‘I need help,’ woman says, before being sentenced to year in jail for drug crime

ALBION – One woman was sentenced to a year in jail today while another man scheduled for sentencing was jailed without bail and had his sentencing delayed after he showed up in court under the influence of drugs.

Nathan L. Parsad, 24, of Williamson was due to be sentenced today for criminal possession of a controlled substance. But Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said Parsad was clearly under the influence. He was swaying while trying to stand up in court, and showed up for sentencing more than an hour late.

Parsad admitted in court he had been using heroin.

Parsad was driving on Jan. 12 on Ridge Road in Gaines when he was in an accident. Parsad and two of his passengers – Caitlin E. Jones, 29, of Canandaigua and Eric L. Shirley, 28, of Canandaigua – all faced drug charges after police found drugs in the vehicle.

Parsad and Jones were both due to be sentenced today. They were initially eligible for Drug Court. If they completed that court, the drug charge would have been reduced to a misdemeanor. But they were kicked out of Drug Court when they tested positive for drugs.

Parsad will be sentenced on Thursday after he is given three days to sober up. He is being held in jail without bail.

Jones also was an hour late for sentencing. She admitted she had recently been using cocaine and heroin. However, she said she wasn’t under the influence of the drugs and could be sentenced today.

Her attorney Lance Mark asked that Jones be sentenced to treatment.

“She has a long history of drug problems,” Mark told Judge Punch.

Jones was given an opportunity to speak at sentencing.

“It’s been ruining my life,” she said about drugs. “I need help.”

The judge said Jones said she didn’t want Probation, which could have included conditions for treatment.

“You don’t seem to have the wherewithal to overcome this problem,” Punch told her. “We can’t force you to accept treatment.”