Le Roy

A coral-hued sunset gets draped in clouds during a youth football game Saturday at Hartwood Park in Le Roy. Photo submitted by Jeff Freeman. 

The Oatkan Knights got back on the winning side of the ball on Friday night against Bishop Timon-St. Jude, coming up with a 21-7 win.

Le Roy converted three turnovers into scores and held strong on defense in the third quarter when Bishop threatened from inside their 10.

Scoring:

• First quarter, Le Roy at 3:07, Tony Piazza 3-yard run (Andrew Pocock kick)
• Fourth quarter, Le Roy at 5:34, Adrian Stephens2-yard pass to Merritt Holly, Jr. (Pocock kick)
• Fourth quarter, Le Roy at 2:37, Tony Piazza 5-yard run (Pocock kick)
• Fourth quarter, Bishop at 2:10, James McNeil Jr. 60-yard run (Andrew Fino kick)

Pizza rushed for 114 yards on 15 caries.

On defense, Jack Tonzi had six tackles.

Photos by Ed Henry. Top photo: Le Roy RB Tony Piazza bulls through the Timon defense.

Le Roy RB Drew Strollo sweeps around the end.

Cal Koukides (24) and Jack Tonzi (33) bring down the Timon RB.

Huge LeRoy team push versus Bishop Timon.

Cal Koukides (24) and Jackson Fix swarm the Timon receiver.

Cal Koukides (24) broke up several passes in the contest.

Ayden Riggi (67) rejoices with Connor Hegeman (21) after Connor's INT.

A fire is reported at 3 Platt St., Le Roy.

All occupants are being shown out of the structure.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 11:44 p.m.: It's a stove fire.

UPDATE 11:49 p.m.: City Fire requested mutual aid.

UPDATE 11:53 p.m.: Le Roy Fire on scene.  Fan needed on second floor for ventilation.  

UPDATE 11:56 p.m.: City's First Platoon recalled to headquarters while City Fire responds to stove fire in Le Roy.

Ronald M. Washburn, 62, of Stafford, is charged with Course of Sexual Conduct Against a Child Less than 13, 2nd. Washburn is accused of having sexual conduct with a child on two or more occasions while babysitting the child in the City of Batavia between July 2008 and July 2012. The case was investigated by Det. Jason Ivison. Washburn was arraigned in City Court and released under supervision.

Samantha M. Kent, 29 of Le Roy, is charged with aggravated unlicensed operation 3rd, following too closely, failure to stop for a school bus, and driving while ability impaired by drugs. Kent was reportedly the driver involved in a school bus accident on Sept. 13 at 6:59 a.m. on Ellicott Street, Batavia. She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Kevin D. Wolff, 51, of Sweetland Road, Stafford, and Cherie L. Bender, 52, of Sweetland Road, Stafford, are both charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Deputies responded to a call of a disturbance on Aug. 25 and as a result of an investigation Wolff and Bender were arrested on Sept. 22.  Both were released on appearance tickets.

Jessica B. Eschenlauer, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt 1st, assault 3rd, and unlawful imprisonment 2nd. Eschenlauer is accused of violating an order of protection and punching another person during a disturbance reported on  Sept. 16 at 10:30 a.m. at a location on Eleanor Place, Batavia. She was arraigned in City Court and ordered to return at a later date.

George J. Horner, 33, of Batavia, is charged with burglary 2nd and criminal contempt 2nd. Horner is accused of entering a residence on Bank Street on Sept. 21 at 7:10 a.m. in violation of an order of protection. Horner was arraigned in City Court and ordered jailed on $2,500 bail, $5,000 bond, or $10,000 partially secured bond.

Matthew R. Taylor, 39, no permanent address, is charged with burglary 3rd and petit larceny. Taylor is accused of stealing property from a business on Oak Street, Batavia, on Sept. 11 at 11:11 p.m. Taylor was arraigned in City Court and ordered held pending his next court appearance. 

Albert G. Platton, 76, of Batavia, is charged with forcible touching. Platton is accused of touching a staff member of a facility on Richmond Avenue, Batavia, in a sexual manner.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

Nancy E. Chatt, 77, of Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Chatt was allegedly driving a vehicle that struck a utility pole on Jackson Street on Sept. 18 at 8:52 p.m. She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance.

Brittanee J. Hooten, 33, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Hooten is accused of shoplifting from a business in the City of Batavia on Sept. 17 at 11:30 a.m. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Rachel S. Wright, 18, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd and criminal trespass 2nd. Wright is accused of trying to fight with another person on Sept. 18 at 4:54 p.m. at a location on North Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket.

Christine M. Caplis, 42, of Batavia, was arrested on a bench warrant on Sept. 18 at 12:30 p.m. She was released with an order to appear in City Court on Sept. 22.

Shyanna M. Williams, 19, of Hamburg is charged with aggravated harassment 2nd. Williams was arrested on a warrant based on a complaint filed on May 6. She was arraigned in City Court and released on her own recognizance. 

Amanda L. Huber, 40, of Batavia, is charged with failure to appear. Huber was arrested on a warrant following a police investigation into an incident on West Main Street, Batavia. She was issued an appearance ticket ordering her to appear on Sept. 15.

Jamie S. Schlonski, 50, of Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Schlonski was arrested by State Police in connection with an incident reported at 5 p.m. Sept. 22, in the Town of Batavia. Schlonksi was released on an appearance ticket. No further information was released.

A two-car motor vehicle accident is reported in the area of 7581 Oatka Trail, Le Roy.

One vehicle is smoking, and the other one is rolled over.

Le Roy Fire, Le Roy Ambulance, and Mercy EMS dispatched.

UPDATE 4:14 p.m.: Fire police requested to shutdown traffic in the area.

The Oakfield-Alabama/Elba Aggies scored 38 unanswered points through four quarters on their way to a 38-6 over Le Roy at home on Friday night.

Connor Scott opened the scoring with a 57-yard run at the start of the game to ignite the Aggie's offense.  Brodie Scott completed a pass to Noah Currier for the next score, then hit Connor Scott in the second quarter and scored himself twice in the third.  OAE's final score came early in the fourth quarter when Hyde connected with Kyle Porter on a 51-yard TD reception.

OAE compiled 475 yards in total offense to 188 for the Oatkan Knights.

Hyde completed six of 12 pass attempts for 156 yards and three TDs.  He was intercepted once.

Currier gained 134 yards on 19 runs, Hyde 93 on 16 attempts.

Kyle Porter had two receptions for 70 yards.

On defense, Nate Finta had five tackles.

For the Knights, Adrian Stephens was 5-13 passing for 41 yards. Jackson Fix rushed eight times for 70 yards and a TD. On defense, Tony Piazza had 9.5 tackles.

"A win like this against an opponent like LeRoy is huge for our team," said Aggies Head Coach Tyler Winter. "While the first half still was not the cleanest on our end, the way our guys came out of halftime and kept the pedal down on a good opponent speaks to what we are capable of, both physically and mentally.  They are really taking to our 'process over product' approach, and doing a phenomenal job of taking each opponent as they come.  For them, the next challenge is the biggest one."

Top photo: Le Roy’s Xavien Walker (44) holds on to Connor Scott (22).

Photos by Ed Henry

OAE’s Connor Scott (22) scores a TD early in the game.

OAE’s Noah Currier (20) snags a TD catch.

Le Roy’s Jack Tonzi grabs a reception in the flats.

Le Roy’s Drew Strollo (34) turns the corner.

OAE’s Aiden Warner holds on after an Antonio Martinez collision.

OA-E’s QB Bodie Hyde

OAE’s Angelo Penna (55) and Connor Scott (22) celebrate up top. 

Additional photos below by Kristin Smith.  For more, click here.

Le Roy High School has long taken pride in its marching band and color guard but putting on a great performance takes dedication and hard work.

Video courtesy Le Roy Central School District.

Video courtesy the Le Roy Central School District

Previously: Le Roy's numeracy coach finds creative ways to get students thinking about numbers

History, art, culture, and community all come together with the installation of four new black metal benches in the Village of Le Roy.

The project is the inspiration of Sarah Farmer, a co-owner of Farmer's Creekside Inn, and a businesswoman who splits time between Rochester and Le Roy.

"This all started in downtown Rochester where we were trying to get away from all the chaos of the riots and all the bad things going on, all the hate. And trying to do some soul-searching with some association members and businesses, and we ended up coming up with this project, called the Black Bench Initiative," Farmer said prior to a ribbon-cutting outside the Creekside Inn on Friday. "Basically, it is something creating a memory of historical significance of different landmarks and important things to each community that they're in."

For Le Roy, the touchstones are fishing in the Oatka Creek, the Barn Quilt Trail, the Jell-O Museum, and a Ginkgo tree. 

Rochester-area artist Stacey Mrva worked with Farmer on the themes and designed and built the benches.

Mrva started welding sculptures in steel while an art student at Syracuse University, and she has seen several of her sculptures become public art in the region.

"I'm an artist but also a craftsperson," Mrva said. "I make things and I like to work with my hands, but most of all, I like to create pieces that can be part of our everyday lives, making art accessible."

The project was made possible with the cooperation of the Village of Le Roy and a $15,000 grant from NYS Homes & Community Renewal through the Main Street Program.

"One of the things that we hope to do in the future is get some more suggestions to do six additional benches along Main Street," Farmer said. "It just creates a sense of gathering, an ability to come down Main Street."

Sarah Farmer and her father-in-law Bill Farmer have more plans to help revitalize downtown Le Roy.

They are going to turn the former bank building across the street into a multi-use event space -- a ballroom, a concert hall, a conference space that will accommodate up to 175 people.

"It will have a bar, a small dining room and a full kitchen," Sarah said. "You can outsource it for private events and weddings and we're gonna donate space to the community for youth banquets and proms and stuff like that."

The top floors will be converted to apartments, she said.

The Farmers also purchased the building next door that used to be a coffee house.  They hope to turn that into a bakery.

"We have to offer a breakfast at Creekside for hotel guests," Farmer said. "Ideally, it'd be really nice to be able to have a place where they can get breakfast earlier than nine."

Her inspiration for restoration and community involvement is her Bill Farmer, she said, who invested more than a million dollars and several years of work to restore the Creekside after a devastating fire gutted it and left it vacant for more than a decade. It's literally become a cornerstone of the Village of Le Roy since reopening in 2017.

"Main Street has been near and dear to my family," Farmer said. "My fearless leader, my mentor, Bill Farmer, he started this very much in the mentality of restoring historic Main Street and of revitalizing the community. I very much have taken that and been very much inspired by that. And I'm so excited to see what we can do in the future. And I'm just so grateful for being able to get this project (the bench project) here."

Top photo: Sarah Farmer, Stacey Mrva, and Shelley Stein, Le Roy's representative on the Genesee County Legislature.

Photos by Howard Owens

Press Release:

Botts-Fiorito Post #576, American Legion, Le Roy, would like to announce with great pride and pleasure Martha Bailey as its selection for the 2022 “LeRoyan of the Year Award."

The “LeRoyan of the Year” is to recognize people who demonstrate the following qualifications and attributes:

• The man, woman or child who exemplifies the true spirit of Americanism, its ideals, love of the flag and country, regardless of race, creed or color.
• Good citizenship – by carrying out these principles, often beyond that expected of him or her.
• Service to the community – signified by excellence in a life of purpose and accomplishment.

Martha has been a resident of Le Roy for the past 39 years along with her husband Russell. 

She has two children Jaime (David Fetzer) and a son Christopher Bailey, along with seven grandchildren. 

Martha is currently employed as an office manager by SmartDESIGN Architecture in Batavia, with past employment at WBTA Radio and Tompkins Insurance. 

Martha is well known as the owner of  Martha’s Smoke Shop, which was on Main St in LeRoy for many years.

Martha’s long list of volunteer work includes being a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, a Past member of the YWCA of Batavia, chairperson for the Le Roy Board of Assessment Review, Le Roy Business Council (where she chairs the annual golf tournament along with the Le Roy’s First Night (New Year's Eve). 

Martha is very involved with the Le Roy Rotary, where she was past president, past assistant governor, Rotary Institute chairperson, past Milne board member, as well as a two-time Paul Harris recipient.   She has chaired many Rotary functions as well as the implementation of Rent-A-Rotarian, REAL (Rotary Excited About Literature), RAMP (Rotary Assistance Music Program), Rotary backpack and Knights Closet.

As a Lifetime member of the Women of the Moose, she was a past winner of Moose of the Year, she is now the first woman elected to a three-year term on the Le Roy Moose board of trustees.  She is the chairperson for many events that benefit many different organizations including, winter coats and accessories for the needs of Wolcott Street School students, Le Roy Jr. Sr High School’s Knights Closet, Crossroads House, The YWCA Safe House and various small club activities.

Martha is a MASTER ticket seller and a PRO at gathering door prizes for all of her events.  If you see Martha coming get your wallet out its going you cost money (always for a great cause).  

To honor Martha, the 53rd Annual LeRoyan of the Year Award Dinner will be held on Oct. 15.  Social hour is at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6:45 p.m., at the American Legion at 53 West Main St., Le Roy.  A limited number of tickets will be available starting on Sept 23, 2022, at the American Legion Tue through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., or by calling Joan (585) 721-7801.   The cost is $25.00 per ticket (check or cash only).

Photo: Martha Bailey on Friday evening at the Chamber of Commerce 50th Anniversary Celebration. Photo by Howard Owens.

On a night when a local football legend was honored, the Le Roy Oatkan Knights opened their home schedule for the 2022 season with a 27-20 in triple overtime.

Le Roy scored all of their points in the final seven minutes of regulation time and in overtime.

Down 14-0 entering the fourth quarter, Drew Strollo scored in a nine-yard run and then Adrian Stephens scored on an 11-yard run.

Attica struck first in OT, scoring on a Samuel Strezelec 10-yard run.  

The Knights tied the score on a Drew Strollo one-yard dive into the endzone and capped the scoring in the third overtime with Adrian Stephens scored from two yards out.

The game was dedicated to Robert F. 'Sully' Sullivan.

Offense:

• Rushing: Drew Strollo 10 carries for 71 yards and two TDs, Adrian Stephens 17 carries for 71 yards and two TDs
• Passing: Tommy Condidorio 4-5 for 63 yards, Adrian Stephens 3-11 for 78 yards
• Receiving: Cal Koukides two receptions for 61 yards, Tony Piazza two receptions for 46 yards

• Jack Tonzi, nine tackles and two fumble recoveries
• Tony Piazza, seven tackles
• Jackson Fix, five tackles, a fumble recovery
• Ryan Murphy, four tackles
• Ryan Higgins, four tackles

Photos by Ed Henry.  Top photo: LeRoy WR Cal Koukides hauls in a long pass to spark the Knights early in the 4th quarter.

 LeRoy QB Adrian Stephens cuts toward the end zone to score a TD to get the Knights within one.

Le Roy's placekicker connects on the game-tying PAT kick to tie the contest at 14.

Le Roy lineman Ryan Higgins (58) and teammates rejoice a turnover fumble by the Blue Devils in OT play. 

Le Roy TE Jack Tonzi extends for a near completion.

Le Roy WR Cal Koukides collides with the Attica defensive player.

Xavien Waker (left arrow) and Jackson Fix (right arrow) knock away the last Attica pass attempt on 4th down to secure the win for the Knights.

Jack Tonzi, left, and Bryce Lathan bump up high to celebrate the Knights’ comeback win.

Throughout her 90 years, Nancy Nickerson built a network of friends, appreciative customers and loyal staff at the place where she could always be found since owning D&R Depot in Le Roy.

Words such as sweet, welcoming, intelligent, and inspirational seem to flow easily from those who describe her. However, her steadfast spirit may best be defined by how she reacted after a minor stroke in February. Not only did the nonagenarian come back from that, but she actually rebounded mightily, son Jay says.

“She took exercise class and she would do extra reps of the exercise. She kept getting stronger,” he said during an interview Friday. “I’m still working on wrapping my head around … she began to work in that restaurant two years older than I am. I’m taking that as I can still figure out what I want to be when I grow up, I can start a whole new career.”

He and others marvel at the tenacity of Nancy Nickerson, who died Aug. 16, five days after having a massive stroke. Jay tends to believe that she died “getting ready to go to work,” and her body, strengthened from that exercise, kept going awhile longer. Long enough, in fact, to give family and friends time to see her and gain some closure, he said.

It wasn’t easy to talk about his mom without tears, another testament to the impact she made on people. Her countless customers and partners, Sean Valdes and his wife and head chef Jennifer, and restaurant staff will carry on at the restaurant, he said. But there will be a palpable shift.

“I think it’s just going to lose a little,” he said, pausing to find the right word. “Je ne sais quoi.”

A quality that cannot be described or named easily seems to fit Nancy well, as those who tried to describe her captured her essence more than nailing down adjectives. For example, her greatest skill, Jay said, was in finding the right people for the job. He named Sean Valdes as one of them; someone who began as a dishwasher at the restaurant and worked his way up.

Sean was just 14, and has worked with Nancy for 30 years, becoming a part owner for the last 20. As time marched on, he grew to admire this woman who — at 60 years old — decided to go into the restaurant business with husband Don. They revamped the entire place, installed a commercial kitchen, and “she was here literally every day,” Valdes said.

“Seven days a week she was here to greet you and visit each table, and chit-chat,” he said. “She loved her customers, she loved the industry. It wasn’t a job, it was her calling.”

Nancy had prior experience, having worked at Red Osier for 24 years. Don died in 2000, and she kept forging ahead, and “genuinely loved everyone who walked through the front door,” Valdes said. Not that they were always agreeable about every facet of the business,  he said — Valdes was about profit margins and Nancy was about pleasing customers. Her focus on patrons as the bottom line served Nancy well, as did her concern for the community and charity. She began a Community Mondays program that donated a portion of one’s bill to a favorite charity each Monday during a three-month period, and that's just one of her many efforts.

If she was at the end of a 16-hour shift and someone needed ketchup, Nancy would be the one to go and get some from the kitchen, Valdes said. She was a believer in the saying “a rising tide lifts all boats,” versus each man for himself.

“There’s something about Nancy’s drive, intelligence and commitment to customers,” Valdes said. “It will not be the same.”

In the vein of, "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it," the restaurant itself will continue on status quo, he said. There will be no changes to the menu, hours or staff, as all of those things have worked well, he said. Patti Rubino is part of the serving staff, and she has been there for 21 years. Though strict at first and wanting things to run a certain way, Nancy was “a very good boss,” Rubino said. And she will be missed.

“She loved everybody, and she will be remembered,” Rubino said, listing some of the things that her beloved boss would do: handing out wooden nickels when the train came by for a free dessert at the next visit; creating potpies that were personally served tableside and initiating the onion soup with scissors. (The scissors were to cut through the thick melted layer of cheese.)

Nancy was also known as an avid gardener, often out in the restaurant yard deadheading her prized roses. She was actually more than a boss to Rubino, and a pretty special restaurateur as well, given the response when she died. More than 3,000 people posted comments online and sent flowers and sympathy cards and made donations in her name. Some online comments included “I am so sorry for everyone’s loss. She was a wonderful person who always made you feel welcome,” “Sweetheart of a woman and she will be greatly missed,” and “Such a nice lady with a beautiful personality and smile. May she RIP.”

“She was family,” Rubino said. “She was always there to help somebody out.”

Keeping busy at her livelihood, plus immersing herself in books may have been why Nancy retained a great memory for most of her life. She and her husband would take their kids on excursions that surpassed the typical, such as going to Florida and including museums, botanical gardens and other sites with a trip to Disney World. There were always a lot of experiences like that, Jay said. He credits the restaurant for keeping her sharp and her independent nature for helping to define his own character.

Jay, whose siblings include Judy, Jon, Jeff, Jim and David, was proud to note that out of that entire two dozen years at Red Osier — going from waitress to office manager — his mom only took one sick day, and earned a reputation for a terrific work ethic. Whether or not she had aches or pains, you never heard her complain about anything, he said. She was a true optimist and someone with intrinsic gifts who ended up knowing a lot of people. He would often say to strangers he’d just met, I bet there’s a 50 percent chance that you know my mother. And they usually would.

“Nancy had a way of making you feel welcome. I don’t know how she did that,” he said. “I was always impressed with how she could talk with anybody.”

A Celebration of Life will be held at the D & R Depot from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.  All who knew her are invited. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you make memorials to the Jell-O Museum, 23 East Main St., LeRoy, NY, 14482, or the Woodward Memorial Library at 7 Wolcott St., LeRoy, NY, 14482.

Top File Photo of Nancy Nickerson, right, with Sean and Jennifer Valdes at the D&R Depot restaurant; Nancy and Sean promoting their New York-only wine offerings, both photos by Howard Owens. Photo of a birthday celebration for Nancy, submitted by Sean Valdes.

Press release from Department of Social Services:

Kristin Forte, 34, formerly of Le Roy, was sentenced to a 1-year conditional discharge after pleading guilty to one count of Disorderly Conduct in Batavia Town Court on July 26, 2022.

Forte was originally charged with eight counts of  1st degree offering a false instrument for filing, five counts of 2nd-degree forgery and one count of 3rd degree grand larceny after an investigation by the Genesee County Department of Social Services Investigations Unit revealed that she failed to correctly report her income and forged signatures of her employers.  She subsequently received $3,767 in SNAP benefits she was not entitled to.

Forte has made full restitution of $3,767 to the Department of Social Services.  She will also be disqualified from receiving SNAP benefits for one year.

Anyone wishing to report suspected cases of Welfare Fraud in Genesee County can contact the Genesee County Department of Social Services Investigations Unit at (585) 344-2580, ext 6417 or 6541

Robert F. "Sully" Sullivan, who dedicated decades of his life to Le Roy High School football and passed away this year will be honored at the Oakan Knights first home game of the season tomorrow night. Game time is 7:15 at Hartwood Park. 

Video courtesy Le Roy Central School District.

Press release:

The Genesee County Health Department is seeking information about the location of a dog and its owner(s) following a dog bite incident on Saturday, September 10, at 10:30 p.m. The incident occurred on Lake Street in the Village of LeRoy.  

An individual was trying to identify a stray dog from their backyard so that they could contact the dog’s owner when the dog approached the individual and bit him on his right index finger. The dog was described as an adult male, yellow Labrador with a white chest and a black collar with a tag.  

It is important to locate the dog to determine whether or not it is current on its rabies shot. If the health status is not identified, post-exposure rabies shots will be offered to the victim.   

If you have information about the location of the dog and its owner(s), please contact the Genesee County Health Department at 585-344-2580 ext. 5555.

Adam M. Kreutz, 33, of Batavia, is charged with assault 3rd, burglary 1st, and coercion 1st. Kreutz is accused of burglarizing an apartment on Ellicott Street and assaulting the person inside that apartment on Sept. 5 at 11:40 p.m. Kreutz was arraigned in City Court and ordered held in the Genesee County Jail without bail.

Jarrod K. Fotiathis, 27, of Le Roy, and Julie R. Richardson, 31, of Le Roy are charged with criminal possession of stolen property 4th, unlawful possession of personal identification 3rd, attempted petit larceny, and resisting arrest. They are accused of working together to steal a person's wallet  to purchase items at a local business on Sept. 3 at 9:01 a.m. on Ellicott Street. Fotiathis and Richardson are accused of fleeing from police on foot leading to a chase through the city. Fotiathis later turned himself. Richardson was stopped by a citizen who reportedly witnessed the incident. Both Fotiathis and Richardson were issued appearance tickets.

Christian I. Andrzejek, 26, no permanent address, is charged with burglary 3rd, petit larceny, and criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Andrzejek is accused of entering a building on Sept. 6 at 8:57 a.m. on Washington Avenue, Batavia, and stealing items from inside. Andrzejek was arraigned in City Court following his arrest and released under supervision.

Feyza Gabrielle Osmancikli, 28, of South Main Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Osmancikli is accused of possessing crack cocaine, discovered by Deputy Kenneth Quackenbush during a traffic stop on Sept. 6 at 3:35 p.m. on Liberty Street in Batavia. Osmancikli was processed at the Genesee County Jail and released on an appearance ticket.

Joshua Michael Ruffin, 27, of Main Street, Alexander, and Haley Maye Larnder, 23, of Tracy Avenue, Batavia, are charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th.  Ruffin and Larnder are accused of possessing crack cocaine at a location on Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia on Aug. 23 at 3:36 p.m. Both were arrested by Deputy Jacob Kipler, processed at the Genesee County Jail, and released on appearance tickets.

David W. Fielding, 33, of Bigelow Drive, Stafford, is charged with falsifying business records and grand larceny 4th. Fielding is accused of stealing tools from his employer on Godfreys Pond Road, Stafford, and pawing them for money between July 19 and Aug. 25. Fielding was arrested on Sept. 9 by Deputy Jacob Kipler, transported to the Genesee County Jail for processing, and released on appearance tickets.

Deontay Jahmani Sprattley, 21, of Green Avenue, Brooklyn, is charged with petit larceny. Sprattley is accused of skip-scanning multiple items at Walmart on Sept. 10 at 2:38 p.m. and stealing the items. He was arrested by Deputy Alexander Hadsall, processed at the Genesee County Jail, and released.

Jalen Corey Fields, 18, no street address provided, Brooklyn, is charged with petit larceny. Fields is accused of shoplifting at Walmart on Sept. 10 at 3:15 p.m. He was arrested by Deputy Ryan Mullen and issued an appearance ticket.

Matthew R. Taylor, 39, of Batavia, is charged with trespass. Taylor is accused of entering a business on Oak Street he had been banned from on Sept. 4 at 10:01 p.m. Taylor was issued an appearance ticket. He also allegedly trespassed on the same day at 4:49 p.m.

Jeffery T. Dutton, 31, of Batavia, is charged with obstruction of governmental administration and littering. Dutton is accused of throwing garbage on city-owned property on West Main Street on Sept. 5 at 3:44 p.m. He was released on an appearance ticket.

James D. Hooten, 33, of Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance 7th. Hooten was located by Batavia patrol officers and taken into custody on warrants held by the Sheriff's Office and State Police and allegedly found in possession of crack cocaine at the time of his arrest on Sept. 3 at 3:56 p.m. on Summit Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket and turned over to the Sheriff's Office.

Jolene Y. Stevens, 33, no permanent address, was arrested on a bench warrant stemming from an incident reported on March 4 at 1:48 p.m. on East Main Street, Batavia. Stevens is charged with resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and harassment. At the instruction of Judge Durin Rogers, Stevens was issued an appearance ticket and released.

David M. Camelio, 40, of Batavia, is charged with harassment 2nd. Camelio allegedly struck another person in the face during a confrontation reported on Aug. 28 at 4:18 p.m. at a location on East Main Street, Batavia. He was issued an appearance ticket.

Colin A. McCulley, 18, of Le Roy, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and consuming alcohol under age 21. McCulley was stopped by a Batavia patrol officer on Sept. 5 at 1:07 a.m. on East Main Street, Batavia.  He was issued an appearance ticket.

The steeple on the Methodist Church in Le Roy in the late afternoon sun on Tuesday.

Photo by Howard Owens.

A 45-year-old Le Roy man facing felony charges from a "shots fired" incident on Clinton Street Road a year ago, and facing other felony charges, turned down a plea offer today that could help him avoid the potential of a life-in-prison sentence.

That decision made a little more sense during a hearing that followed the plea offer discussion on a grand larceny charge from a separate incident.

In that case, a video that reportedly shows Arthur J. Brown taking a credit card from inside a police station wasn't preserved by Le Roy PD.

Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini ordered a spoliation hearing -- a hearing to determine what happened to the evidence -- to be followed by a Huntley hearing -- a hearing on whether evidence should be suppressed at trial.

Without the video, the only evidence against Brown in the grand larceny case is the testimony of a police officer who reviewed the video recording prior to arresting Brown on the charge.  Under the rules of evidence, the officer can testify about what he saw on the recording.

By calling for a spoliation hearing -- something the defense did not request -- Cianfrini signaled that she might consider a strong sanction against the prosecution, which could include dismissing the case.

When asked about a possible remedy, First Assistant District Attorney Joseph Robinson said it would be appropriate to permit the jury to draw an "adverse inference" from the fact the video does not exist.  That would mean at trial, the jury could consider that the lack of a recording means there is a weakness in the prosecution's case.

Robinson said that remedy would be significant because there is only one police officer who can testify in the case and state what he saw on the video. There is no other supporting evidence.

On Aug. 11, 2021, Brown was picked up by Le Roy PD on a violation-level offense, said Assistant Public Defender Lisa Kroemer, and placed in an interview room where he was required to empty his pockets. 

When he was released, he was instructed to take his personal belongings.

Later, a police officer discovered that a credit card was missing. The card had been found by somebody and left with the police. It was being held for safekeeping until its rightful owner could pick it up.

The missing video supposedly shows Brown picking up the card along with his property.

Kroemer argued that the video is a critical piece of evidence that could show whether Brown knowingly and intentionally took the card or whether he picked it up accidentally, a distinction, she said, the officer can't reliably testify about.

When questioned later, Brown did have the card in his possession, Kroemer conceded, but the issue that can't be resolved without the video is whether Brown knowingly took the card from the police station.

Kroemer said Brown was held for a bail hearing less than 24 hours after his arrest and Kroemer put the District Attorney's Office on notice at the hearing that the video recording needed to be preserved as evidence.  She also argued that police officers should know that such a piece of evidence should be preserved.

Later, Cianfrini would note that Kroemer made a compelling argument that members of law enforcement, more than a store owner or any other member of the public, should understand the importance of preserving evidence. 

In ordering a spoliation hearing, Cianfrini said the court is interested in hearing what protocols Le Roy PD has in place for preserving video evidence, what happened in this case, what was communicated to police, and how it was communicated, about preserving the recording, and what if anything is the police department doing to ensure this doesn't happen again.

The hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Oct. 14.

Brown is also facing multiple charges from a Sept. 19, 2021 incident in which Brown was stopped on Clinton Street Road in Stafford for alleged erratic driving and once stopped, fled from law enforcement into a cornfield.

A deputy said he saw a gun on Brown and a second later, there was a bang or a boom in the area that prompted the officer to inform dispatchers of "shots fired."  

The search for Brown took several hours and involved Monroe County SWAT, the Batavia Emergency Response Team, State Police (including the closure of the Thruway), drones and a State Police helicopter.

Law enforcement reported recovering a handgun at the scene, but Brown has maintained it wasn't his.

It turned out later, that what sounded like possible gunshots was really a wildlife scare cannon.

In that incident, Brown was charged with:

• Criminal possession of a weapon 2nd
• Menacing a police officer
• Tampering with physical evidence
• Obstruction of governmental administration 2nd
• Criminal  possession of a controlled substance 7th
• Driving while impaired by drugs
• Failure to keep right

Brown is also facing a charge of failure to register as a sex offender but he hasn't been indicted on that count yet.

The plea offer from the District Attorney's Office was for Brown to plead guilty to the weapons charge and the grand larceny, and serve five years in prison with seven years on parole, and the rest of the charges would be satisfied.

Brown would still have been subject to being found by the court to be a second felony offender, a second violent felony offender, and a persistent felony offender.

After Robinson recited the plea offer, Kroemer said her client was rejecting the offer. 

Cianfrini then wanted to ensure that Brown understood the ramifications and risks of his decision.  As she spoke, Brown raised his hand as if he wanted to speak and Cianfrini advised him that he shouldn't speak to the court and instead talk privately with his attorney and let her speak on his behalf.

Kroemer and Brown then conferred, but Brown was speaking loud enough that some of what he was saying could be heard in the courtroom.  Cianfrini told him he should whisper so she couldn't hear what he was saying.

After Kroemer and Brown spoke, Cianfrini asked Brown if he still wished to decline the deal.  He said that he did.  

She explained to him that if he was found guilty at trial, he could be sentenced to the maximum prison term for each count, that the sentences could be served consecutively instead of concurrently, and that if the court found him to be a persistent felony offender, he could be sent to prison for life.

"My job is to ensure that I feel satisfied that you understand," Cianfrini said. "Whether you take the plea is 100 percent your decision. I just want to make sure you understand." 

Brown, who spoke clearly in court, said he understood.

On the weapons charge, the court set a trial date for March 20 to March 24, with a Jan. 23 plea cutoff date. 

Cianfrini explained to Brown that while the plea offer he just rejected was off the table, the prosecution had the option of making a new offer and Jan. 23 would be the final date Brown would have to accept a plea offer, otherwise the case would go to trial.

There will be a Huntley hearing, a hearing on the possible suppression of evidence, at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 11.

Brown is not being held in jail while the charges against him are pending.

The Oatkan Knights pulled out a close win in Bath over Bath-Haverling to open their season on Friday night, with placekicker Katelynn Everett providing the margin of victory.

She was 5-5 in point-after-attempts in the 35-32 win for Le Roy.

Both teams scored five touchdowns with Bath-Haverling unable to convert one PAT because of a blocked kick and failing to convert twice on two-point plays.

Tony Piazza rushed for 136 yards and scored twice on 15 attempts.  Tommy Condidorio gained 90 years and scored twice on 14 attempts. 

Jackson Fix scored a touchdown on 11 carries for 54 yards.

On defense, Jack Tonzi had 6.5 tackles and a sack.  Tony Piazza had 5.5 tackles and Xavien Walker had five.

Photos by Ed Henry. 

Top photo: LeRoy’s Bryce Lathan (42) and Jack Tonzi (no helmet) engulf the Bath RB.

Tony Piazza (22) leads the sweep for LR QB Tommy Condidorio.

LeRoy WR Cal Koukides snags a 30-yard reception from QB Condidorio.

Tony Piazza runs hard through the Bath defense.

LeRoy place kicker Katelyn Everett splits the uprights.

LeRoy place kicker Katelynn Everett was a perfect 5 of 5 on PATs for the Knights.

LeRoy linemen Ayden Riggi (67) and Will Eschberger (65) celebrate the team win. 

Meet Mathew Davis, Le Roy Jr./Sr. High School's new assistant principal and athletic director.

Video courtesy Le Roy Central School District.