county court

Miller murder trial to start next week

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 March 2014 at 12:00 am

Frederick Miller

ALBION – The trial against accused murderer Frederick Miller of Carlton will start next week.

Jurors will be picked beginning at 10 a.m. March 10 at the Orleans County Courthouse. The District Attorney’s Office expects the trial will last a week to 10 days.

Miller, 61, is accused of killing his live-in girlfriend on March 4. Miller allegedly bludgeoned and stabbed Rachel Miller several times. He has been charged with second-degree murder.

The couple allegedly had a fight on March 4 at a home they shared on Oak Orchard River Road. Rachel Miller, who was formerly married to Miller’s cousin, was 53 when she died as a result of blunt force trauma combined with multiple stab wounds, according to an autopsy. Her body was discovered early in the morning on March 4 by an Albion school bus driver.

Frederick Miller hired defense lawyer Robert King of Rochester on Dec. 7. For nearly nine months Miller was represented by the public defender.

Judge sets bail at $75K for man accused of selling cocaine

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 February 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Orleans County Court Judge James Punch set bail at $75,000 for a Rochester man accused of selling cocaine in the village of Albion on Oct. 6.

Timothy Turner, 33, of Mount Read Boulevard was arraigned in court on Monday for criminal  possession and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Turner has a prior felony record and he hasn’t always shown up in court for scheduled appearances, Punch said when he set bail.

In other county court cases:

Lori Martinez, 46, of Park Avenue in Medina pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. She is accused of selling hydrocodone and another prescription narcotic on May 18. The prescriptions were prescribed to her.

She will be sentenced April 21 and could receive up to 2 ½ years in prison or a lesser sentence.

A Medina man was arraigned on three counts of both criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, as well as third-degree welfare fraud.

Stacy Bryan, 23, of West Avenue allegedly sold dextroamphetamines on three occasions. He profited from the sales and didn’t report the income while collecting welfare benefits, the district attorney’s office said.

A Medina resident was arraigned for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree.

Jason Fidanza, 41, of Slade Road allegedly sold hydrocodone and another prescription narcotic in Ridgeway on June 18.

2 approved for Drug Court in Orleans

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – Orleans County Court Judge James Punch on Monday approved two local residents for the Drug Court program, which provides services for people with addictions and applies consequences if they use drugs.

Krystle L. Hughson, 30, of Albion pleaded guilty to petit larceny after she allegedly entered a motor home on Beachwood Boulevard in Albion on Dec. 20. Once inside, she is accused of stealing prescription pills.

Hughson told Judge Punch she was retrieving a loose dog for the owner. When she went inside the motor home, she confessed to taking prescription medication that wasn’t hers. She said she didn’t enter the home with the intention to taking the medication. But once inside, she stole the pills.

If Hughson successfully completes Drug Court, the petit larceny charge will be dismissed.

In another case for Drug Court, Joseph Piedmont, 48, of Lydun Drive in Albion pleaded guilty to grand larceny in the fourth degree and petit larceny.

If Piedmont completes Drug Court, the grand larceny charge will be dropped and he will be sentenced for petit larceny with the stipulation of no jail time.

Piedmont confessed in court to using his mother’s credit card without her permission. He used it to take money from an ATM to buy drugs, the DA’s office said.

Harriger offered plea with 25-year max in state prison

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 February 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A pastor accused of sex crimes against children was offered a plea deal in Orleans County Court on Monday that would carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in state prison.

Roy Harriger, the pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in the town of Hartland, faces six counts of sex abuse charges. He has pleaded not guilty.

Harriger, 70,  of Middleport was charged in November with three counts of coarse sexual contact in the first degree and three counts of incest. District Attorney Joe Cardone presented a plea for Harriger to plead guilty to the three counts of coarse sexual contact. Cardone said he wouldn’t pursue the incest charges.

The coarse sexual contact charges carry a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years in state prison. The sentence for the three counts would run at the same time, according to the plea offer from the DA.

Harriger is represented by attorney Larry Koss. Harriger did not accept the offer in court on Monday. He has until April 7 to decide. That is his next court appearance. He can accept the plea offer or the case will go to trial.

Judge James Punch has ordered Harriger to stay away from church and any other locations where there are children 18 or younger.

Harriger was first arraigned in the Yates Town Court on Nov. 27 after being charged by the state police. He posted $250,000 bail. Punch has kept the bail at $250,000.

The alleged crimes by Harriger occurred against three family members between September 2000 and September 2001, when he was pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville.

“Witnesses can’t say exactly when they happened, but there were multiple offenses with multiple victims,” Cardone said in court on Monday.

3½ years in prison for mom who sold drugs in Albion

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 February 2014 at 12:00 am

Theresa Nichols

ALBION – An Albion woman was sentenced to 3½ years in state prison today for selling hydrocodone and other prescription narcotics. She and her two sons were arrested on Oct. 1 and accused of selling drugs in Albion.

Theresa S. Nichols, 51, of 209 North Main St. apologized in court before she was sentenced.

“I want to say I’m sorry,” she told County Judge James Punch. “I know I was wrong.”

Nichols on Dec. 9 pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. She faced up to four years in state prison.

Her attorney, Michael O’Keefe of Medina, asked for probation for Nichols. He said she has been taken AA classes in jail and has a place to live on Countyline Road with her fiance.

Punch said Nichols has been on probation before and it didn’t stop her from committing crimes. He insisted on state prison.

“You’ve been profiting from the sale of this poison in our community,” Punch said.

Nichols has a prior criminal history. She was on social services and disability. She was selling prescription narcotics to supplement her income, O’Keefe said in a previous court appearance.

She has been in county jail for about six months on $25,000 bail.

Her two sons also face numerous counts of criminal possession and sale of a controlled substance. The sons, along with their mother, were allegedly selling hydrocodone and tramadol pills, which were prescribed to the mother.

David Nichols, 28, was sentenced to three years in state prison on Feb. 10. He pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Joshua Nichols, 26, also faces charges of selling prescription narcotics. His case is pending in court.

Police add weapons charge to pastor accused of sex crimes

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 February 2014 at 12:00 am

Harriger

ALBION – A pastor accused of sex crimes against children in his family faces a new charge of criminal possession of a firearm.

The Rev. Roy Harriger, 70, faces the new charge because Harriger allegedly possessed an unregistered revolver at his residence on Nov. 27. State police reported Harriger did not have a valid permit for the revolver.

Harriger was issued an appearance ticket in Town of Hartland Court for 7:30 p.m. on March 10.

Harriger, pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in Middleport, was arraigned in the Orleans County Court on Monday before Judge James Punch. The arraignment was based on a six count indictment handed up by the Orleans County grand jury charging Harriger with three counts of course of sexual conduct against a child, two counts of incest and one count of incest in the first degree. All are felonies.

Judge Punch issued an order of protection barring Harriger from having any contact with the alleged victims. Judge Punch further ordered that Harriger is not to have any contact with any person under the age 18, without any exceptions, pending the outcome of the case.

Man who sold drugs with mother is sentenced to 3 years in prison

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – An Albion man who admitted to selling drugs with his mother was sentenced to 3 years in state prison on Monday.

David Nichols, 28, on Dec. 16 pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. Nichols admitted to trying to sell prescription narcotics that were rolled into cigarettes.

He faced 1 ½ to 4 years in state prison as a second-felony offender. Orleans County Court Judge James Punch gave Nichols 3 years.

Nichols has a prior charge of first-degree criminal contempt in Genesee County in November 2008 as well as other charges when he was granted youthful offender.

He was represented by the public defender’s office, which said in court that Nichols was left to “fend for himself” in ninth grade when he was mother was sentenced to prison. Nichols quit school in ninth grade and tried to support himself.

Judge Punch said Nichols had several opportunities through probation to avoid crime but he “failed miserably.” The judge said Nichols capitalized on the misery of others by “spreading synthetic narcotics.”

His mother and brother also await sentencing. Theresa S. Nichols, 51, has pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court to selling hydrocodone and other prescription narcotics.

She could face up to four years in state prison after she pleaded guilty to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. She will be sentenced on Feb. 24. She admitted in court to selling hydrocodone to an undercover police officer.

She also faces a charge of felony welfare fraud in the third degree.

Her son Josh Nichols, 26, will be sentenced on March 24. He could face up to 2 ½ in state prison after pleading guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Bail set at $75K for Albion man facing robbery and burglary charges

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – An Albion man was arraigned on robbery and burglary charges on Monday, when Orleans County Court Judge James Punch set bail at $75,000.

Kyle Depoty, 23, of Albion faces charges of third-degree robbery and petit larceny for allegedly taking items from the Albion Wal-Mart on Dec. 8 and then threatening to harm a store employee.

Depoty also has been charged with second-degree burglary and petit larceny for allegedly stealing a camera, camcorder and cigarettes from an Eagle Harbor home on Dec. 4. He also faces probation violation charges.


In other cases in county court:

An 18-year-old Murray man was arraigned for disseminating indecent material to a minor. Damien Jost of Ridge Road was remanded to jail on $2,500 bail.

He was charged in September with endangering the welfare of a child, use of a child in a sexual performance and disseminating indecent material to a minor. An investigation showed he was allegedly sending and receiving photos of a victim who was 12 years old that he was messaging on-line. Jost also allegedly sent the 12-year-old images of him having sex with his girlfriend.

Jost will be represented by the public defender’s office. Judge James Punch issued an order of protection for the 12-year-old.

Tricia Stoller, 29, of Groth Road in Holley pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. She faces a maximum sentence of 1 to 3 years in state prison when she is sentenced on May 12.

Stoller told Judge Punch that she stole a credit card on Sept. 27, 2012 from her sister-in-law and used the card. Stoller also admitted in court to having stolen coins and currency from a Murray residence. She said she planned to sell them at a pawn shop.

A Rochester man admitted to selling cocaine at the Burger King in Albion on Nov. 22. Kamerin Burroughs, 23, of Normandy Street pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

Burroughs, a first-time offender, will be sentenced to no more than six months in jail as part of a plea deal. He will be sentenced May 19.

A Brockport woman admitted to helping sell cocaine in Albion on Oct. 6. Brigitte Lutsch, 20, allegedly drove a drug dealer to Albion. She said she was aware cocaine was in her vehicle and that the drug was to be sold.

She has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 2 ½ years in state prison. She has been accepted into drug court. If she completes the program, which usually takes about a year, the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor.

An Albion man also was accepted into drug court. Jeffrey Starkweather, 51, admitted he had a prescription narcotic that wasn’t prescribed to him on Aug. 1, 2013.

A first-time offender, he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree. The charge carries a maximum sentence of a year in county jail. The charge will be dismissed if he completes drug court.

A former Orleans County resident was arraigned for third-degree welfare fraud. Otis Hardy was allegedly living in Florida while collecting local welfare benefits. He is in jail on $5,000 bail.

Morris Taylor now charged with selling cocaine

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 February 2014 at 12:00 am

Taylor

ALBION – A former state track champion and football star from Albion, who already faced robbery and rape charges, now has been accused of selling cocaine.

Morris Taylor, 23, was arraigned on Monday on charges of third degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He allegedly sold cocaine in the village of Albion on Sept. 4.

Taylor is in jail on $75,000 bail. Last Feb. 28, he allegedly was armed with a knife and robbed a pizza delivery person outside Mark’s Pizzeria in Albion. After the robbery, Taylor allegedly left the area with $300. Judge James Punch set May 7 as the start date for a trial for that case.

Taylor is represented by attorney Mark Foti of the Parrinello Law Firm in Rochester. Foti told Judge Punch the firm was hired first to represent Taylor for the robbery charge and hasn’t yet agreed to represent Taylor for the additional charges. Foti agreed in court to do so on a provisional basis.

Taylor on Dec. 2 was arraigned on first-degree rape and forcible compulsion rape. Those crimes allegedly occurred on Thanksgiving morning.

Pastor ordered to avoid church due to presence of children

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2014 at 12:00 am

Roy Harriger pleads not guilty to sex abuse charges

Harriger

The pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in the town of Hartland was told to stay away from church and any other locations where there are children 18 or younger.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch made that stipulation on Roy Harriger today. Harriger, pastor of the Community Fellowship Church, faces six counts of sex abuse charges. He was arraigned in county court this afternoon and pleaded not guilty.

He asked through his attorney, Larry Koss of Brockport, to be permitted to attend church. But Punch said Harriger needs to stay away from church and any homes with children. He also must not email and have any communications with children.

“There will be no exceptions,” Punch said at the arraignment.

Harriger was arraigned on three counts of coarse sexual contact in the first degree and three counts of incest. He was first arraigned in the Yates Town Court on Nov. 27 after being charged by the state police. He posted $250,000 bail. Punch kept the bail at $250,000.

He also ordered Harriger to surrender all of his guns after the request was made by District Attorney Joe Cardone. Harriger has already surrendered one gun but Cardone said he believes Harriger has others, and Cardone wants them turned over.

The alleged crimes by Harriger occurred against three family members between September 2000 and September 2001, when he was pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville.

Harriger, 70, of Middleport was the pastor at Ashwood Wesleyan for 12 years before he was terminated by the church in 2009 after a falling out with denomination leaders. Harriger then started a new church, Community Fellowship Church in Johnson Creek, which is in Niagara County.

A state police investigation revealed the alleged crimes were perpetrated in New York, as well as the states of Michigan and Pennsylvania between 1974 and 2003. The alleged incidents in Michigan and Pennsylvania have been referred to their respective State Police agencies, New York State Police said.

Cardone is prosecuting the charges against Harriger in Orleans County. Cardone said he had no comment if charges will be pursued in the other states.

Harriger is next scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 24.

Pastor indicted for sex crimes against children

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 February 2014 at 12:00 am

Harriger

A pastor who used to lead a church in Lyndonville has been indicted by an Orleans County grand jury on charges of incest, first-degree sodomy and course of sexual conduct against three children.

The Rev. Roy Harriger, currently pastor of the Community Fellowship Church in the town of Hartland in Niagara County, allegedly committed the crimes between September 2000 and September 2001, when he was pastor of the Ashwood Wesleyan Church in Lyndonville.

Harriger, 70, of Middleport was charged on Nov. 27 by the State Police with two counts of Course of Sexual Conduct (B Felony), two counts of Incest (E Felony), and four counts of Sodomy 1st (B Felony).

A state police investigation revealed the alleged crimes were perpetrated in New York, as well as the states of Michigan and Pennsylvania between 1974 and 2003. The alleged incidents in Michigan and Pennsylvania have been referred to their respective State Police agencies, New York State Police said.

Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone is prosecuting the charges against Harriger, who was the pastor at Ashwood Wesleyan for 12 years before he was terminated by the church in 2009 after a falling out with denomination leaders. Harriger then started a new church, Community Fellowship Church in Johnson Creek, which is in Niagara County.

Former Albion resident could get 9 years for cocaine possession

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A former resident of West Park Street in Albion could be sentenced to up to 9 years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third and fifth degrees.

Tyriek Johnson, 26, now lives in Fairport. He said in Orleans County Court on Monday that he was trying to sell cocaine in Albion on March 14, 2013. He said he was driving on Platt and Ingersoll streets, looking to sell the drug.

He is a first-time felony offender. He will be sentenced on April 28.


In other drug cases in county court on Monday:

Tracey Stratton, 51, of Vermont pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a charge that carries a maximum of 2.5 years in state prison.

As part of a plea deal, she will face up to a year in jail. She will be sentenced on April 7.

Stratton was charged after she mailed a controlled substance, the drug buprenorphine, to her son, who was an inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility. She mailed the drug on Dec. 20, 2012.

Stratton was initially charged with promoting prison contraband in the first degree and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree.

Her son Jason Seifert, 28, pleaded guilty last week to promoting prison contraband when he received the controlled substance from his mother. Seifert could face another year in jail, plus three years probation when he is sentenced on April 7.

Two men were arraigned for criminal sale of marijuana in the third degree. Christopher Hoste, 33, of Bishop Road in Appleton and Michael Nellist, 35, of East Center Street in Medina both face four counts of criminal sale of marijuana.

The sales allegedly took place in Ridgeway on May 20, July 3, October 23 and October 30.

Rudolfo Juarez-Ramerez, 30, of 17255 Lakeshore Rd., Kendall, pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. He will be sentenced to up to a year in jail on March 31.

Juarez-Ramerez admitted he sold cocaine and received $80 for the transaction. He was charged in June after a multi-agency law enforcement effort resulted in 13 local arrests for drug and immigration crimes.

Man who stole kayak could get up to 7 years in state prison

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2014 at 12:00 am

MEDINA – A Medina man who let in a friend’s loose dog and then stole a kayak could be sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison.

Brandon Taylor, 33, of Fletcher Chapel Road pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary in Orleans County Court on Monday.

He is second felony offender. He will be sentenced on April 14.

Taylor said he was in drug and alcohol withdrawal on Nov. 6, when he saw his friend’s dog running loose. He returned the dog to a house on Portage Road and discovered an enclosed porch was unlocked. He admitted in court to taking a kayak from the porch. He said he knew he was stealing.

Judge James Punch is keeping bail at $25,000 for Taylor. He also approved a request from the District Attorney’s Office for an order of protection for the victim of the crime.


In other cases on Monday:

Judge Punch set bail at $100,000 for an Albion man who allegedly repeatedly violated orders of protection.

Brian Beach, 42, of West Park Street has two prior felonies. He has been charged with aggravated criminal contempt.

A Batavia man who was banned from Wal-Mart but then allegedly stole from the store in Albion was arraigned for third-degree burglary and petty larceny.

Jason Lang, 33, of Liberty Street in Batavia allegedly stole two coffee machines and a blender from the Albion store on Nov. 20. Because he was banned from Wal-Mart, he faces a charge of burglary.

An Albion man pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and could face up to six months in jail when he is sentenced April 28.

Josh Porter, 40, of East Park Street was charged with DWI after being stopped on Sept. 7 on East Center Street in Medina. He registered a 0.13 percent blood alcohol content, above the legal limit of 0.8 percent.

He has a prior DWI from Oct. 27, 2011 in Lockport. If he receives a sentence of more than six months in jail, he can withdraw his plea.

Botello pleads guilty to attempted murder of trooper

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 3 February 2014 at 12:00 am

Kendall man faces maximum of 9 years in prison

Botello

ALBION – A Kendall resident could face a maximum of nine years in state prison after he pleaded guilty today to attempted murder in the second degree.

Carlos Botello, 42, said in Orleans County Court today that he backed a car towards state trooper Dan Metz and smashed into the trooper’s patrol car on Sept. 3. But Botello said he wasn’t trying to injure Metz, who jumped out of the way and wasn’t hit by the car.

Botello said he was intoxicated at the time. He said he was trying to smash into the police car, but he insisted he didn’t want to hurt Metz.

However, Metz testified in a hearing last week that he and Botello made eye contact when Metz was standing behind Botello’s vehicle. Botello then accelerated, nearly pinning Metz between the two vehicles, Judge James Punch said in court this afternoon.

Botello’s blood alcohol content was 0.11 percent, which is above the 0.8 BAC threshold for DWI, but not “highly intoxicated” to the point where he didn’t know what he was doing, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.

Metz’s patrol car also was 25 to 30 feet behind Botello, and Botello accelerated and continued until he hit the patrol car.

“The defendant had plenty of opportunity to stop,” Cardone said in court.

Botello could face a maximum of 25 years for second-degree attempted murder. He could face a life sentence as a persistent violent felon.

Rather than risk a longer sentence with a guilty verdict at a trial, Botello said he is pleading guilty with the stipulation he not spend more than 9 years in state prison. Judge Punch will sentence Botello on April 14. If the sentence is longer than 9 years, Botello can withdraw the plea.

Botello also pleaded guilty to drunk driving. He faces a year maximum sentence for that and the sentence will run concurrently. It won’t be added to the other one.

As part of the plea deal, Punch could order Botello to pay restitution for the damaged car, pay a fine, have his license revoked and install an interlock ignition device, as well as attend a victim impact panel.

Medina woman, 27, could get 7 years in prison for selling stolen guns

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 29 January 2014 at 12:00 am

ALBION – A Medina woman pleaded guilty in Orleans County Court on Monday to third-degree criminal sale of a firearm.

Rebecca Bischoff, 27, could get sentenced to a maximum of 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison when she is sentenced by Judge James Punch on March 31. She could also receive a lesser sentence.

She told Judge Punch she sold a stolen revolver from her boyfriend Christopher Hollenbeck, 27. She told the judge she knew it was stolen and sold it to someone in Medina. The revolver has since been recovered.

Bischoff  and Hollenbeck were arrested after an investigation into a June 13 burglary of a Mill Road home in Ridgeway. Bischoff waited in the car while Hollenbeck entered the house and stole nine guns.

Hollenbeck pleaded guilty on Jan. 13 and also will be sentenced on March 31. He faces a maximum 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison. He said he broke into the house using a credit card, took nine guns and defaced them. Bischoff drove him to the site and allegedly helped him sell the defaced guns.


In other cases in county court:

A Medina man pleaded guilty to misdemeanor driving while intoxicated and felony aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. Milton Hinkley III, 41, of Glenwood Avenue was charged with DWI and AUO after he was stopped on May 18, 2013 on Glenwood Avenue.

Hinkley, has a prior DWI in 1999, District Attorney Joe Cardone said. Hinkley could receive a maximum of four years in state prison or he could receive a lesser sentence. Judge Punch will sentence Hinkley on March 31.


Two Medina men were offered plea deals that would put them in state prison for a maximum of five years.

Lorenzo Poole, 30, of Dresser Road and Jason Wills, 28, of Church Street both have been charged with second-degree assault, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison.

The two were charged after an Oct. 27, 2013 incident at the parking lot of the Walsh Hotel in Medina when they each allegedly hit a man in the head with a beer bottle, causing a gash to the forehead and a broken nose.

Poole has four prior drug convictions, Cardone said, and Wills has a prior conviction.


An inmate at Orleans Correctional facility pleaded guilty to promoting prison contraband when he received a controlled substance, the drug buprenorphine, in the mail from his mother.

Jason Seifert, 28, has been at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion since April 23, 2010. He was sent to prison after being convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

On Dec. 20, 2012, he received buprenorphine in the mail under the postage stamp. He didn’t have a prescription for the drug and he knew it was against the prison rules to have it, he told Judge Punch.

Seifert could face another year in jail, plus three years probation when he is sentenced on April 7.

His mother, Tracey Stratton, 51, of Vermont, has been charged with promoting prison contraband in the first degree and criminal sale of a controlled substance in the fourth degree. Her case is pending.


A state Canal Corporation worker accused of stealing $5,700 worth of metal from the Canal Corp.’s Albion maintenance facility was offered a reduced charge if he pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny and paid restitution.

Bruce Rotoli, 55, of Albion has been charged with third-degree grand larceny and third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was arrested in May following a four-month investigation by state police, Village of Albion police and the Thruway Authority, which runs the canal system.

Police say that Rotoli in the fall of 2012 removed bronze bushing material from the Albion maintenance facility. Rotoli is currently on disability.

The DA’s office has video from various scrap yards of Rotoli selling the stolen property, Assistant DA Susan Howard said in court on Monday. Rotoli’s case was adjourned.


An Oakfield woman pleaded guilty to two counts of drug possession. Serena L. Weber, 28, avoided jail and will enter Drug Court. She pleaded guilty to fifth-and-seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.