Ridgeway Town Court last month. But County Court Judge James Punch increased the bail today to $25,000.

“This is a profoundly serious charge,” Punch said today during Porter’s arraignment.

The alleged incident occurred at a party in the early morning hours on Nov. 6 at a private residence on Mill Road in Ridgeway. The victim tried to gain entry to the party along with some friends. A fight then broke out involving several people, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said in a news release on Nov. 7.

The victim was initially treated at Medina Hospital for a stab wound to the chest and then was transported by Mercy Flight to the Erie County Medical Center.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said today the victim suffered a punctured lung and likely wouldn’t have survived without medical attention.

Porter also allegedly stabbed a 2013 Honda car with a large knife as friends of the victim were attempting to leave the scene and transport the victim to the hospital, Bourke said.

Porter has been on probation after being charged with a burglary in Albion in March 2015.

He was a star of Medina’s varsity football team this past season, earning a spot on the annual All-Western New York football squad.

The team was undefeated in its division during the regular season. Porter had a team leading 6 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 55 tackles.

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ALBION – Three people pled guilty to felony crimes in Orleans County today and could be sentenced to state prison.

A Medina man admitted to selling cocaine in Albion on Feb. 16, 2016 at the Save-A-Lot parking lot.

Eddie Joe Nichols, 61, of West Avenue pled guilty in County Court to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree. The charge normally carries a maximum of 1 ½ to 8 years in state prison.

As part of a plea deal, Nichols will face no more than 4 years in state prison when he is sentenced on March 6.

The judge revoked Nichols bail, which had been set at $250,000.

• Adam Gallo, 31, of Eagle Harbor Road in Albion admitted to selling “wax,” a highly potent form of concentrated marijuana on Aug. 9.

He pled guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and could face up to 2 ½ years in prison when he is sentenced. He has no prior criminal record.

• Marcie Conlon, 43, of Holley pled guilty to attempted forgery in the second degree.

She was working as nurse manager in the wellness center of the Iroquois Job Corps Center in Shelby on April 2, 2015 when she said she falsely completed a physician’s sheet, writing a prescription for a student, and then using the Ativan, a prescription for anxiety, for herself.

Conlon is a second felony offender. She will face a minimum sentence of 1 ½ to 3 years and a maximum of 2 to 4 years when she is sentenced on March 6.

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ALBION – Three people who committed felony crimes in Orleans County were sentenced today to either the county jail or state prison.

Jada Sorta, 20, of Sawyer Road in Kent received the longest sentence at 3 ½ years in state prison. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said he was going to give Sorta a longer sentence, but he was impressed by her honesty and willingness to take responsibility for the crime.

Sorta previously pled guilty to attempted burglary in the second degree, which carries a maximum of 3 to 7 years in state prison. Sorta admitted to entering a home without permission on Ridge Road in Murray on May 21, stealing a bank card, keys to a vehicle and a MP3 player.

Her attorney, Dominic Saraceno, asked the judge for some leniency given that Sorta was born in the Sierra Leone and lost her mother at a young age. Sorta was in an orphanage until she was adopted by a local family.

“She didn’t have the luxury of the best childhood,” Saraceno said. “I ask that you take that into consideration.”

Sorta then interjected.

“I had a very good Christian family and I made some bad choices in the last few years,” Sorta told Punch.

In addition to 3 ½ years in state prison, the judge sentenced Sorta to 5 years of post-release supervision. He told her that honesty and taken responsibility for a crime is the first step in breaking from committing crimes in the future.

In other sentencings today:

• A former Waterport man, Kelly Chellino of Lockport, was sentenced to a year in the county jail for violating probation after he admitted to drinking alcohol, using cocaine, and punching a person in the head. He said in a previous court appearance he was sober for 3 years but relapsed in the end of June.

He apologized to his family, his probation officer and “everyone involved in this.”

“I deserve this,” he said about the sentence. “I fell off the wagon and started drinking.”

• Dustin Herzog, 27, of Albion was sentenced to six months in jail for petit larceny. He admitted to stealing chainsaws from Nesbitt Farms, a Waterport fruit farm where he was working. Herzog said in a previous court appearance he sold some of the chainsaws at pawn shops.

He apologized to the Nesbitt family today in court.

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David P. Perry Sr.

ALBION – Sentencing was moved back a day for a Kendall man who pled guilty to multiple charges of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of five girls ranging in age from 13 to 15.

David P. Perry Sr., 67, of Norway Road asked Orleans County Court Judge James Punch to sentence him this afternoon.

But Perry’s assigned attorney, David Morabito, wasn’t in court.

Punch didn’t want to sentence Perry without the presence of an attorney.

“Your honor can I ask that you sentence me now,” Perry said to the judge.

“You can ask but I’m going to deny it,” Punch responded.

Rather than move the sentencing back two weeks when court was next scheduled to meet, Perry will be sentenced at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday.

“I don’t want these victims to have to wait two more weeks,” Punch said.

Perry allegedly forced juvenile victims to smoke marijuana and drink alcoholic wine and vodka over several months in 2015. At times, the victims would reportedly consume these substances to the point of becoming impaired and intoxicated, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office reported when he was arrested.

He was charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child because Perry would allegedly make five girls undress, then he would perform various criminal sexual acts and sexual abuse, according to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

It is also alleged that Perry would force the victims to pose for pictures while undressed or partially dressed.

Perry also was arrested and charged with 15 counts of possession of an obscene sexual performance by a child less than 16 years old.

Approximately 15,000 images of suspected child pornography were found on Perry’s devices that were submitted for analysis. Many of the images found were children between the ages of 2 and 9 years of age, Undersheriff Chris Bourke said when Perry was charged in May.

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ALBION – Two men who were arrested on June 17 in the biggest cocaine seizure in Orleans County history have been offered plea deals that would result in lengthy prison sentences.

Daniel Guzman

The two men were allegedly trying to smuggle cocaine from Texas into Orleans County.

Daniel Guzman, 29, of Houston, Texas and Luis Alberto Sanchez-Garza, 31, of Mexico each are in jail on $500,000 bail. Both men face Class A-1 felony charges for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the first degree. The drug seized has a street value of about $150,000.

Luis Alberto Sanchez-Garza

District Attorney Joe Cardone offered the two plea deals on Monday. If they plead guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, they would still be facing several years in state prison.

Guzman, who has at least one prior felony, would face a maximum of 10 years, while Sanchez-Garza, who doesn’t have a prior felony, would face up to 8 years.

The two are considering the offer from the DA.

Cardone said law enforcement searched a vehicle on June 17 after getting a warrant. Police heard from an informant that Guzman and Sanchez-Graza 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.

In another case on Monday, a former Medina resident was sentenced to nine months in jail for criminal mischief in the fourth degree.

Hamzah Abdur-Rasheed, 22, formerly of East Center Street in Medina admitted in court to damaging a door on May 19, 2014. Judge James Punch said Abdur-Rasheed engaged in “violent bullying.”

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ALBION – Two teen-agers who were arrested at a motel in early October after being found with cocaine were arraigned in Orleans County Court on Monday.

Andrew L. Coley, 19, of Albion and a 17-year-old girl from Webster were arraigned on two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, two counts of CPCS in the fifth degree, endangering the welfare of a child and unlawful possession of marijuana.

The Albion Police Department and Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force executed a search warrant on Oct. 6 at a motel in Albion.

After entry was made into the room, police discovered a runaway juvenile inside the room from Parsons Children and Family Center in Albany. Coley and the girl also were allegedly in the room.

Police also found drugs packaged for sale, including crack cocaine, heroin, prescription pills, marijuana, cash and other drug paraphernalia, the Task Force said in a news release announcing the arrests.

County Court Judge James Punch set bail at Coley for $5,000 and $1,000 for the girl, who may be given youthful offender status. (If given youthful offender, her name shouldn’t be published.)

In other arraignments on Monday:

• Edgar L. Rosario, 30, of Medina was arraigned on charges of felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

He was arrested on Sept. 25 after he was allegedly driving drunk with a BAC of 0.18 percent and struck a house on Eagle Harbor Road. District Attorney Joe Cardone said Rosario has two prior convictions for driving while impaired/intoxicated. Judge Punch set bail at $5,000.

• A Hilton woman was arraigned on charges of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth and seventh degrees.

Sara Harris, 35, allegedly was found with heroin and pills in her vehicle when she was stopped in Murray on Oct. 26 by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Harris allegedly had two amphetamine pills and 18 small, plastic bags which field tested positive for heroin.

Judge Punch set bail at $10,000 for Harris.

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Hamlin man arraigned, while judge recuses himself in another case

ALBION – A Hamlin man was arraigned today in Orleans County Court for vehicular assault after an alleged hit-and-run in September when a 14-year-old girl was struck and seriously injured on County Line Road.

Cody L. Buzard, 23, of Redman Road appeared in court today to be arraigned for second-degree vehicular assault, driving while ability impaired by drugs and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.

Judge James Punch set bail at $50,000 for Buzard.

The girl injured in the accident was treated for a broken femur, shattered pelvis, and laceration to her spleen. She was transported to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester by Mercy Flight.

Buzard was allegedly driving a pickup truck on Sept. 16 when he hit the girl. After driving away, he came back to the scene and turned himself over to investigators about an hour after the incident. He was arrested after failing field sobriety tests, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office reported in Sept. 21.

In another alleged hit-and-run accident, Judge Punch recused himself from the case against Jeffrey P. VanNostrand, 52, of Kent.

VanNostrand on Aug. 16 allegedly struck a child on a bicycle at 8:47 p.m. on Baker Road. The girl was injured and transported to Strong Memorial by Mercy Flight.

VanNostrand allegedly fled the scene and turned himself in the following morning. He has been charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, driving while ability impaired and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident.

Judge Punch said the case is very similar to another hit-and-run with VanNostrand in 1989 where a girl was injured.

The judge said he remembered the details from the 1989 case, back when he was district attorney in Orleans County. The judge recused himself from the latest case with VanNostrand. Another judge will have to come in for the arraignment and to handle the case.

“This is a rare thing for me,” the judge said about recusing himself. “But I find it infuriating (VanNostrand faces charges in a similar hit-and-run).”

ALBION – Three people pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Monday for either felony driving while intoxicated or drug crimes.

Christopher Aldrich, 47, of West Avenue in Albion pleaded guilty to felony DWI. He was stopped in Albion on July 24 after he was driving erratically.

Aldrich admitted he had been drinking before driving that day. He has a prior DWI in 2012.

The charge normally carries a maximum of 4 years in state prison, but as part of a plea deal Aldrich will face no more than a year in county jail when he is sentenced on Feb. 6.

• A Byron woman with a past DWI also pleaded guilty to felony DWI. Lindsay Skivington, 29, of Cook Road admitted she had been drinking before driving when she was arrested in the Village of Albion on July 31. She was stopped for speeding.

As part of a plea deal, she will face no more than 6 months in jail when she is sentenced on Feb. 6.

• Christopher Haitz, 45, of Medina pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth and seventh degrees.

He was accepted in the Drug Court program. If he completes the program, the more serious charge will be dismissed.

Haitz admitted in court he had heroin with the intent to sell it at the Bates Road boat launch by the canal on July 2.

If he is unsuccessful in Drug Court, he would face the maximum sentence for the most serious drug charge – 2 ½ years in state prison.

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ALBION – Three people will be spending time in either the county jail or state prison after being sentenced today in Orleans County Court.

Billy J. Ray, 40, of Phipps Road in Albion was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison for criminal contempt in the first degree.

Ray, during an Oct. 31 court appearance, admitted to violating an order of protection when he was in jail by using the phone and threatening someone’s life who he was ordered to not have contact with.

Judge James Punch said Ray on many occasions threatened the victim in the crime.

“This was a reign of terror,” Punch told Ray during sentencing this afternoon. “You’re a bully and you’ve bullied this woman for a long period of time.”

Ray apologized in court for scaring the victim.

His attorney, Dominic Saraceno, asked for Probation for Ray. Saraceno said Ray has taken responsibility for the crime, and has a minimal criminal record.

“He never once blames his victim,” Saraceno said. “He blames his own compulsive behavior.”

Punch said Ray deserves time in prison.

“You are profoundly self-centered with no concept of other people’s rights,” the judge said.

In other sentencings:

• A Holley woman who admitted to violating her probation by driving with a suspended license, and by using marijuana and heroin, was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in state prison.

Stephanie M. Rauch, 27, of North Main Street has been given opportunities to avoid prison, but hasn’t been successful, Punch said.

“There is really nothing more that we can do to help you with your drug problem at this point,” Punch told her.

Her attorney, Dominic Saraceno, said a drug addiction is fueling Rauch’s problems.

“She will, hopefully, get past this,” Saraceno said.

• A 19-year-old man from Shelby was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 10 years of probation for first-degree sexual abuse.

The man was 18 when the crime occurred and was given youthful offender status, meaning his name shouldn’t be published after he has been sentenced. He has no prior criminal record.

The man admitted to having sexual contact with the victim, who was also intoxicated to the point of being physically helpless.

“This is a disturbing and disgusting crime, there is no other way to describe it,” Punch said.

He ordered the man to pay a $1,000 victim fee and also issued an order of protection for the victim.

Saraceno, the attorney, said the man has mental health issues.

“It’s pretty obvious the defendant has serious issues to address,” Saraceno told the judge.

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ALBION – A Medina man was arraigned in Orleans County Court on Monday for rape and numerous counts of sexual abuse and criminal sex acts.

Peter C. Jones, 22, of North Avenue in Medina allegedly had an ongoing sexual relationship with a girl who was 13 and then turned 14. The alleged crimes occurred between March 20 and July 1, according to the District Attorney’s office.

Jones was arraigned on one count of second-degree rape, 22 counts of criminal sexual acts in the 2nd degree,  8 counts criminal sexual acts in the third degree, 1 count of endangering the welfare of a child, 27 counts disseminating indecent materials to minors in the second degree, 11 counts of sexual abuse in the 2nd degree and 4 counts of sexual abuse in the third degree.

Jones, who was indicted by the grand jury on Oct. 20, has two prior misdemeanors. His attorney entered a not guilty plea for Jones and requested that County Court Judge James Punch set no bail.

Punch set bail at $10,000 on Monday and also issued an order of protection for the alleged victim.

In another arraignment on Monday:

Jessica D. Hale, 26, of South Avenue in medina was arraigned on felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree.

She was stopped by police on Sept. 29 on West Avenue in Shelby. Punch set bail at $1,000 for Hale, who entered a not guilty plea.

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