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Law and Order: Woman accused of falsely reporting larceny from vehicle at Walmart

By Howard B. Owens

Sarah Patricia Nichols, 29, of Pinehollow Drive, Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd. Nichols is accused of falsely reporting a larceny from her vehicle while it was parked in the Walmart parking lot. An investigation by Deputy Brad Mazur led Mazur to believe the larceny did not take place.

Patricia M. Anderson, 27, of 6281 Walkers Corners Road, Byron, is charged with petit larceny. Anderson is accused of shoplifting from the Kwik Fill 99 at Jackson and Ellicott streets. Anderson was located at a residence on Central Avenue following a complaint of the theft.

Francis Scott Smith, 18, of Lake Avenue, New York, is charged with petit larceny. Smith was taken into custody in the lobby of city court on a warrant out of Batavia Town Court. Smith was jailed on $250 bail.

Jennifer J. Maggio, 27, of Kingston Road, Leicester, is charged with petit larceny. Maggio is accused of shoplifting $95.32 in merchandise from Kmart by hiding it in her purse.

Raymond Michael Pfalzer, 41, of Brown Road, Corfu, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Pfalzer was charged in connection with an accident at Wilkinson Road and Brown Road, Batavia, at 8:20 p.m., July 22, in which he was seriously injured.

Angela A. Starling, 30, of Pembroke, is charged with disorderly conduct/fighting/violent behavior and harassment, 2nd. Starling was arrested by State Police following the report of an incident at Godfrey's Pond at 10:11 p.m., Saturday. No further details were released.

Submitted photos: Byron Fire's MCI training

By Howard B. Owens

Charles Durkee, 1st assistant chief with the Byron Volunteer Fire Department, sent in these pictures from his department's weekly training.

Here's what he had to say about the training:

Monday night Byron Fire Department came together to practice what is known as an MCI (Mass Casualty Incident). A Mass Casualty Incident can be defined as an incident that has produced more casualties than a customary response assignment can handle.

It is handled in four stages and sometimes more, depending on size and nature of the MCI:

1) INITIAL TRIAGE, examining who is hurt the worst;

2) PATIENT EXTRACTION removal of the victim from whatever they are trapped in

3) SECONDARY TRIAGE/MEDICAL TREATMENT getting a better assessment of the patients' welfare and if one of the victims may have to be reclassified sometimes for the better or worse;

4) TRANSPORTATION OF PATIENTS whether to transport by air or ground and to what hospitals.

At times we actually “get” something; maybe we respond to a house fire or a damage accident, or we run a good code. We certainly can bring these incidents to successful conclusion effortlessly, but at the end of the day, that is what the public expects.

We will not be judged on those routine undertakings. Our true value as emergency responders will be revealed in our ability to handle more extreme circumstances. This is why your volunteers spend many hours training.

Law and Order: Man arrested after short foot chase with police

By Howard B. Owens

Brett R. Doward, 26, 411 W. Hickory St., East Rochester, is charged with obstructing governmental administration, 2nd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and possession of a controlled substance not in it original container. Following a report at 12:06 a.m., Sunday, of a disturbance on Hall Street, Batavia, Batavia PD received the description of a person allegedly involved and the vehicle he allegedly used to leave the scene. Officer Jason Ivison spotted a vehicle matching the description on Ellicott Street. The vehicle fled and pulled into a driveway on Liberty Street. Doward allegedly jumped from the vehicle and ran. After a short foot pursuit, Doward was taken into custody. Doward was released on an appearance ticket. BPD was assisted by the Sheriff's Office and State Police.

A 17-year-old resident of North Main Street, Perry, is charged with petit larceny. The youth is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Jeremy Dean Lyons, 27, of Judge Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, 3rd, aggravated unlicensed operation, 3rd and unlicensed operation. During a domestic dispute with his girlfriend, Lyons alleged damaged property and then allegedly took a vehicle without permission and drove the vehicle on a suspended license.

Jeremy Dean Lyons, 27, of Judge Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. While housed in the Genesee County Jail, Lyons allegedly violated an order of protection by contacting the protected party.

Terri Marisa Doctor, 33, of Council House Road, Basom, is charged with DWI. Doctor was taken into custody on a Town of Pembroke warrant issued in November 2012 for allegedly failing to pay a fine on a DWI convictions. Doctor was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Spencer Todd Grimes, 18, of Goodrich Street, Albion, is charged with trespass. Grimes is reportedly a former employee of Darien Lake who was accused of stealing and barred from the property. Grimes was allegedly on the property Saturday morning.

Nicholas Lamont Santos, 19, of Gillette Road, Albion, is charged with trespass. Santos is reportedly a former employee of Darien Lake who was accused of stealing and barred from the property. Santos was allegedly on the property Saturday morning.

Randy Lee Ridd, 55, of Swamp Road, Byron, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and trespass. Ridd is accused of trespassing on the property of a business in Bergen and stealing metal plates. Also charged was Corretta Melissa Pitts, 44, of Swamp Road, Byron.

Brandon Monteleon, 20, of 57 Church St., Le Roy, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation and harassment. Monteleone was arrested following an alleged disturbance on Church Street between the defendant and another individual.

Daniel S. Platt, 31, of 53 Lake St., Le Roy, is charged with criminal obstruction of breaking or blood circulation and one count of unlawful dealing with a child and harassment, 2nd. Platt is accused of placing his hands around the neck of a victim, causing difficulty breathing. He's also accused of serving alcohol to a person under age 21.

Andrea M. Gray, 34, of 14 Lake St., Apt. #2, Le Roy, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and reckless endangerment, 2nd. Gray reportedly had an argument with an acquaintance on Lake Street. Gray allegedly pushed the victim, causing the victim to fall backward. The victim's head struck a driveway. Gray is also accused of sitting on the victim and pulling the victim's hair. Gray was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Law and Order: Man accused of felony assault in Oakfield

By Howard B. Owens

Robert P. Leiser Jr., of Lockport Road, Oakfield, is charged with assault, 2nd, and criminal contempt, 1st. Leiser was allegedly involved in a domestic incident July 24 at his residence. Leiser allegedly struck a female in the head with a flashlight. The woman required medical treatment. Leiser was allegedly under court order not to have physical contact with the woman. He was located in the City of Batavia, arrested, and jailed on $15,000 bail.

James A. Klotzback, 35, of Rochester, is charged with assault, 2nd. Klotzback was arrested by State Police for an alleged incident reported at 9:18 a.m., Wednesday, in the Town of Byron. No further details were released.

Summer Ogden, 36, no permanent address, is charged with trespass. Ogden is accused of being on 400 Towers property after allegedly being previously told by police and management that she was barred from the property.

Morgan B. Mikolajczyk, 18, of 328 S. Jackson St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Mikolajczyk is accused of pushing a family member during an argument.

Jessica R. Johns, 29, of 122 Jackson St., Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Johns allegedly possess marijuana while a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped on Jackson Avenue for an alleged traffic violation.

Cory J. Endres, 18, of 400 B Island Cottage Road, Rochester, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Endres was arrested Thursday by State Police for an alleged incident reported June 9 in the Town of Darien. No further details released.

Daniel H. Bettilyon, 51, of Hamlin, is charged with felony DWI and felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Bettilyon was stopped by State Police at 1:24 p.m., Friday, on Maltby Road, Oakfield.

Emily Ann Lane, 22, of Corfu, is charged with petit larceny. Lane allegedly stole $51.94 in merchandise from Kmart.

Richard Charles Hollfelder, 54, of Oakfield, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

GCC Spring 2012 President's List honorees

By Billie Owens

Genesee Community College proudly announces that the following students are among 540 students who were named to the President's List for the Spring 2012 semester. Students honored on the President's List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better. (The college also maintains a Dean's List comprised of students who earn a quality point index of 3.50 to 3.74. Genesee's Dean's List will be released in the next several weeks.)

This year's Genesee Community College Spring 2012 President's List honorees, with their hometowns, are listed below:
 

Basom

Danielle Hirtzel
Jessica Pfalzer
Theresa Rainey
Elias Seward
Leah Snyder

Batavia

Russell Jackson

Bergen

Elizabeth Jarnot
Charles Lee
Lindsay Stumpf

Byron

Tiffany Harrington
Richard Lucas
Stacy Maskell
Arlene Olmstead
Adrienne Payne
Danielle Thom

Corfu

Angel Alexander
Stacy Brockway
Rachel Doktor
Tracy Kearney
Michael Kraus
Kyle Maurer
Kayla Meyer
Alyssa Reeb
Dawn Roberto
Dawn Smith
Trevor Spiotta
Dana Wolbert

Darien Center

Shannon Bates
Kylynn Bank
James Erb
Matthew Herod
Hannah Zimmermann

East Bethany

Autumn Atkinson
Julliane Ingalls
Alec Kirch
Bryce Kirch
Sarah Lawson
Janet Gohlke

East Pembroke

Anthony Nati

Elba

Michael Anauo
Nicole Beardsley
Richard Dorf
Chapin Guthrie
Chelsie Pangrazio
Samantha Walker

Le Roy

Kevin Callahan
Andi DeBellis
Eric Hayes
Stephanie Heisler
Jeanice Howard
Gregory Humphrey
Donald Kahm
Mark McAvoy
Cody Niccloy
Willard Prevost
Michele Rast
Bethany Roth
Heather Schroeder
Brenda Sheflin
Denise Simcick
Michael Sullivan
Conor Tomaszewski

Linwood

Deena Hernandez

Oakfield

Della Balduf
Jonathon Cassiano
Lindsay Chatt
Benjamin Cherry
Angela Larmon
Laura Ostrowski
Sara Read
Joseph Sullivan

Meghan Vandersteur

Pavilion

Samantha Barclay
Patricia Brown
Wendy Edwards
Kaleigh Kingsley
Jonathan White

South Byron

Halle Davalos

Stafford

Michelle Jackson

 

Genesee Community College offers over 60 academic programs and certificates, including the new Veterinary Technology (Vet Tech) and Polysomnography (Sleep Tech) programs. Genesee is accessible through seven campus locations throughout Western New York, as well as through online classes in the Distance Learning program. College housing is available at College Village, just a three minute walk from the Batavia Campus. With small class sizes yet state-of-the-art technology both inside and out of the classroom, Genesee Community College is known for being "high-tech" and "high-touch."

Car crash at Route 237 and North Bergen Road

By Billie Owens

A motor-vehicle accident, believed to be with minor injuries, is reported at Route 237 and North Bergen Road. Byron Fire Department is responding along with medics.

UPDATE 1:19 p.m.: Law enforcement on scene confirms minor injuries. Two flatbed tows are called.

Photos: Another beautiful summer day in Genesee County

By Howard B. Owens

I'm in Byron/Bergen on a beautiful summer day? Of course I'm going to try and make a few pictures.

Above a barn off Route 237.

High power lines a little further up Route 237.

Old truck, Swamp Road.

Train crossing Ivison Road, Stafford.

Photos: Byron Heritage Day

By Howard B. Owens

In Byron today, residents celebrated Byron Heritage Day. It was a beautiful afternoon for a picnic in the park. Buffalo Road Show rocked the pavilion and, of course, there was the classic car cruise.

Possible farm accident reported near Transit Road, Elba

By Howard B. Owens

A possible farming accident has been reported in the area of Transit Road and North Byron Road.

A person may have fallen off a tractor, or a box may have fallen somebody in a cabbage field.

It's unknown yet whether the location is in the Elba Fire District or Byron Fire District. Personnel from both departments are responding.

State Police are responding.

The call came through Orleans County and the caller doesn't speak good English.

UPDATE 12:03 p.m.: A thousand pound object fell on the victim. The patient is conscious and alert; however, Mercy Flight is being put on in-air standby is responding (Mercy Flight 5 out of Batavia). The accident is in Elba's district.  Byron and South Byron are cancelled.

UPDATE 1:47 p.m.: The patient was taken to Strong via Mercy Flight. His name is Ferando Jereonro, age 29.  ccording to Sgt. Greg Walker, Jereonro was working on a platform with three crates of cabbage. The welds on a chain apparently gave out and the platform fell and a 1,000-pound crate of cabbage fell on Jereonro. Workers quickly removed the cabbage and the crate. Jereonro was conscious and alert when we was transported.

Also, just as I arrived on scene for this (too late to get any pictures), there was a call for a motor vehicle accident on Route 5 in Le Roy, in front of the Le Roy Country Club. By the time I arrived on scene there, the accident was clear and the roadway was reopened. Minor injuries.

Car accident with minor injuries in Byron

By Billie Owens

A two-car accident with minor injuries is reported at Route 237 and Cole Road. Byron Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 3:20 p.m.: One of the two women involved says she has minor shoulder pain. She's shaken up but only wants to be evaluated, not transported. Mercy is not needed. Another responder will handle the sign off. The accident is not blocking. UPDATE 3:24 p.m.: Now Bryon fire is requesting Mercy.

UPDATE 3:31 p.m.: After further review, Byron commands cancels the response by Mercy.

Law and Order: Inmate accused of stealing two candy bars, trying to bring into jail

By Howard B. Owens

Joseph Anthony Auricchio, 21, of Route 20, Darien, is charged with petit larceny and promoting prison contraband, 2nd. Auricchio is accused of stealing two candy bars from a Volunteers for Animals donation box at the Genesee County Animal Shelter and then attempting to bring those candy bars into the Genesee County Jail. According to the Sheriff's Office, Auricchio was made a trustee July 6 to replace as trustee an inmate scheduled to be released. On July 6, Auricchio was among three inmates tasked with custodial duties at the animal shelter. When the three inmates were returned to the jail by Deputy Ron Meides, a search allegedly found the candy bars hidden in Auricchio underwear. The candy bars were unapproved merchandise to allegedly bring into the jail.

Bradley J. Broadbent, 32, no permanent address, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Broadbent is accused of entering bathrooms of an office complex at 29 Liberty St., Batavia, and damaging fixtures some time before 3:20 p.m., July 6. Broadbent is currently being held in the Genesee County Jail on several other charges stemming from alleged events that same day.

Kenneth Scott Lathrop, 25, of Ruhlmann Road, Lockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, and open container with intent to consume. Lathrop was allegedly found in a Monte Carlo parked at the side of the road on Route 262 just east of Fisher Road, Oakfield. Deputy Tim Wescott had responded to the area at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, after the Sheriff's Office received reports of a Monte Carlo speeding and unsafely passing other vehicles.

Patricia Marie Anderson, 27, of Walkers Corners Road, Byron, is charged with petit larceny. Anderson is accused of shoplifting from Kmart.

Katherine L. Urf, 51, and Joseph M. Franchi-Platten, 28, of 218 Elicott St., lower, Batavia, are charged with petit larceny. Urf and Franchi-Platten are accused of shoplifting food items from Tops.

Joanne Jefferson, 53, of 23 Walden Creek Drive, Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, driving left of pavement markings and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Jefferson was arrested after Batavia PD received a report at 10:22 p.m., Saturday, of an erratic driver heading west on Route 5 into the city. Jefferson was stopped by Sgt. Dan Coffey. Jefferson allegedly has a prior DWI conviction within the past 10 years. She was jailed on $500 bail.

Field fire in Elba off Drake Street Road

By Billie Owens

A field fire is reported at 4271 Drake St. Road in Elba. Elba Fire Department is responding. The location is between South Main Street and Weatherwax Road. Fire equipment from the towns of Oakfield, Batavia and Byron are also requested.

UPDATE 4:11 p.m.: Drake Street Road and Weatherwax are being shut down.

UPDATE 4:16 p.m.: Fire police are stationed at routes 262 and 98. A Bergen tanker is requested to fill in at Byron's hall. The wind is 10 mph out of the east.

UPDATE 5:01 p.m.: Batavia and Oakfield are back in service.

UPDATE 5:06 p.m.: The fire is out. Elba, Byron and Bergen are back in service. The roadway is reopened.

Law and Order: Batavia woman accused of giving bath salts to minor

By Howard B. Owens

Ashley R. Keene, 24, of 244 Liberty St., Batavia, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Keene is accused of providing bath salts to a juvenile to snort.

Chad E. Merle, 31, of 3225 Broadway Road, Alexander, is charged criminal contempt, 1st. Merle is accused of sending multiple text messages to a person protected from contact by a court order.

Jamie E. Andrews, 19, of 15 School St., Batavia, is charged with harassment,1st. Andrews is accused of continually following around her ex-boyfriend and driving by his house repeatedly for no legitimate purpose. Andrews was previously arrested by Batavia PD for allegedly harassing her ex-boyfriend.

Valerie Marie Covill, 23, of Oaklawn Drive, Rochester, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, failure to keep right and unlawful possession of marijuana. Covill was charged following a one-vehicle accident at 12:014 a.m., June 28, at 3064 Galloway Road, Batavia. The accident was investigated by Deputy James Diehl and Deputy Matthew Fleming.

Peter James Przybyl, 19, of Peachy Road, Bergen, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and unreasonable speed on a curve. Przybyl was arrested following a motor-vehicle accident at 3:10 a.m., Saturday, on Route 19, Bergen. The accident was investigated by Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

Kelly Elizabeth Howard, 19, of Judge Road, Oakfield, is charged with two counts of petit larceny. Howard was allegedly observed by loss prevention at Target shoplifting June 8 and July 16. Howard allegedly stole merchandise worth $64.60.

Quentin Israel Humphrey, 20, of East Bethany Road, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Humphrey is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Justin Baehr, 21, of Linwood Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI and unlawful possession of marijuana. Baehr was observed early Sunday morning allegedly driving erratically, swerving in and out of his lane on West Main Street, Village of Le Roy, and operating with a loud exhaust. During the traffic stop, officers allegedly found marijuana, marijuana paraphernalia and other apparent drug paraphernalia. Additional drug charges possible pending the outcome of lab tests.

Michael Perdue, 49, of West Broad Street, Rochester, and Jeffrey L. Hayes, 47, of Meadow Circle, Avon, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd. Perdue was allegedly operating a vehicle at 4:46 p.m., Sunday, on Route 237 in Byron. Perdue was stopped for allegedly speeding. An ID check revealed Perdue allegedly has 13 prior suspensions on his driving record. Hayes was allegedly found in possession of a crack pipe with residue. Perdue was stopped by Deputy Brad Mazur, who was assisted at the scene by Deputy Chad Minuto.

Matthew James Pietrzykowski, 19, of Bethany Center Road, East Bethany, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and moving from lane unsafely. Pietrzykowski was taken into custody following a report of a vehicle in a dith at 1:15 a.m., Sunday, in the area of 3630 Broadway, Alexander. The accident was investigated by Deputy Kevin McCarthy.

Law and Order: Drug dealer picked up on warrant, sent to prison for three years

By Howard B. Owens

Edward J. Fuller, 22, of Clifford Avenue, Rochester, was sent to prison for three years Thursday after being picked up on a warrant in Mt. Morris and being turned over to the Sheriff's Office. Fuller was previously convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and failed to appear for his sentencing, so a warrant was issued. Following his arrest, Fuller was transported to Genesee County Court and sentenced by Judge Robert C. Noonan. (Original Arrest Report)

Thomas Charles Zimmer, 35, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Zimmer was allegedly in his wife's hotel room in violation of a court order.

Javier Resendez, 23, of Cockram Road, Byron, is charged with illegal entry into the United States. Resendez was taken into custody following a report of a suspicious male trying to find a ride home at the Arrow Mart on Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Samuel Robert Thomas, 57, no permanent address, is charged with petit larceny. Thomas is accused of stealing and damaging 16 newspapers left for sale at the Arrow Mart on Clinton Street Road, Batavia.

Byron Heritage Festival

By James Renfrew

Byron Heritage Festival Calendar of Events, Saturday, July 28, 2012

Fishing Derby, sponsored by Byron Kiwanis, ages 12 and under, 9:00-10:00 AM at Trestle Park, registration begins at 8:30 AM.

5K Run, sponsored by Boy Scout Troop #13, 7:00 AM registration at Byron Town Park (behind Byron Fire Hall on Rt. 262), 8:30 AM race begins, 9:45 AM race results.

Garage Sales throughout the town, beginning at 9:00 AM.

Cruise-In, Byron Town Park, 4:00 - 8:00 PM.

Event Date and Time
-

Forty-five local students make the Deans' List at SUNY Brockport

By Billie Owens

The College at Brockport, State University of New York, recently honored students who excelled academically by naming them to the Deans' List for the Spring 2012 semester. Students who earn a GPA of 3.70–3.99 are named to the Deans' List with Honors (***), while students who achieve a 3.40–3.69 are named to the Deans' List.

The honorees, and their hometowns, are:

Basom

Krystal Rivers

Lori Stellrecht

Bergen

Mary Cocking

***Joanna Menzie

***Samantha Elliott

***Melanie Monroe

***Shane Chatham

Danielle Lovett

Kathleen Lovett

Harjit Singh

***Brian Burgay

Byron

***Patricia Johnston

Melissa Dilcher

Melissa Hale

Darren Kwiatkowski

Capri Sullivan

Corfu

Casey Herman

East Bethany

Amanda Boulden

Elba

Torianne Cavallo

Bronson Cole

Le Roy

***Danielle Ford

***Gena Korn

***Antonio Madau

***Christina Mancuso

***Joseph Patton

***Emily Kovatch

***Abigail Graham

Katlyn Brooks

Chelsea Dillon

Chelsey Macomber

James Mangefrida

Jason McElroy

Danielle Merica

Joel Pitts

Justin Toland

***Lyman Rhodes

***Katherine Rogers

Oakfield

Kristen Casper

***Samantha Denton

Zackary Kibler

Shelby Kielbasa

Pavilion

***Theresa Raponi

Sarah Merritt

South Byron

Kallee Stein

Stafford

***James Mignano


The College at Brockport offers 50 undergraduate majors, more than 40 graduate programs as well as 24 teacher certification programs. The college has been rated among the "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, a "Best Regional University" by U.S. News & World Report, and a "Best Value" by Kiplinger's Personal Finance.

Shed fire on Ivison Road, Byron

By Billie Owens

A shed fire is reported at 7410 Ivison Road in Byron. It is connected (or close) to a barn. Byron, South Byron and Bergen fire departments are responding.

UPDATE 7:01 p.m.: Elba is called to stand in at the Byron Fire Hall.

UPDATE 7:04 p.m.: Firefighters on scene report smoke is showing. The location is between Gillett and Freeman roads.

UPDATE 7:08 p.m.: The response from Elba and Bergen is cancelled.

UPDATE 7:14 p.m.: This was actually a tractor on fire, which was parked in the shed. The fire is out and the tractor has been removed from the shed. The inside of the shed has been hosed down.

UPDATE 7:21 p.m.: Byron is back in service. South Byron is remaining until the scene is picked up/cleaned up.

Law and Order: Batavia man accused of stalking

By Howard B. Owens

Timothy P. Brown, 37, of 10 Hutchins Place, rear, is charged with stalking, 4th. Brown is accused of repeatedly contacting a former friend after being told to stop contacting that person. Brown was allegedly texting the former friend after the former friend asked him to stop and after he was warned by police to have no further contact.

Maxwell Raymond Pfendler, 20, of South Lake Road, Pavilion, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and unlawful possession of marijuana. Pfendler was stopped at 7:55 p.m. Saturday on Route 63, Batavia, for allegedly speeding by Deputy Matthew Butler.

Wayne H. Austin, 37, of Ivison Road, Byron, is charged with reckless endangerment, 2nd. Austin is accused of purposefully swerving his vehicle in the roadway at another vehicle.

Linda K. Garrettson, 55, of Wynanskill, is charged with possession or sale of unstamped cigarettes and possession and transport of 10,000 or more unstamped cigarettes; James A. Lapi, 60, of Palatine Bridge, is charged with possession and transport of 10,000 or more unstamped cigarettes. Garrettson and Lapi were arrested by State Police. Garrettson was taken into custody at the State Police Barracks in Batavia at 1:21 p.m. Friday, and Lapi was arrested on Bloomingdale Road at 10:15 a.m., Friday. Lapi was jailed on $700 bail.

Driver of golf cart involved in fatal accident enters a guilty plea to negligent homicide

By Howard B. Owens

The 18-year-old Byron woman who is accused of causing the death of a friend entered a guilty plea today to negligent homicide and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Cortney L. Greene entered what is known as an "Alford Plea." The plea indicates she believes she would be convicted if the case went to trial, but does not admit factual guilt.

The District Attorney's Office agreed to the plea because Greene is facing a potential lawsuit in connect with the death of Zachary J. Rusin, 18, of Holley.

Assistant District Attorney Kevin Finnell recited the evidence against Green, which Green then agreed was sufficient for a likely conviction.

According to Finnell, Greene was operating all-black golf cart in the middle of northbound Route 237 just seven minutes after midnight, Nov. 26, when a car driven by Emmaleigh R. Odom, 19, of Pavilion, crested a hill near Warboys Road and stuck the golf cart.

Finnell said that with the hill and the lighting conditions, Odom had no time to react before her car struck the cart.

A blood alcohol test, Finnell said, found that Greene had a BAC of .04 and there were traces of marijuana in her blood.

Both Greene and Rusin were ejected from the vehicle. Rusin succumbed to his injuries two days later.

The maximum penalty for the homicide charge is four years in prison. Greene will also likely lose her driving privileges.

The plea did not include a sentence cap.

Greene will be sentenced Sept. 6.

Woman accused of driving drunk prior to accident given year in jail for probation violation

By Howard B. Owens

A young Batavia mother who was among the first people in the state charged under Leandra's Law for driving under the influence with children in the car will spend a year in jail for violating probation by allegedly driving drunk again.

Michelle T. Crawford, 26, of 7963 Batavia Stafford Townline Road, sobbed throughout the court proceedings this morning and asked Judge Robert C. Noonan for another chance at rehabilitation.

Besides the violation of probation conviction, Crawford is still facing charges that she drove drunk March 8 and was involved in a rollover accident in Byron. Crawford was seriously injured in the accident and had her jaw wired shut for a period of time as a result.

Crawford was on probation, having recently completed one alcohol treatment program, at the time of the accident. While she wasn't convicted under Leandra's Law on the prior case, which was heard in Erie County, Crawford was found guilty of driving under the influence and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

In court today, Crawford's attorney said his client has a serious drinking problem and needs treatment, not jail time.

"Jail isn't going to fix Ms. Crawford," Attorney Louis P. Violanti said. "I realize society may demand jail time, but without treatment, she's going to end up doing life on the installment plan, one year at a time, three years at a time, until one day she wakes up and she's in her 60s and her life is gone and her children are grown."

Violanti said Crawford was recently accepted to an in-patient program and that her rehabilitation would be a long-term process.

When Crawford spoke, she cried through all of her statement.

"If I don't get this under my thumb, I'm never going to have my family," Crawford said. "Please let me be able to do this. Please from the bottom of my heart. I'm a good person. I just made poor choices and I just want to go home to my family and the people that I love. And I want to prove that I can be successful in life and not be harmful to anybody else, including myself."

Noonan said if Crawford was appearing before him for just the first time he would be a lot more sympathetic to her plea to be with her children, but Crawford promised Noonan once before, he said, to follow the orders of the court and then apparently violated them.

"You're very lucky you didn't kill a family or somebody else in your alcoholic stupor," Noonan said. "Now you must face the consequences.

"We're all very interested in doing something that will get Michelle Crawford going in the right direction in life," Noonan added, "but right now you must be punished."

The year in jail -- Crawford has already served about three months -- is the maximum penalty under the sentencing guidelines for her misdemeanor convictions.

Crawford still faces a misdemeanor DWI charge and a felony count of aggravated unlicensed operation.

Noonan said he and the attorneys are trying to come up with a plan for Crawford on those charges that will satisfy justice and get her help.

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