ALBION – A sergeant and deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will be arraigned at 2 p.m. on Aug. 21 at the Orleans County Courthouse.

A grand jury on Monday handed up a 243-count indictment against two Orleans County deputies, who are accused of submitting false time sheets, log books and collecting pay for security work they didn’t perform.

Sgt. Dean Covis allegedly was paid about $14,000 and Deputy Thomas Marano was paid about $4,000 for security work when they were working shifts for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

The two were paid $20 an hour to provide security at the hydroelectric plant in Waterport. The facility is owned by Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners.

Covis has been charged with 140 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree for allegedly submitting false time sheets and for making inaccurate log book entries for time in and time out, as well as for activities during his shift, said Lawrence Friedman, the Genesee County district attorney who is serving as special prosecutor.

Covis also faces one count of grand larceny in the first degree.

Marano faces 101 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree for submitting false time sheets and log book entries, Friedman said. The deputy also is charged with one count of grand larceny in the first degree.

The alleged crimes occurred near the end of 2013 through the beginning of 2015, Friedman said.

The State Police handled the investigation and charged Marano and Covis on May 17.

Niagara County Court Judge Sara Sheldon is serving as judge in the case.

Covis and Marano were on paid leave, but were notified by the county on July 13 that they would be on unpaid leave but could be paid for unused vacation time.

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ALBION – A grand jury on Monday handed up a 243-count indictment against two Orleans County deputies, who are accused of submitting false time sheets and log books, and collecting pay for security work they didn’t perform.

Dean Covis

Sgt. Dean Covis allegedly was paid about $14,000 and Deputy Thomas Marano was paid about $4,000 for security work when they were working shifts for the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

The two were paid $20 an hour to provide security at the hydroelectric plant in Waterport. The facility is owned by Brookfield Renewable Energy Partners.

Tom Marano

The State Police handled the investigation and charged Marano and Covis on May 17 with first-degree grand larceny and first-degree falsifying business records.

The alleged crimes occurred in late 2013 through early 2015, said Lawrence Friedman, Genesee County district attorney and special prosecutor in the case.

Niagara County Court Judge Sara Sheldon is serving as judge after Orleans County Court Judge James Punch recused himself.

Covis and Marano have yet to be arraigned in County Court.

The indictment lists 140 counts of first-degree falsifying business records and one count of third-degree grand larceny against Covis. Marano faces 101 counts of falsifying business records and one count of third-degree grand larceny.

Covis and Marano were on paid leave, but were notified by the county on July 13 that they would be on unpaid leave but could be paid for unused vacation time.

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

(This article was updated from an earlier version after Friedman provided more details in the case.)

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ALBION – Two women were arraigned in Orleans County Court on Monday for felony drug charges.

Shanya Beasley, 38, of Kingston Street in Rochester faced an 18-count indictment for criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, criminal sale of cocaine in the seventh degree, and criminally using drug paraphernalia in the second degree.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

She is accused of being part of a crack cocaine pipeline from Rochester to Albion. She was arrested in May along with two co-defendants.

She has been free on $25,000 bail. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch is keeping bail at $25,000.

The other co-defendants have pending cases.

In another arraignment, a 58-year-old mother is accused of trying to sneak the narcotic Soboxone into the Orleans County Jail.

Mary Walton of Albion was arraigned on two counts each of promoting prison contraband in the first degree and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree. She pleaded not guilty on Monday to the charges.

Her son Joshua Grosskopf, 26, faces two counts of first-degree promoting prison contraband and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Grosskopf is serving a 6-month sentence for petit larceny.

Grosskopf was arraigned on July 3. He has two prior felonies. The judge set bail at $50,000.

His mother has no previous criminal history. The judge agreed to keep bail at $250, which was set at Town Court.

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ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to 1 ½ in state prison for having criminal sex acts with a girl.

Peter C. Jones, 22, of North Avenue in Medina was 21 when he and the victim had a sexual relationship when she was 13 and 14.

Jones faced a 74-count indictment for the ongoing relationship. He pleaded guilty on July 3 to one count of criminal sexual act in the third degree. He faced a maximum of 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison.

His attorney, Glenn Pincus, asked for probation during sentencing on Monday. Pincus said Jones had already spent a month in jail.

Pincus questioned some of the presentencing report from probation, including dissemination of indecent materials to minors. Jones faced 27 counts of that charge.

But Pincus said Jones didn’t disseminate any indecent photos. Any images that were “risqué” were taking on the girl’s phone, Pincus said.

He also objected to probation describing Jones as a drug user. Pincus said Jones was an occasional marijuana user, “which doesn’t rise to the level of abuse.”

The attorney said circumstances brought Jones and the girl together. They were often babysitting together when their physical relationship started.

Pincus said the girl was promiscuous with other partners. That drew a strong response from Judge James Punch, who told Pincus to stop disparaging the victim and her family.

Jones addressed the judge and apologized to his friends and family.

“I don’t want to be a burden to them, either,” he said. “Frankly, I’m sick of this and I want it to be over.”

The judge said Jones took advantage of an impressionable girl, and bears fault for her being “sexualized.”

“She didn’t consent,” the judge said. “It’s not legally possible.”

In addition to 1 ½ years in state prison, Jones was sentenced to five years of post-release supervision. He will also likely be a registered sex offender when he is released from prison.

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Richard Turrell wants to tackle drug addiction at prison program

Richard Turrell

ALBION – An Orleans County Court judge was prepared to include probation as part of the sentence for a Ridgeway man facing a drug charge.

But Richard C. Turrell told the judge he preferred prison and its drug treatment program. Turrell wants to go to Willard drug treatment campus run by the state prison system.

Judge James Punch said he can’t require the State Department of Corrections to accept Turrell into Willard, but the judge would make the recommendation.

Turrell, 62, is the owner of the Rick & Ron’s automobile business. He was arrested last September. Turrell on May 22 admitted in court to selling cocaine. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. As part of a plea deal, he faced a maximum of two years in state prison.

Turrell said in court that he had the cocaine and it was shared by some of his friends. Sharing it with friends fits the legal definition of selling, Judge Punch said.

Turrell has “no substantial criminal history,” Punch said during sentencing on Monday. The judge said he didn’t think Turrell had reached the criminal level of going to state prison.

When the judge said that, Turrell’s attorney Robert King said Turrell wanted the Willard program in the state prison system.

It was a rare request, long-time court observers said, for a defendant to request state prison over local probation.

“I thought you would benefit from probation because you have a very limited record,” Punch told Turrell. “I will request Willard, but there is no guarantee you will get in.”

Turrell, after conferring with his attorney, said he wanted the state prison sentence.

The judge sentenced him to 1 ½ years in state prison. He also agreed to a request from Turrell’s attorney to not suspend Turrell’s driver’s license because Turrell needs it to keep operating the auto business when he is out of prison.

“It looks like you have a drug problem just like about every defendant these days,” the judge said. “It looks like you are serious about dealing with it.”

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ALBION – Kevin A. Truesdell, 39, served his country with honor as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, his attorney told Judge James Punch today.

Truesdell, a Murray resident, earned three commendation medals and three achievement medals for his service, his attorney Gary Horton told the judge during sentencing this afternoon.

Truesdell developed a bad alcohol problem and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after his service.

He was arrested for DWI on Dec. 15 with a blood alcohol content at 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit.

Since his arrest he has completed an alcohol treatment program in the Orleans County Jail. He also completed a 45-day inpatient program with the Canandaigua VA and was diagnosed with PTSD by the VA in Batavia.

“We often see soldiers rise to the occasion in a combat zone, but when they get home their PTSD symptoms break out,” Horton told Judge Punch. “His drinking got out of control when he got home. He was self medicating with alcohol and he struggled.”

Truesdell has spent the past 4 ½ months in the county jail. He was picked as a trustee in the jail, allowed to do some jobs.

Horton asked that Truesdell be sentenced to time served, and be allowed to be on probation and enter alcohol and PTSD treatment programs.

“Kevin Truesdell does not represent a threat to the community at this point, especially if he gets treatment,” Horton said.

Truesdell addressed the judge and apologized for actions that were “dangerous and irresponsible.”

Truesdell said he will re-enroll in treatment programs through the VA.

Punch said he had “utmost respect” for Truesdell for his service in combat.

But the judge said he couldn’t be lenient given Truesdell’s DWIs, and failure on probation. He violated probation in Genesee County with the latest DWI.

“How do I answer the victims of the future DWI victims?” the judge said. “You are going to kill someone. Alcohol is the biggest enemy in your life, more than any Iraqi has ever hurt you.”

The judge sentenced Truesdell to 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison, the maximum sentence as part of a plea deal.

He also lost his driver’s license and will have to install an interlock ignition device when he resumes driving. That device will check his BAC.

“Unfortunately, as decent a person as you are, you are a menace to society in your current condition,” the judge said.

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ALBION – A Rochester man pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and could be sentenced to up to six months in jail.

Devon Robinson, 23, admitted he was part of a break-in with a truck where cash was stolen.

Robinson said in Orleans County Court on Monday that he smashed the window of a truck in Clarendon on Oct. 19, 2016.

He said he then went back to the vehicle he was driving in while another codefendant took an envelope with cash from the truck. District Attorney Joe Cardone said $8,000 was stolen from the vehicle.

Robinson said in court he knew there was money in the truck after being told by two co-defendants in the crime. But Robinson said he didn’t know how much money, though he knew it was more than $3,000.

He told Judge James Punch that the other codefendants – Brionnah L. Raglan, 21, of Medina and Jade Fayko, 21, of Holley – both took some of the money. The cases against those two are pending in court. (Fayko declined a plea offer on Monday.)

The charge of fourth-degree grand larceny normally carries a 4-year maximum in state prison, but Robinson will face no more than six months in the county jail when he is sentenced on Oct. 2.

In other cases in court on Monday:

• Jenia Suarez-Jimenez, 25, of Telegraph Road in Medina was arraigned for criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

She was charged in April for allegedly selling hydrocodone in Medina and western Orleans County. The judge set bail at $10,000.

• Charles J. Knapp, 48, of East Center Street in Medina was arraigned on three counts each of criminal sales of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

He was arrested on March 1 after an investigation into the sale and distribution of prescription pills (Aprazolam).

Knapp has prior felonies, Cardone said. The judge set bail at $25,000.

• Allen Snook of Medina was congratulated for completing a drug diversion program, which resulted in a felony being reduced to a misdemeanor drug crime.

Snook finished a drug addiction program, stayed off drugs and has a job. He was praised by Judge Punch.

“Congratulations, Allen,” Punch said. “You did a great job.”

Snook told the judge he appreciated his help.

“Thank you for the opportunity to get my life together,” Snook said.

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Press Release, Undersheriff Chris Bourke

HOLLEY – The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to announce that Alexandra L. Finnefrock, 24, and her son Joseph Theo Williams, 2 ½, have been located this evening in Rochester.

Working together with our law enforcement partners in the area, we were able to locate mother and son and bring this search to a safe conclusion for both parties. We in the law enforcement community would like to thank the community for their tips, information and support during this effort.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s would like to give special thanks to the Rochester Police Department, The United States Marshall Service Missing Person Task Force, The United States Secret Service, and Monroe County Sheriff’s Office for their expertise and assistance in this case.

Alexandra L. Finnefrock was arrested on a warrant for endangering the welfare of a child and arraigned by Judge Passarell in the Town of Murray Court. Bail was set at $5,000 cash and Finnefrock is scheduled to return to the Town of Murray Court on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.

Her son has been turned over to family members. A temporary Order of Protection was issued regarding the child.

The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and Orleans County Child Protective Services will continue the investigation into this matter.

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ALBION – Two people were sentenced on Monday to incarceration for selling cocaine in Albion.

A Rochester man with a criminal history received four years in state prison, the maximum sentence as part of a plea deal.

Jeffrey R. Magee

Jeffrey R. Magee, 35, of Parsells Avenue pleaded guilty to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, which normally carries up to 8 years in state prison.

He admitted in a previous court appearance that he had cocaine and sold it in Albion on Feb. 15.

His attorney, David Wade, said Magee had two other jobs and needed some extra money to help pay for medical costs for his 9-year-old son.

“He has the ability to come back from this and be a productive person in society,” Wade told Judge James Punch during sentencing.

The judge refused to give Magee any leniency, and said the defense shouldn’t use the boy as a rationale for selling drugs.

“You are a self-centered drug dealer,” Punch said.

In another sentencing, a 17-year-old boy from Rochester was given 90 days in jail and five years probation for selling cocaine.

The boy, a first time offender, was given youthful offender status. His name shouldn’t be published.

He pleaded guilty to having cocaine and trying to sell it in Albion on March 29.

The judge urged the boy to not continue down a criminal path.

“Otherwise you’ll spread a lot of misery to other people and be miserable yourself,” Punch said.

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ALBION – A Hamlin man was given the maximum of a year in the Orleans County Jail for driving under the influence of heroin and other drugs, and striking and seriously injuring a girl last Sept. 16 on County Line Road in Murray.

County Court Judge James Punch said he wished he could have sentenced Cody L. Buzard to prison, but Buzard is a first-time offender and the maximum sentence for the crime is a year in jail.

Buzard admitted in County Court in April to using heroin and other drugs on Sept. 16, when he hit a 14-year-old girl with a pickup truck and then fled the scene.

He pleaded guilty to attempted vehicular assault in the second degree, driving while ability impaired by drugs and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

The aunt of the injured girl addressed the court, saying her niece was unrecognizable when she was found lying by the road after being hit by the pickup. Her legs were black from bruising, with one at a grotesque angle. She needed a metal plate in her pelvis, a screw in her back, and 13 staples in her stomach after surgery for her kidney and liver.

The teen faced a long road to recovery, but has rebounded due to her courage and determination, her aunt told the court today during sentencing.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said Buzard had taken numerous narcotics.

“He had nearly every substance in his system you could imagine,” Cardone said at sentencing. “This victim will have scars that are emotional and physical the rest of her life.”

Buzard’s attorney Larry Koss said his client has stayed away from alcohol and drugs since the accident 10 months ago.

Buzard feels “tremendous regret” over the accident, Koss said.

“This is not something where he will just go on with his life,” Koss said. “It’s been a driving force for change in his life.”

Buzard has completed a relapse prevention program through the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and is determined to stay off drugs, Koss said.

Judge Punch said Buzard hurt a child, which is a “terrible tragedy.” Other drivers have hit children, Punch said, but Buzard did “with an incredible cocktail of illegal drugs in his system.”

He then drove away from the scene on County Line Road after the accident at about 8 p.m. (After driving away, he came back to the scene and turned himself over to investigators about an hour after the incident.)

“It’s a very selfish act to take that many drugs and drive a car because you take a chance of hurting someone,” Punch said. “And then you did the cowardly act of driving away and leaving a child by the side of the road.”

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