crime

A man wearing a hoodie and a mask entered the Le Roy Rite Aid on Friday night and demanded a clerk give him drugs.

The man claimed to have a gun, according to Le Roy Police.

The armed robbery at 151 West Main Street occurred at 8:55 p.m.

The suspect is described as a white male, about 5' 7".

When he entered the store, he reportedly approached the pharmacists and demanded drugs. He claimed to have a weapon, but no weapon was displayed.

The suspect was wearing blue jeans and a yellow hooded sweatshirt.

After exiting the store, he fled on foot, but police believe he had a car nearby.

Anybody with information that might help solve the case are asked to contact the Le Roy Police Department.

Batavia Police have arrested a man apparently working three jobs for allegedly using his access to credit cards as a gas station attendent to buy material at a building supply company and then selling what he bought as a contractor, but pocketing the proceeds.

Dustin Hurlburt, 32, of 21 Elm St., Warsaw, is charged with four counts of grand larceny, 3rd, and two counts of grand larceny, 4th.

He was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Hurlburt allegedly made more than $22,000 in purchases at Armor Building Supply, where he worked, using credit card numbers he obtained while working as a full-service gas station attendant. 

The purchases were allegedly made for a local building site, where Hurlburt acted as a contractor. He then allegedly billed the customers for the items he purchased using the stolen credit card numbers.

The alleged purchases were made between October 2009 and December 2009. There were reportedly six different transactions ranging from $1,800 to more than $5,000 each.

Det. Kevin Czora spent three months investigating the case and arrested Hurlburt on Friday.

An Oakfield woman is accused of thinking her ex-husband's bank account was still hers for the taking.

Michelle Parker, 39, of 14 Cary Ave., is charged with grand larceny, 4th, grand larceny, 3rd, and perjury, 1st, after allegedly stealing $8,000 from her ex-husband's account.

Parker allegedly gave false testimony about the accounts while under oath in Genesee County Superior Court.

She was released on her own recognizance following her arraignment.

The case was investigated by by Det. Todd Crossett of the Batavia Police Department.

A Batavia woman wanted connection with alleged drug dealing at two strip clubs in Erie County has been arrested.

Cynthia Sims, 25, was initially considered a fugitive following the FBI investigation, but Sims was reportedly taken into custody yesterday.

Twenty-five other suspects have also been charged in connection with the investigation.

The exact charges against Sims have not been released yet.

(via WBTA)

Tammy L. Cicatello, 39, of 18 Pickthorn Drive, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminal use of drug paraphernalia, 2nd. Cicatello was allegedly observed by a member of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force buying drugs while in a car in a parking lot of a Batavia business. Cicatello's car was stopped on Clinton Street Road and Drug Task Force members reportedly found two bags of crack cocaine and two crack pipes, along with some other drug paraphernalia. Cicatello was issued appearance tickets.

R.A. Aaron, 39, of 111 Liberty St., Apt. C, Batavia, is charged with disorderly conduct. Batavia Police officers responded to a report of a disturbance at the Green Wolf Tavern at 10:59 p.m., Thursday. While officers were on scene, Aaron allegedly continued to be belligerent and was shouting obscenities while in the parking lot. Aaron also allegedly pushed a police officer.

Brandon C. Dodd, 23, of 128 1/2 State St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dodd was arrested at 12:43 a.m., today, in Batavia. Dodd allegedly struck another man on the side of his head and also spat on him. Dodd was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Accidents from the state police blotter:

2:43 p.m., March 3, Cato Street, Pavilion, two vehicles; Driver 1: Corey R. Ryan, 20, Le Roy; Driver 2: Kathleen D. Kingsley, 51, of Pavilion. No injuries reported.

A Batavia woman is reportedly wanted by the FBI in connection with an alleged heroin and cocaine ring being run inside two strip clubs in Erie County.

The FBI is encouraging anybody who knows the whereabouts of Cynthia Sims to call the police.

According to WGRZ, several law enforcement agencies were involved over the past year in investigating the alleged drug dealing at the clubs.

The clubs were identified as Rick's Tally Ho in Cheektowaga and 24k Gold in Hamburg.

WGRZ reports that the owners of the clubs say they had no idea that drug dealing was going on at their establishments.

Michael L. Jackson -- accused of burglary, grand larceny, criminal mischief and tampering with a witness -- was in Genesee County Court this afternoon after his attorney, Public Defender Gary Horton, requested a hearing to reschedule the trial.

On Sept. 3, Jackson posted a $10,000 bond and got out of jail. His trial was set for April 19. Because of a case-schedule conflict, Horton asked Judge Robert Noonan to reschedule Jackson's case.

The judge agreed to the request and it is now on the calendar for 9:30 a.m. on June 14. District Attorney Lawrence Friedman had no objections for the People. At trial, the People will be represented by Assistant District Attorney William Zickl.

The scruffy-looking, sleepy-eyed defendant sat alone in the gallery, wearing a striped, short-sleeve polo shirt and faded, baggy jeans with tattered hems. But he was well ahead of his appointed time. 

According to the Grand Jury indictment, Jackson is charged with a count of burglary in the third degree, two counts of grand larceny in the third degree, and two counts criminal mischief in the second degree. He's also charged with tampering with a witness in the fourth degree.

Now an Oakfield resident, he's accused breaking into Holland High Lift, 10033 East Road, Bethany. He allegedly stole a 42-inch Viewsonic flatscreen television, a Samsung 22-inch flatscreen television and a Sony digital camera. He also allegedly stole a 2005 Ford Supercab 250. Jackson also allegedly damaged an office window, a display case, light fixtures, drywall, a motorcycle, computer equipment and an overhead door. He also allegedly damaged the Ford truck.

A man wanted by Batavia Police has been located in Florida and is in a Tampa-area jail awaiting extradition to New York.

A week ago, Batavia Police issued a "wanted" notice for Dajuandrick Gardner, 33, of Byron. Gardner is wanted for an alleged violation of parole.

U.S. Marshalls' took Gardner into custody on Monday.

No information has been released regarding the original charges against him.

When the police released the wanted information on Gardner, they also listed 18-year-old Jeremiah Williams as a wanted person on unrelated charges. Williams remains at large.

A 16-year-old Batavia girl is charged with two counts of petit larceny. She allegedly stole items from Walmart and Kmart. She was arrested at 9:31 p.m., Tuesday.

Deborah Ann Butler, 42, of 5335 Egerton Road, Elba, is charged with issuing a bad check. Butler was picked up on a warrant on the charge.

Lynda Lee Snyder, 27, currently in state prison, is charged with criminal facilitation, 4th. Snyder allegedly allowed a person who had been ordered to stay away from her child to be in the residence and company of the child.

Kelly J. Rhim, 31, of Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Rhim was reportedly stopped by state police on the Thruway in Batavia at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 28.

Accidents from the state police blotter:

8:58 p.m., March 1, Route 98, Alexander, one vehicle: Driver 1: Joyce M. McNutt, 46, of Darien Center. No injuries reported.

6:05 a.m., March 1, Quaker Hill Road, Elba, one vehicle; Driver 1: Karen J. Vancott, 49, Albion. No injuries reported.

Another suspected meth lab has been discovered in Le Roy though no suspects have been charged yet in connection with the operation.

Two people were taken into custody this morning following a traffic stop and are being held on unrelated charges.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster described the operation as fairly significant and more dangerous than any lab the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force has yet uncovered.

"They were using batteries, which is a method we're not particularly familiar with," Brewster said. "We haven't seen that before, but it's a particularly dangerous method."

The lab is not believed to be operational and no completed product was apparently found on scene, but enough precursors were found that the county must be very careful in cleaning up, Brewster said. 

County Emergency Management and a hazmat team are preparing to deploy to the house, which is located at 9434 Route 19.

Taken into custody were C.L. Williams and Nicholas P. Sadwick. They were arraigned in Town Court on unrelated charges, including, for one of them, possession of a hypodermic instrument. One of the men also allegedly had an outstanding warrant out of Monroe County.

The home is owned by a relative of one of the men taken into custody, but the owner is not in custody and has not been charged with any crime.

Two Batavia men were jailed in Wyoming County after a drug task force operation caught them allegedly trying to sell prescription drugs.

Larry Yoho, 37, of North Spruce Street, is accused of selling Xanax and Fentanyl to undercover agents.

Nicholas Williams, 37, of 15 Ross Street, is accused of possession and sale of Xanax.

(via WBTA)

John Alan Delano, 19, of 556 Peck Road, Spencerport, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged aggravated unlicensed operation. Delano was reportedly arrested in the Village of Le Roy in connection with an unrelated incident. Bail in that case was set at $500. Delano reportedly posted bail and then was arrested on the Monroe County warrant and transported to the county line, where he was taken into custody by a Monroe County deputy.

Jeremiah T. Jones, 36, 535 McGinnis Road, Scottsville, is charged with petit larceny. Jones allegedly bought vehicle parts from L&L Transmission and then stopped payment on his check after work was completed on his vehicle.

Alexander J. Delahanty, 20, of Brockport, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Delahanty was stopped by State Police on the Thruway in the Town of Batavia. No further details provided.

Accidents from the State Police blotter:

4:21 p.m., Feb. 26, Allegany Road, Darien, two vehicles; Driver 1: Wayne S. Marks, 39, of Orangeville, Ontario, Canada; Driver 2: Wilfredo Vargas, 31, of Buffalo. No injuries reported.

5:22 p.m., Feb 26, Route 5 and Bater Road, Stafford, one vehicle; Driver 1: James Gideon Halsey, 17, of Le Roy. No injuries reported.

11:21 p.m., Feb 25, Thruway, Mile Marker 400.5, Town of Pembroke, one vehicle; Driver 1: Patrick C. Sieber, 20, of Lancaster. No injuries reported.

10:15 pm., Feb. 25, Thruway, Mile Marker 397.4, Town of Pembroke, one vehicle; Driver 1: Elhadji M. Wane, 24, of Brockport. No injuries reported.

Reginald Wilson will take his chances with a jury.

The Rochester resident with multiple felony convictions is accused of taking part in a four-person burglary that reportedly terrified an older person on State Street. The woman was reportedly home and in bed at the time

Wilson turned down a plea offer this morning that would have capped his sentence at two- to four-years in State Prison.

Wilson would have been required to plead guilty to a felony count of criminal possession of stolen property. On Friday, his attorney, Public Defender Gary Horton, said his client sought a reduction to a misdemeanor.

District Attorney Lawrence Friedman kept the felony offer on the table, but added a sentence cap. Friedman was prepared to drop the more serious burglary, 2nd charge in order to make the plea offer valid.

Wilson said no, even after Judge Robert Noonan reminded him that if walked out of the courtroom this morning without a plea bargain, there was no second chance. His case was going to trial.

The trial is scheduled to start March 29.

If convicted, the 37-year-old Wilson, faces a possible life sentence because of his five prior felony convictions.

In New York law, some felony convictions are considered "predicate" crimes and count toward a possible life sentence on the third felony conviction. Unlike some state's so-called "three strike" laws, New York's does not mandate a life sentence.  

Wilson was allegedly caught driving a car stolen from the residence.

Two of the other three defendants in the alleged burglary admit to taking part in the crime, but say Wilson was not there. A third defendant puts Wilson at the scene and part of the alleged burglary crew.

A jury will decide whom to believe.

Today, Judge Noonan issued an order of protection for one of the witnesses in the case. The witness expected to testify at the trial is not one of the other three men charged in the burglary.

For months, we've heard the same mantra from county law enforcement officials: Lock your cars.

Now, after a spate of thefts from unlocked cars in the village, Le Roy Police are putting out the same plea.

If you don't want your stuff stolen, lock your car.

Le Roy Police report six complaints in the village of items stolen from vehicles left unlocked, mostly in the area of West Main Street, Myrtle Street and Church Street.

Most of the thefts occurred during the night Sunday, but the latest happened on Myrtle Street Tuesday night.

Anyone having information about these thefts is asked to contact the Le Roy Police at 768-2527.

The publication of a security camera photo on The Batavian led to a Batavia man admitting to petit larceny during his arraignment today in City Court.

Robert Douglas, 29, of 48 Buell St., was arrested today by Det. Kevin Czora, after several readers of The Batavian reportedly called police to identify Douglas.

Czora e-mailed us this message:

I arrested Robert Douglas, age 29, from Batavia, today for the theft at Alberty’s. In a bit of a surprise, Douglas pled guilty to the charge of petit larceny at arraignment. Douglas had cooperated once confronted with the fact that he was identified by numerous people after the photos were published. Please thank your viewers for their assistance.

Reginald Wilson may have a long criminal history, he may even have been caught driving an allegedly stolen vehicle, but that doesn't mean he did the crime this time.

Two of the other men who are accused of breaking into a State Street home in Batavia in early September have made sworn statements, according to Judge Robert Noonan, admitting to their participation in the burglary, but they say Wilson wasn't part of the crew.

One other suspect in the burglary has said the 37-year-old Wilson helped in the break-in.

Today, Wilson, who faces a possible life sentence because of multiple prior felony convictions, had to answer to a deadline on whether he would accept a plea offer or take his case to trial.

The offer: A felony count of possession of stolen property with no sentencing agreement.

Wilson turned down the offer.

His attorney, Public Defender Gary Horton, countered with a misdemeanor charge of possession, but that proposal, like District Attorney Lawrence Friedman's offer, faces a legal technicality. Because Wilson is charged with a Class C felony, he can't be offered a plea on a greatly reduced charge unless Friedman asks to have the original count dismissed. Friedman hasn't done that yet.

"I’m not interested in entertaining an illegal plea from either one of you, so thanks for turning it down, Mr. Wilson," Noonan said.

The two attorneys and Noonan agreed to extend the deadline for Wilson to accept a plea to 9 a.m., Monday.

Wilson, who was shackled and dressed in Genesee County Jail orange, was fairly animated during the proceeding, especially when conferring with his attorney. While Friedman and Horton were talking privately with Noonan, Wilson leaned over and tried to get First Asst. D.A. David Gann's attention to say, "hello, Mr. Gann."

After Noonan granted an extension on the plea deadline, Wilson said emphatically, "Thank you, Your Honor," before leaving the courtroom.

Prior to Wilson's hearing, Joseph D. Dash, 24, who was also arrested in connection with the State Street burglary, admitted to a prior attempted burglary in exchange for a dismissal of charges in the State Street crime as well as another burglary, which Dash hadn't been charged with yet, on Pringle Avenue.

Dash has a prior felony conviction -- attempted robbery, 2nd -- from March 2003. With that prior felony, Dash faces a 5- to 7-year sentence on the attempted burglary conviction.

The other two suspects in the State Street burglary are Quentin L. Gibson, 25, and Dillon M. Brito, 19. We don't have any information at this time on the status of their cases.

Photos: Top, Wilson; bottom, Dash.

Carylee A. Logan, 44, 7079 Meadville Road, Basom, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, leaving the scene of an accident, driving left of pavement marking, unreasonable speed for hazards, refusal to take breath test. Deputy Jason Saile was dispatched at 11:26 p.m., Wednesday, to the scene of a one-car accident on Sandhill Road, Town of Alabama. Upon arriving, he found the driver had left the scene. After further investigation, Saile concluded Logan was the alleged driver and that she allegedly drove drunk.

Jeffery M.  Rider, 31, of 8130 Route 5, Le Roy, is charged with resisting arrest. At 10:50 p.m., Tuesday, Deputy Bradley D. Mazur reportedly tried to execute an arrest warrant for Rider for alleged violation of probation. At the time of the attempted arrest, Rider allegedly resisted arrest. Rider was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Robert L. Vanburen, 48, of 370 W. Main St., lower, Batavia, is charged with throwing an injurious substance on the highway (littering), DWI and aggravated DWI with a BAC of .08 or greater. Vanburen was stopped by Officer Dan Coffey at 11:53 p.m., Wednesday, on West Main Street.

Robert F. Williams, 49, of 114 State St., Apt. #3, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Williams is accused of grabbing a woman and throwing her. She was not injured.

A 17-year-old from Bergen is charged with criminal contempt. The youth is accused of shoving another person. There was an order of protection barring such conduct.

Kimmie A. Welsh, 43, of Corfu, is charged with DWI and operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs. Welsh was stopped by State Police at 9:40 a.m., Tuesday, at the intersection of Route 33 and Route 77 in the Village of Corfu. No further details available.

Clarence L. Blackmon, 39, of Oakfield, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd. Blackmon was arrested by State Police at noon, Tuesday. He is accused of stealing an item valued at less than $3,000. No further details are available.

Tanya L .Thyret, 31, of Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and an equipment violation. Thyret was stopped by State Police at 8:45 p.m., Tuesday, on Culver Road, Town of Bativia. No further details are available.

Accidents from the state police blotter:

4:59 p.m., Feb. 22, Thruway, Mile Marker 399 west, Pembroke, two vehicles; Driver 1: William Burton Lewis, 22, of East Amherst; Driver 2: Leonard E. Neal, 58, of Gravehurst, Ontario, Canada. One injury reported. No further details available.

Two Batavia men were arrested last night after the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force executed a search warrant at 13 Ross Street, lower, looking for a suspected meth lab.

What officers reportedly found was a dismantled lab and some quantity of methamphetamine in various stages of production.

The two suspects in the case were apparently not at the residence at the time of the raid and were located elsewhere in the county.

Taken into custody were Warren T. Cotton, 33, and Eric D. Johnston, 31.

Cotton is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. Johnston is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Cotton was arrested following a traffic stop at Walkers Corners Road in Byron. Johnston was located on Evans Street.

While Johnston was released on an appearance ticket, Cotton was jailed without bail.

The investigation is ongoing.

Assisting in the case were Wyoming County Drug Task Force, the Genesee County District Attorney's Office, the Office of Emergency Management and Mercy EMS.

Photos: Warren T. Cotton, upper right; Eric Johnston, lower left.

The following indictments have been handed down by a Genesee County Grand Jury:

Jeffery M. Wisinski, 38, of 7484 Lake St., Vienna, seven counts: Burglary, 2nd; petit larceny; burglary, 3rd; grand larceny 3rd; criminal mischief, 2nd; criminal mischief, 3rd; and, grand larceny, 4th. Wisinski is accused of breaking into a garage at 510 Bloomingdale Road, Alabama, on or about Sept. 10 or 11 and stealing a 2007 Dodge Charger and a credit card. For more on Wisinski's arrest on Nov. 6, click here.

Jason John Reed, 33, of 33 Sunset Parkway, Oakfield, four counts: driving while intoxicated as a class E felony; driving while intoxicated with a BAC of .08 or greater; aggravated unlicensed operation; and endangering the welfare of a child. Reed is accused of driving drunk on Nov. 26 on Pearl Street in Oakfield. Original report, click here.