Man who stole kayak gets 3 to 6 years in prison

ALBION – A Medina man who let in a friend’s loose dog and then stole a kayak was sentenced to 3 to 6 years in state prison today by Orleans County Court Judge James Punch.Brandon Taylor, 33, of Fletcher Chapel Road pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. He could have been sentenced to 3 ½ to 7 years in state prison.

He is second felony offender. 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.

Taylor apologized to the victim in court during sentencing today.

In other cases in court court:

Richard Klaver, 53, of Catherine Street in Medina pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and violation of Probation.

Klaver could be sentenced to up to four years in state prison on June 2.

Jackie L. Sponaugle Jr., 22, of Ashwood Road in Waterport pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He could be sentenced to up to seven years in state prison on July 14.

Sponaugle admitted he broke into a Carlton home on Gaines Road and stole items on Aug. 19, 2013. He also said he had morphine and intended to sell it on Oct. 3.

Lori Martinez, 46, of Park Avenue in Medina was to be sentenced today after she pleaded guilty on Feb. 24 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.

The district attorney’s office also is pursuing welfare fraud charges and wants Martinez to repay $11,600 in welfare benefits she collected over a year’s time.

Judge Punch will have a restitution hearing next month, when Martinez is expected to be sentenced. Punch said the presentence investigation report says the CPCS charge is based on an isolated incident, not a series of sales.

He wants evidence that Martinez was profiting from drug sales on more than one occasion before ordering her to pay restitution.