Third suspect in Elba robbery enters not guilty plea

Posted by Howard Owens on July 6, 2009 - 10:32am
Tagged in
Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionSend to friendSend to friend

mug-Wells-Michael_front.jpgBATAVIA, N.Y. -- Michael J. Wells, the third suspect in the June 18 robbery of the M&T Bank in Elba, entered a not guilty plea at his arraignment this morning.

Wells is being represented by Thomas Burns. Burns made no application for bail this morning, so Wells continues being held in Genesee County Jail without bail.

Because there was no bail hearing, none of Wells statements or his background were discussed in court.

Last week both Damone Dillon and Dennis Abrams pleaded not guilty and Judge Robert Noonan assigned each $250,000 bail and $500 bond.

UPDATE: I just spoke with Thomas Burns, who is representing Wells, and he said he is communicating with District Attorney Lawrence Friedman on the eventual disposition of the case. Burns said he agreed not to make a bail application as part of that process. "We felt compelled to honor the request as a sign of good faith in negotiations," Burns said.

Previously:

Posted by Peter O'Brien on July 6, 2009 - 10:40am
Sounds to me like a prudent move by his attorney to keep the lid sealed on the case and any evidence till the trial.
Posted by Tyler Hall on July 7, 2009 - 3:27am
I wonder how Mr. Burns feels at night knowing that he represents and makes a living out of the degenerates of society.
Posted by Peter O'Brien on July 7, 2009 - 5:52am
He feels great standing over his power plant.....
Posted by Howard Owens on July 7, 2009 - 6:47am
Tyler, if your comment is serious -- being a defense attorney is a noble and necessary occupation. Because there are in this country men and women dedicated to ensuring that defendants have the opportunity to receive competent and aggressive representation, all of us are less likely to be unduly and unfairly prosecuted by the state. Defense attorneys are essential to our judicial system in which all people are presumed innocent until proven guilty and in which no person can be jailed except through due process of the law. The Fourth Amendment would be meaningless without defense attorneys.

I can't speak for Mr. Burns, but if I were a defense attorney, I know I would go to be proud and sleep well.

BTW: It would also be an unfair characterization to say that every client of a defense attorney is a degenerate. Some times good people do bad things and get caught.