Medina man gets state prison for break-in, leading police on chase

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 October 2013 at 12:00 am

George Brown committed crimes with his children in truck

ALBION – A Medina resident was sentenced to 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison on Monday after he stole a truck, threatened a gas station clerk and led police on a multi-county chase.

George Brown, 36, committed the crimes last December while his children were with him.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said Brown’s actions in front of his children likely traumatized them. The judge said the crimes were abusive to the children.

“I’m just really sorry for what I’ve done,” Brown said in court during his sentencing.

He broke into the Orleans Ford dealership on Dec. 15, stealing a truck and then threatening a clerk at a gas station. Brown then led Medina Police and state troopers on a multi-county pursuit with his two children. He was stopped after driving over spikes deployed by the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.

He pleaded guilty in August to third-degree burglary and third-degree attempted robbery. He received 2 1/3 to 7 years for the burglary and 1 1/3 to 4 years for the attempted robbery. The sentences will run concurrently or at the same time.

The judge said Brown had been “snorting bath salts,” but that didn’t excuse his conduct.

“This is a crime that cries out for punishment,” Punch said.