Holley man sentenced to state prison for DWI

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 August 2018 at 2:55 pm

ALBION – A Holley man was sentenced to 1 1/3 to 4 years in state prison today for felony driving while intoxicated and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

James Nottingham, 38, of Thomas Street has three prior felonies and seven previous misdemeanors, District Attorney Joe Cardone said.

The DA asked County Court Judge Sanford Church to sentence Nottingham to incarceration, “considering his conduct and prior criminal history.”

Joanne Best, the public defender, asked for probation or a split sentence with local jail time. She said Nottingham has been working full-time the past 10 months and the DWI on Feb. 6 in Murray was his first criminal since 2013, and first crime involving alcohol since 2009.

“I messed up by drinking,” Nottingham told Judge Church. “The only thing I can do is move on with my life. I have a good job and want to take care of my kids.”

Nottingham also was ordered to pay court surcharges and a fine of $1,000.

In other cases in County Court today:

• A Buffalo man who fired a gun inside O’Brien’s Tavern on Dec. 10 was to be sentenced today but that was moved back until Sept. 13 so a presentence investigation report could be completed by the Probation Department.

Patrick Casanova, 24, has been in the Niagara County Jail for a drug possession charge. He wanted to be sentenced today for criminal possession of weapon in the second degree. But Cardone and Judge Church both wanted to have the presentence investigation report completed before sentencing.

Casanova could face up to 7 years in state prison for the charge in Orleans County. Casanova wasn’t targeting anyone when he fired the gun into the ceiling at O’Brien’s, police said.

• A Medina woman pleaded guilty to attempted hindering of criminal prosecution in the second degree and could face up to 60 days in jail and three years on probation.

Nikki Buzard admitted in court today to driving a car and taking two co-defendants away from State Street Park in Medina after the two allegedly robbed two people at gunpoint on March 8.

Buzard could have faced up to a year in jail, but as part of a plea deal the sentence will be no more than 60 days in jail.

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