batavia

Thomas Harold Hofer, 51, of South Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with coercion, 1st, two counts of criminal mischief, 4th, criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and trespass. The charges against Hofer stem from an alleged domestic dispute with his girlfriend at 9:43 p.m., Sunday, in the Town of Batavia. Hofer was jailed on $5,000 bail.

John Everett Pfalzer, 48, of Sumner Road, Darien, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Pfalzer is accused of striking the hand of another person. The alleged incident was reported at 10:40 a.m., Monday.

Deborah A. Schramm, 32, of Lewis Place, Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant for alleged failure to appear on an attempted petit larceny charge.

I'm excited to announce this this morning: Join The Batavian Club and receive two free tickets to a Batavia Muckdogs home game in 2013.

That's right, each member of the club will receive a voucher redeemable for two general admission tickets to any home game (July 3, excluded).

Also, we're up to $270 in gift certificate value for members redeemable at 26 different local businesses.

Join The Batavian Club and SAVE: Currently, members will receive $270 in gift certificates to local businesses -- far more value than the cost of the membership! (more info below).

TO JOIN: Use PayPal buttons below, or to pay by check (annual only) or credit card, click here to download form. Or call (585) 250-4118 to pay by credit card.

Annual membership, one payment of $60
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual household membership, one payment of $120
Includes two membership cards, bumper sticker, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Single Membership - $5 per month
Includes membership card and bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Monthly Household Membership - $10 per month
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Single Membership - $50 per year
Includes membership card, bumper sticker, package of gift certificates to local businesses.

Annual Household Membership - $100 per year
Includes two membership cards and two bumper stickers, one package of gift certificates to local businesses.

A female who claims she was jumped by three other females on State Street is seeking treatment in the emergency room at UMMC. Police are responding to the ER.

Trouble is brewing at the Batavia Mobile Home Park. One tenant has called emergency dispatchers with a complaint of loud music at one of the lots. The person playing the music called dispatchers to gripe that the irate neighbor is banging loudly against the side of his/her trailer (in an obvious attempt to quiet things down). Sheriff's deputies are responding.

Press release:

Batavia Downs Casino has closed the books on another record year, with a casino expansion starting in less than one month and the possibility of enhanced gaming on the horizon. The facility has enjoyed at least 4-percent growth every year since opening in 2005.

The 640 video lottery terminals at the track’s gaming parlor generated $45.1 million last year in net winnings, according to the NY Lottery. This figure is up 13.38 percent from 2011’s $39.78 million. Earnings in 2011 were 5.53 percent over what was earned in 2010.

“As one of the nine New York State Racetrack Casinos, we are giving back to the State of New York via our daily contributions to the New York State Lottery, and our distributions to our member municipalities,” said Michael Kane, CEO and president for Batavia Downs Casino.

Batavia Downs in owned and operated by Western Regional Off-Track Betting, a public benefit corporation. Municipalities that own Batavia Downs Casino include: the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, and the counties of Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Orleans, Oswego, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Wyoming.

“As a public benefit corporation, all revenues net expenses are distributed to the fifteen counties and two cities of Western New York,” said Ryan Hasenauer, director of marketing for Batavia Downs Casino. “People know that when they come here for entertainment, their money is going to New York State, either via the lottery for education or to the counties that they live and work in. We’re happy to give back.”

Maurice G. Leach, 36, of 212 State St., Batavia, is charged with menacing, 3rd, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and criminal tampering, 3rd. Police officers Eric Hill, Thad Mart and Chris Camp responded to a report of a male subject hitting a woman outside 212 State St. at 8:39 a.m., Sunday. During the investigation, Leach allegedly became combative and when officers attempted to place him into custody, he allegedly resisted arrest. While at police headquarters, Leach allegedly urinated and defecated on the floor of the holding cell. Leach was jailed on $50,000 bail.

Edward R. Freida, 41, of 47 Tracy Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 3rd. Freida was allegedly found in possession of a switchblade knife during a routine search of his residence by a probation officer. Because Frieda has a prior conviction for criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, the charge is elevated to third degree. Freida was jailed without bail.

Jessica L. Polk, 36, of 202 Bank St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and endangering the welfare of a child. Polk is accused of pushing and grabbing a child during a domestic incident.

Ann M. Schlegel, 35, Lawrence A. Atkins, 35, and Leon D. Atkins, 16, all from Medina, are charged with petit larceny. The trio is accused of attempting to steal $337.31 in merchandise from Kmart at 5:54 p.m., Sunday.

Scott Dwayne Kingdon, 46, of Sparks Road, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Kingdon is accused of sending e-mails to a person in violation of an order of protection.

Nathaniel L. Beglinger, 21, of Peaviner Road, Alexander, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Beglinger is accused of recklessly causing damage to a building in Darien, causing more than $250 damage, at 12:35 a.m., Dec. 1.

Dennis J. Saporito, 25, of Culver Road, Albion, turned himself in on a bench warrant out of Batavia City Court for alleged driving while ability impaired. Saporito was arraigned and sentenced to 10 days in jail.

Robert Lee Ealey, 26, of Phelps Road, Rochester, Ealey was taken into custody by Rochester PD on a bench warrant issued by Genesee County Court and turned over to the Sheriff's Office. Ealey was held pending arraignment today.

Adam M. Miller, 20, of Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Miller is accused of damaging property with a value greater than $250 at 4 a.m., Jan. 1, in the Town of Shelby. Miller was arrested by State Police. No further details released.

A driver making a left-hand turn out of Rite-Aid said he never saw a pedestrian in the middle of West Main Street Road at 12:55 p.m., Saturday, sending the victim to Strong Memorial Hospital aboard Mercy Flight.

The victim, Arthur L. Osborne, 46, of West Main Street Road, Batavia, has been discharged from Strong.

Craig D. Rich, 56, North Lyon Street, Batavia, was cited for allegedly driving without a license.

Rich was exiting the Rite-Aid parking lot with the intention of heading east when he struck Osborne, who was in the center of Route 5 at the time.

The accident was investigated by Deputy Joseph Corona.

(Initial Report)

Didn't catch the address, but somewhere on Jackson Street in the city there's a poor pooch shivering on a porch. And that's been the case for many hours, according to a caller to the Emergency Dispatch Center.

The caller alerted authorities about the dog some time this morning and then about a half hour ago called again to say nothing had changed. Efforts to contact the owner, who lives "in the right side apartment," to tell her to take care of the animal, have so far been unsuccessful.

It's been about 35 degrees today and could get down to 22 degrees tonight, according to the National Weather Service, plus there's an 80-percent chance of more snow.

Press release:

The Batavia City Council and city manager are seeking city residents who are interested in volunteering as a member of the following committees/boards:

• Board of Assessment Review
• Historic Preservation Commission
• Youth Board
• Planning Board – Alternate Member

Residents interested in applying can obtain an application from the City Clerk’s Office or can visit our Web site at www.batavianewyork.com and download a Committee/Board Application under Downloadable Forms.

Applications are due to the City Clerk’s Office by Friday, Jan. 25.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:

Office of the City Manager

One Batavia City Centre

Batavia, New York 14020

Phone:  345-6330

Fax:  343-8182

E-mail:  jmolino@batavianewyork.com

A pedestrian has serious injuries after being struck by a car in front of the Castilone Chrysler dealership at the corner of West Main and North Lyon streets. City police, fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 8:58 p.m.: Mercy Flight is on ground standby. Medics intend to take the victim via ambulance to the airport hangar for transport to a hospital. Traffic control is needed and westbound lanes are getting a little backed up.

UPDATE 9:11 p.m.: The victim is well en route to the Mercy Flight hangar. City Engine 11 is back in quarters.

UPDATE 10 p.m. (by Howard): According to Sgt. John Peck, the pedestrian was walking in the westbound lane of West Main Street. Another person out walking a dog tried to tell the pedestrian to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk, but the pedestrian, who appeared to be intoxicated, would not do it and even became belligerent. The driver of the red pickup never even saw the pedestrian until just before hitting him. No charges are anticipated. The pedestrian suffered a possible serious head injury and was unconscious when police first arrived on scene. The patient was conscious by the time he was transported by Mercy EMS. Peck said there appeared to be no issue with the snow that prevented the man from walking on the sidewalk.

UPDATE 10:58 p.m.: The pedestrian has been identified as Kevin G. Viehdeffer, 52, of Batavia. The driver has been identified as Ryan Gugel, 25, of Batavia. There are no charges pending against Gugel.

The Town of Batavia Fire Department collected more than $7,000 today in a boot drive to benefit the families of the four volunteer firefighters who died or were injured Christmas Eve in Webster.

The money will be donated to the West Webster Fire Department to distribute to the victims and their families.

Batavia firefighters set up on Lewiston Road at Park Road, right outside their fire house, and collected donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. from drivers who passed by.

The event was primarily organized by firefighter Josh Finn (pictured below).

A car struck a pedestrian in front of McDonald's restaurant on West Main Street in Batavia. The person is down in the roadway, but conscious. Town of Batavia Fire Department, Mercy medics and law enforcement are responding.

UPDATE 1:19 p.m.: The pedestrian was taken to UMMC. The town fire assignment is in service.

UPDATE 1:24 p.m.: The victim is a 45-year-old man who was taken to the Mercy Flight hangar off West Saile Drive and will be flown to a hospital. He is said to have injuries to his right hip and wrist and his ribs. He is having some difficulty breathing but never lost consciousness.

UPDATE 1:33 p.m.: Mercy Flight is airborne and headed to Strong Memorial Hospital. Mercy Medic 1 is back in service.

Traffic is being diverted off Clinton Street to East Avenue while Batavia PD deals with a two-car, non-injury motor-vehicle accident.

Batavia Fire Department is requested to the scene.

UPDATE 4:23 p.m.: Initial indication is a town snow plow was stopped southbound on Clinton and was allowing a Haul-4-Less truck to make a left-hand turn from East Avenue onto Clinton. A semi coming up behind the plow truck may not have seen the plow truck stopped and tried going around the plow truck, hitting the Haul-4-Less truck. No injuries. Heavy wreckers had to be called in for the disabled trucks and traffic was blocked in both directions.

Related, local law enforcement officers are currently working a handful of property damage accidents in various parts of the county. All seem to be weather related.

One of the people who reportedly got involved with bath salts over the summer and wound up getting in trouble with the law has decided to entrust his fate to a local jury rather than accept a plea deal.

Because 32-year-old Bradley J. Broadbent has a prior violent felony conviction, the best deal District Attorney Lawrence Friedman could offer the Batavia resident was a minimum of five years in prison with a guilty plea to attempted burglary, 2nd, a Class D felony.

Broadbent was indicted by a grand jury on three counts of criminal mischief in the fourth degree, criminal trespass, burglary in the second degree and petit larceny.

On July 6, Broadbent was talked down off the roof of a house on Hutchins Street. He was reportedly hallucinating and suffering from a high body temperature.

He was suspected of damaging bathrooms at a business complex on Liberty Street earlier that day, and after leaving the UMMC emergency room, he allegedly entered a house on Tracy Avenue without permission.

At the time, Broadbent was suspected of using bath salts and family members were upset, suspecting his use of bath salts started after the 420 Emporium opened at 400 Ellicott St.

According to Broadbent's sister, Melissa, Bradley was on a good, positive path prior to starting bath salt use.

In court today, Judge Robert Noonan granted a brief recess so attorneys could research Broadbent's criminal record and confirm that a guilty plea would indeed make him a second felony offender.

Broadbent was released from prison 10 years and six months before his arrest in July on his 1986 conviction for burglary, 2nd. Documents available in court prior to the recess didn't include the two years he spent in prison on an unrelated conviction in Batavia City Court a few years ago. If Broadbent had not been in jail or prison during the 10 years and six months after his original prison term, he would not be considered a second violent felony offender for the purpose of sentencing on the new charges.

The top charge against Broadbent is a Class C felony and carries a mandatory minimum sentence, if he's convicted, of seven years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison.

Jamie S. Schlonski, 40, an inmate in the correctional facility in Collins, is charged with burglary, 2nd, and criminal possession of a forged instrument, 2nd, and petit larceny. Schlonski was charged following an investigation by Le Roy PD into burglaries in August in the village. The victim reported numerous checks stolen and cashed in the village. Schlonski was living in Le Roy at the time and was later identified as a suspect.

Rebeca Lynn Rose, 26, of North Street, Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Rose is accused of shoplifting clothing from Target on Thursday. Also charged with petit larceny was Megan Lynn Furr, 26, of North Street, Le Roy.

Alicia M. Stankwick, 21, of 2955 Angling Road, Corfu, is charged with harassment, 2nd.  Stankwick is accused of sending unwanted text messages to a male whom she was advised by a Batavia PD officer the day before not to contact.

Ryan C. Cook, 34, of 7 Mill St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Cook is accused of having unwanted physical contact with a woman.

Kristen L. Brightenfield, 19, of Stafford, is charged with criminal mischief 4th/prevention of emergency call. Brightenfield was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 2:17 p.m. on Wednesday. No further details were released.

Richard Stevens is indicted on two counts of failure to register change of address, a class E felony, and two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a class A misdemeanor. Stevens, a convicted sex offender, is accused of moving in April to 22 Tracy Ave., Batavia, without registering a change of address within 10 days. He's also accused of moving back to 22 Tracy Ave. from the Genesee County Jail in October and failing to register a change of address within 10 days. Stevens is also accused of trying to choke another person on two occasions, once in October and again in November.

Clenton J. Reese is indicted on a count of criminal contempt,1st, a class E felony. Reese is accused of violating a court issued stay-away order.

Town of Batavia firefighters are holding a boot drive Saturday to benefit the West Webster Fire Department and the families and victims of the Christmas Eve ambush of first responders in Webster.

Firefighters Mike Chiapperini and Tomasz Kaczowka were killed in the attack and Joseph Hofsetter and Theodore Scardino were injured.

The boot drive is being organized by Josh Finn with the help of other Batavia volunteers. Residents are asked to drive by the fire hall on Lewiston Road (across from Kmart/Tops Plaza) on Saturday and drop donations into a firefighter's boot.

The drive is from 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

Jakob Kosiorek, 20, of 24 Tracey Ave., Batavia, is charged with assault, 2nd. Kosiorek was arrested by Le Roy PD and accused of punching another person several times, causing a broken nose, cheek bones and several lacerations. Kosiorek was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Danielle M. Sundown, 30, of 4846 Livingston Street, Warsaw, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, moving from lane unsafely, uninspected motor vehicle and aggravated unlicensed operation. Sundown is accused of being involved in a motor-vehicle accident on East Main Street at 10:33 p.m., Friday. Sundown allegedly fled the scene and was located a short time later at a local business. Additional charges are pending.

Thomas Edward McFadden, 19, of North Main Street, Warsaw, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana and aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd. McFadden was allegedly observed possessing and smoking marijuana by Deputy Patrick Reeves at 4:36 p.m., Monday, in the area of 127 North St., Batavia. Also charged with unlawful possession of marijuana were Brandon Michael Aquino, 17, of Linwood Road, Warsaw, and Chelsea Lynn Laley, 23, of North Main Street, Warsaw.

Charlee Nicole Tanner, 21, of West Avenue, Lyndonville, is charged with petit larceny. Tanner is accused of shoplifting $168.29 in merchandise from Kmart. Also charged with Tamera Antonia Dowdall, 26, of Beach Drive, Medina.

Robert Michael Freeman, 21, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Freeman is accused of stealing from Target on Dec. 16 and Dec. 19.

High school students from throughout Genesee County were at the Genesee ARC building on Woodrow Road, Batavia, this evening learning about being volunteers for the upcoming Challenge Soccer season.

The Challenger program gives youngsters with developmental disabilities an opportunity to participate in sporting events.

Organizer Shelley Falitico explained the history of the program, what volunteers do and taught the students a little bit about what it's like to deal with a disability.

As a demonstration, she placed a student in a wheelchair and told him he could use only one arm. She then required a normally talkative student to wear a mask and told him he couldn't talk and had several students wear eye covers so they couldn't see. The student in the wheelchair then had to try to distribute a brochure about Genesee ARC.

Falitico pointed out all the ways in which the students' natural reactions to having their abilities limited in this manner is much like what it is for some of the youngsters they will deal with as part of Challenger.

The students participating include a group from the Pembroke soccer team, who were there to "pay it forward."

Two seasons ago, the team was reinstated, but players were required to raise their own funds to pay for their participation. As players and parents were working on fundraising, two Pembroke borthers, Howard and Michael Oriole, came forward and for the 2011 and 2012 seasons paid all of the team's costs.

"We obviously felt blessed and honored," said one of the mothers of the players, Lynette McGiveron. "We didn't know what to say."

Since the brothers both have disabilities, reaching out to Genesee ARC for a volunteer opportunity seemed like an appropriate way for the soccer players to give back to the community.

"We were obviously very grateful and we just felt the need to pay it forward," McGiveron said.