Medina man sentenced to 6 months in jail for burglary

ALBION – A Medina man was sentenced to six months in Orleans County Jail today after he pleaded guilty on March 14 to attempted burglary in the second degree.

Michael Santoro, 23, of Gwinn Street could have faced a state prison sentence. Santoro has been off drugs for 9 ½ months, been committed to a drug treatment program and has a full-time job. He has turned his life around, he told Judge James Punch during sentencing this afternoon.

“I’m not the same boy who committed the crime,” Santoro said.

He admitted in March to breaking into a house in Ridgeway between April 26 and May 1, 2015, and taking jewelry and other items. He was ordered today to pay $5,018 in restitution to the victims in the crime, and $2,500 to State Farm Insurance. He is to begin paying over three years when he gets out of jail.

Santoro’s attorney, Nathan Pace, asked for no jail time for Santoro, given his recovery and new direction, as well as no prior felonies.

“He was in such a mess, but he has gotten himself clean,” Pace told the judge.

But Punch said some jail time was necessary given the severity of the crime as a home invasion.

Punch told Santoro he needs to be vigilant in staying away from drugs.

“Nine and half months is a good start, but that’s all it is,” Punch told Santoro. “These are powerful addictions that you will have to work on for years and years to come.”