Le Roy

A Le Roy mother accused of stealing $6,200 from a nursery school where she served as treasurer will spend five years on probation, Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled this morning.

Jennifer M. Riggi, 29, of 47 Lake St., Le Roy, will also serve on community work details each weekend for the next two months.

Riggi, speaking hoarsely and softly, said in halting sentences, "I admit it was wrong. I feel awful that it happened. It's a mistake I made."

On Feb. 27, Riggi plead guilty to grand larceny, 4th. As part of her plea deal, she was required to make restitution prior to sentencing, which she did.

Meg Roberts, president of the board of directors for the school, said Riggi's actions were harmful to the school.

"We trusted you to help run the school for our children and your children as well," Roberts said. "You completely misled us that you had the best interest of the children at heart.

"You had direct knowledge about how misappropriating funds would hurt the school and our ability to pay our teachers. I never would have expected another mother to steal from our school."

Noonan said he really didn't understand Riggi's motivation.

"When I read the presentence investigation on somebody who violated the trust of an institution or organization that vested them with (financial responsibility), I'm really trying to look for a reason why," Noonan said.

"Some would do it often times because of drug or other substance abuse issues. Sometimes it's a gambling problem. Sometimes it's a drastic change in financial circumstances. Often times people say, as you did, that they intended at the time to return what they took and just got in over their heads.

"But with a spouse who has adequate income so that you're not forced into the position where you must steal to feed your children, it does suggest a real character flaw. That is something you are going to have to deal with, not just for the period of probation term, but for the rest of your life.

"What could make you feel that you could go and take money just because it was available to you, I don't understand," Noonan concluded. "It's not my job to understand it. It's just a curiosity to me."

About 200 Le Roy High School students witnessed one of their classmates being carried away in a body bag by four volunteer firefighters on Friday.

The student wasn't dead, just an actor in a multi-agency demonstration for the youths about what happens when people drink and drive and get into serious auto accidents.

The event was put together by Tim Hogel and Christina Marinaccio of the Le Roy Fire Department. Also participating were the Stafford Fire Department, Le Roy Ambulance (who's members also assisted to planning and setting up the drill), Mercy Flight, Le Roy Police, the Genesee County Sheriff's Office, Genesee County Emergency Services and Coroner Bob Yungfleisch.

"We wanted them to know, to have a firsthand experience," said Le Roy Chief Mike Sheflin. "We can read statistics to them all day long, but we wanted them to really see what happens, to have a friend being put under an orange blanket and in a body bag."

The scene set up in the parking lot of the high school involved two cars, four student actors and two mannequins. The demonstration, lasting more than an hour, showed students what happens when first responders arrive on scene -- from providing immediate medical treatment to extricating people trapped in cars.

The re-enactment portrayed a double fatality accident with one person being trapped in a car and the other being thrown from a vehicle. Yungfleisch pronounced both victims dead at the scene and went through all the steps he normally would in documenting the deaths.

Two other students were "transported" by ground ambulance and a third student was transported in a Mercy Flight helicopter. (He described the ride as "bumpy.")

At least three students --Lindsay Snyder, Ashley Russo, Shelby Joshlin -- said the demonstration had a real impact on them.

"It’s traumatizing for everyone," Lindsay said. "Even if you don’t know them, it still impacts you. Even in just acting, it kind of makes you stop and think, what if that happened to me?"

Ashley said the demonstration really showed her that driving while intoxicated is really bad and Shelby added that she would do everything she could to keep people from drinking and driving.

"If somebody needs a ride, even if I’m not friends with them, they can give me a call and I’ll come and give them a ride," Shelby said. "I don’t want to see this happen to anybody I know."

Hogel said he's known five young people over the past five years involved in fatal DWI accidents, which was part of the reason he wanted to put this demonstration together.

"If we can influence just one person not to drink and drive then I’m happy with it," Hogel said.

Of course, just about every volunteer firefighter, police officer and EMS responder has dealt with a fatal accident. Often people they know are involved, so how these accidents effect their own families is never far from their minds.

The 17-year-old daughter of Scott Kibler, 1st Assistent for Stafford Fire, was in the audience, and Kibler said he's warned his daughter many times about drinking and driving.

"Of course, she's only 17 and shouldn't be drinking at all, but I can't be with her twenty-four-seven," Kibler said.

“I’ve told her I’ve seen what happens firsthand at fatal accidents involving alcohol," Kibler said. "As a parent, the last thing I want to do is get woken up in the middle of the night to go to a fatal where she’s involved, whether she’s involved injured or uninjured."

UPDATE: Here's the names of the students who participated. Ben Eadie road in the bird, Chelsie Hixenbaugh had the broken leg, Emily Hogle had an arm injury, Gino Forte was the drunken driver, Chris Merica played the role of DOA.

More pictures after the jump:

Glenn R. Price, 57, of 128 W. Main St., Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Price is accused of slashing tires in the parking lot of Walmart, 4133 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia, at 12:04 a.m., Feb. 21. The case was investigated by Deputy Chris Parker and Investigator Kristopher Kautz.

Mark Laney, 31, of Clinton Street Road, Bergen, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Laney is accused of violating an order of protection out of Family Court. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Christopher Patrick Ball, 28, of Ellicott Street Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st. Ball is accused of harassing his ex-girlfriend during a phone conversation, in violation of an order of protection. Ball was jailed on $2,500 bail.

A 16-year-old resident of West Bergen Road, Le Roy, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. The youth is accused of violating an order of protection out of Family Court. The youth was jailed on $750 bail.

A car has reportedly hit a deer on the east I-490 somewhere in the Le Roy or Bergen area and the car is reportedly leaking gas.

Both Bergen and Le Roy fire departments dispatched since the exact location has not been determined.

It is approximately in the area of mile marker 2.7 or could be east of the Bergen exit.

There are no injuries reported.

UPDATE 9:23 p.m.: The vehicle has been located in the eastbound lane just west of the Bergen exit.

UPDATE 9:25 p.m.: Fluid leak is antifreeze. Le Roy back in service.

Three people indicted in Federal Court today on racketeering charges have Genesee County ties.

All three are said to be associated with the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club in Rochester.

James Henry McAuley Jr. (aka "Mitch"), 62, is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering activity.

Indicted as co-conspirators after the fact were Richard E. Riedman (aka "Eric"), 37, and Timothy M. Stone, 31, who were previously arrested in Corfu in June 2009 for allegedly stealing scrap metal.

McAuley, described by Federal authorities as vice president of the Rochester Hells Angels, is married to Donna L. Boon (aka Donna L. McAuley). Boon, 45, was arrested at her Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road residence on July 9, 2010, in connection with an alleged methamphetamine ring headed by Donald G. Vanelli, 48, of 8394 Lake St., Le Roy.

Vanelli, who was said to be president of the Road Agents Motorcycle Club at the time, entered a guilty plea in Federal Court in January to a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Boon faces federal charges related to conspiracy with intent to distribute narcotics. Her case is still pending.

The case against Riedman and Stone is still pending.

McAuley, Riedman and Stone were indicated along with Robert W. Moran Jr. (aka "Bugsy"), 59, and Gina Tata, 47.

According to the indictment, McAuley, Moran and Tata beat up a patron of an unidentified restaurant on May 31, 2006. Tata allegedly told Moran that the patron threatened the motorcycle club. Moran allegedly struck the head and body of the patron repeatedly with a baseball bat. 

Tata, Riedman and Stone allegedly conspired to help Moran and McAuley avoid apprehension.

A press release from the office of William H. Hochul, U.S. Attorney for Western New York, describes the Hells Angels as a criminal organization whose members function as a continuing unit for the common purpose of facilitating criminal activity, including acts involving narcotics trafficking and murder."

It also says, "Members of the Rochester Hells Angels claim to control certain territory up to Syracuse, and allegedly use violence for a number of illicit purposes, including those who did not show proper respect to the organization."

The indictment alleges that all defendants acted with the specific purpose of maintaining and increasing their positions in the Hells Angels. 

"The country’s federal racketeering statutes were specifically designed to help combat acts of violence committed by members of a criminal organization," Hochul said in a statement. "This office stands ready to utilize these statutes – and aid our local law enforcement partners - whenever circumstances warrant."   

McAuley is currently locked up in the Elkton Federal Corrections Facility in Elkton, Ohio.

He was sentenced in April 2008 to eight years for participating in a conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering. 

McAuley conspired to murder members of the Kingsmen Motorcycle Club in Fulton, N.Y., because the Kingsmen, who were affiliated with the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, were establishing a chapter in the Hells Angels territory.

According to public records, McAuley has lived in Rochester, Spencerport, Brockport and Fairport. There is no record of his having lived in Genesee County.

On Tuesday morning, somebody apparently fired a shotgun in the Village of Le Roy.

No injuries were reported in the 11 a.m. incident, but a bullet was lodged in the wall of a residence.

Police do not know who fired the12-gauge shotgun slug, which imbedded in the outer wall of 57 W. Main St.

It's also unclear where the person was standing when he fired the gun. It appears to be somewhere east of Craigie Street.

Police are asking any possible witnesses to call the department at 768-2527.

A car has reportedly gone off the road at 6842 Randall Road, Le Roy, traveling through the yard and striking a parked car.

Unknown injuries.

Le Roy Fire and Le Roy Ambulance dispatched.

UPDATE 4:50 p.m.: Units responding can come in non-emergency. No injuries.

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A suspected drug dealer allegedly struggled with members of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force, causing minor injuries to two officers, when they attempted to arrest him Thursday evening on Liberty Street, Batavia.

Taken into custody, following an investigation into the sale, transportation and possession of cocaine in and around Le Roy and Batavia, was 21-year-old Craig A. Tiberio-Shepherd, of Lathrop Avenue, Le Roy.

Once Tiberio-Shepherd was taken into custody, members of the task force along with uniformed deputies and officers from Batavia PD and Le Roy PD, executed search warrants on Tiberio-Shepherd himself and his residence.

Investigators allegedly found a quantity of cocaine, a quantity of Suboxone (a controlled substance), numerous pieces of drug paraphernalia, drug packaging, digital scales and $310.

Following arraignment in Batavia City Court, Tiberio-Shepherd was jailed without bail.

Tiberio-Shepherd was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 3rd, criminal possession of a controlled substance, 4th, assault, 2nd, and obstructing governmental administration, 2nd. In Le Roy Court, Tiberio-Shepherd was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, and criminal using drug paraphernalia, 2nd.

The injured members of the task force suffered twisted fingers and minor cuts and bruises.

Tyrone L. Richardson, 35, of 17 Walnut St., Batavia, is charged with criminal obstruction of breathing / blood circulation and harassment, 2nd. Richardson is accused of grabbing another person by the throat and also placing that person in a headlock and applying pressure. Richardson reportedly left the scene of the alleged incident at 8:20 a.m., Sunday, and turned himself in on Monday.

Jayson Michael Connolly, 37, of Weathersfield Road, Silver Springs, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Connolly is accused of placing a phone call to a woman he is barred by court order from contacting. Connolly was jailed on $2,500 bail. (from Sheriff's Office press release)

Jayson M. Connolly, 37, of 5405 Weathersfield Road, Silver Springs, is charged with criminal contempt ,2nd. Connolly was allegedly found in a car with a person he was barred from contacting by court order. Connolly was jailed on $1,000 bail (City Police press release)

Travis J. Weatherall, 23, of 7216 Griswold Road, Bergen, is charged with petit larceny. Weatherall was arrested by Le Roy Police. He is accused of shoplifting a package of jerky from Tops Market.

Name Redacted Upon Request, 19, of Lake Street, Le Roy, is charged with burglary, 2nd, criminal possession of stolen of stolen property, 5th, petit larceny, growing cannabis without a license and unlawful possession of marijuana. xxxx was arrested following the execution of a search warrant on his residence, which was the result of an investigation that began April 15 after a village resident complained a home had been entered and various items stolen. The investigation pointed to xxxx as the suspect and a search warrant was obtained. During execution of the search warrant, numerous allegedly stolen items were found as well as marijuana plants and marijuana paraphernalia. xxxxx was jailed on $15,000 bail.

Michael B. Pfaff, of Keeney Road, Le Roy, is charged with felony DWI, aggravated DWI and failing to stop at a stop sign. Pfaff was stopped Sunday by a Le Roy police officer. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Jonathan Cornell Robinson, 24, of Buffalo (no street address released), is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, operating on a suspended license and driver's view obstructed. Robinson was stopped at 12:39 a.m., Saturday, on Main Street, Batavia, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Keith Patrick Snyder, 30, of Lewiston Road, Alabama, is charged with unlawfully fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding and consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle. Snyder was stopped at 2:58 a.m, Saturday, on MvVean Road, Darien, by Deputy Jason Saile. Snyder was also charged with refusal to take breath test, failure to signal and failure to yield right-of-way to an emergency vehicle.

Charles Linwood Muntz, 22, of Crosby Road, Basom, is charged with a felony count of DWI, leaving the scene of a property damage accident and parking on a public highway. Muntz was allegedly found asleep at the wheel of his vehicle while it was stopped at an intersection on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation at 3:11 a.m., Saturday, by Deputy Eric Seppala.

Jeremy John Patterson, 20, of Medina (no street address released), is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, tinted windows and plate obstructed. Patterson was stopped at 1:53 a.m., Sunday, on Alleghany Road, Basom, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Earl Elsworth Sands, 53, of Batavia (no street address released), is charged with harassment, 2nd. Sands was arrested following a disturbance at his residence at 10:30 p.m., Saturday. Sands is accused of striking a visitor to his residence.

Jennifer Rae Champlin, 31, of Bloomfield (no street address released), is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Champlin was stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 5:06 p.m., Sunday, on Ellicott Street, Batavia, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Lt. Tim Hogle, above right, received the Firefighter of the Year award from the Le Roy Fire Department during the its annual awards and installation dinner at Bohn's Restaurant in Batavia.

Safety Officer Joe "Uncle Joe" Orlando, below, received the Chief's Accommodation.

Chief Mike Sheflin presented both awards.

County Emergency Services Coordinator Tim Yaeger, right, presented the department with an award for Le Roy posting the most training hours -- 850 -- of any department in Genesee County. Chief Mike Sheflin accepted the award.

Tom Wood, 1st Assistant Chief, Chief Sheflin and 2nd Assistant Chief Dale Ehrhart.

More pictures after the jump:

Darik Robert Michael Orbaker, 18, of Forest Edge Drive, Batavia, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Orbaker was taken into custody on East Main Street, Batavia, by State Troopers and Sheriff's Deputies on Thursday afternoon. Orbaker is accused of violating an order of protection. He allegedly hit a female covered by an order of protection.

Brian Michael Fairbanks, 33, of Church Street, Le Roy, is charged with unlawful imprisonment, 2nd, and menacing, 3rd. Fairbanks allegedly committed the crimes during a dispute with a friend in his apartment.

Nicholas M. Lyons, 30, of 17 Central Ave., Batavia, is charged with menacing, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd. Lyons is accused of punching, kicking and using a knife to threaten another person during an alleged incident at 10 p.m., Thursday.

Donnie Hendrickson is indicted on charges of grand larceny, 4th, 23 counts of timber trespass, grand larceny, 3rd, and scheme to defraud, 1st. Hendrickson is accused of cutting and stealing timber from property in Le Roy between Jan. 9 and Feb. 14, 2010 with an estimated value in excess of $1,600. The timber trespass charges each stem from alleged removal of specific trees, including sugar maple, red oak trees and hickory trees. He is also accused of removing trees from property in Stafford, specifically swamp white oak and soft maple trees. He is also accused of cutting and removing timber from a property in Stafford with a value in excess of $18,000. He is also accused of fraudulently trying to acquire the trees.

David Isabell is indicted on charged of two counts of grand larceny, 4th, three counts of grand larceny, 3rd, issuing a bad check, 22 counts of timber trespass, petit larceny, theft of services and scheme to defraud, 1st. Isabell is accused of stealing timber from a property in Le Roy with a value in excess of $1,000. He's also accused of stealing $6,250 from a person in Bergen. He's also accused of stealing timber from a property in Le Roy with a value in excess of $3,000. He's accused of writing a bad check to a person in Le Roy with a value of $5,600. He's a accused of removing timber from a property in Stafford with a value in excess of $450. He's accused of removing timber from a property in Le Roy with a value in excess of $1,000 The alleged timber removed from these properties includes sugar maple, red oak, hickory and swamp white oak. The theft of services charge comes from an allegation that Isabell failed to pay for hotel rooms in Batavia. 

Randall W. McKeown is indicted on a felony charge of DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and aggravated unlicensed operation. McKeown is accused of driving drunk on Nov. 7 while in the Town of Batavia.