Man sentenced in County Court to 10 years probation for third-degree rape
ALBION – A Cobleskill man, 36, was sentenced this morning to 10 years of probation and also will be a registered sex offender for having sex with a 16-year-old girl.
Ronald R. Cook Jr. pleaded guilty on July 29 to one count of third-degree rape. As part of that plea, he could have faced up to six months in jail and 10 years of probation.
Cook met the girl through a 4-H rabbit program. The girl wasn’t from Orleans County but the crime occurred at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds, said District Attorney Joe Cardone.
Cook has no prior criminal history. He said he takes “100 percent responsibility” for the crime. He asked in court today that he be allowed to continue to work full-time because he is his family’s sole provider.
Cook’s daughter participated in a 4-H rabbit program. Cook said he is no longer part of the program.
Joanne Best, the public defender, also asked County Court Judge Sanford Church to not make incarceration part of the sentence so Cook can continue with his job. If Cook violates any terms of his probation, he could be sentenced to incarceration, Best said.
He will appear in County Court again on Nov. 2 for Church to determine what level Cook will be registered as a sex offender.
The judge also fined Cook $1,000 for the crime and assessed $375 in other court and sex offender surcharges.
In other sentencings this morning:
• A Medina woman had her sentencing adjourned on Oct. 28 to give more time for the court to consider the impact of the sentence with other charges in federal court.
Tashira Allee, 36, of Medina previously pleaded guilty to criminal possession of stolen property in the fifth degree. She could face up to a year in the county jail when she is sentenced.
Allee admitted in a previous court appearance she had a stolen trailer on July 21, 2019.
In court today she agreed to pay $1,500 of restitution.
She is a co-defendant in the case with her husband, Anthony Allee. He also is facing federal charges. He has been charged with possession with intent to distribute, and distribution of, marijuana, hydrocodone, and cocaine, unlawful possession of a machine gun, and unlawful possession of a stolen firearm, which carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life.
• Brook Maynard, 20, of Albion was sentenced to four months of weekends of in jail for a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge. She was also fined $500. She won’t be on probation.
