At 84-years-old, soon to be 85, Laura Viehdeffer is likely the oldest person to ever plead guilty to a drug sales charge.
Viehdeffer, a resident of West Main Street, Batavia, was arrested May 25 for two incidents nearly a year before when she sold hydrocodone, which she had a prescription for, to an agent of the Local Drug Task Force. She entered a guilty plea in August to one count of criminal sale of a controlled substance.
She was sentenced yesterday to five years probation by Interim Judge Michael Pietruzska.
Defense attorney Jamie Welch argued that given his client's lack of criminal record and advanced age, a conditional discharge (meaning the conviction is wiped clean if she stayed out of trouble for six months) was the most appropriate sentence.
“This is unlike the 20-, 30- or 40-year-old defendants facing these charges,” Welch said.
Pietruzska made no comment on Welch's argument before sentencing Viehdeffer.
Viehdeffer made no statement prior to being sentenced.
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