Stafford

Susan Marie Norway, 29, of Cockram Road, Byron, is charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Norway was allegedly not at home when her children were dropped off after school by a school bus. The children went to a neighbor's house, where they stayed while the neighbor contacted the Sheriff's Office.

Melissa Marie Morton, 27, of West Middlebury Road, Bethany, is charged with petit larceny and criminal contempt. Morton was arrested on warrants from Stafford Town Court for alleged failure to appear on the charges. She was jailed on $200 bail.

Richard Joesph Liberte, 46, of Batavia Stafford Townline Road, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 2nd, and criminal mischief, 3rd. Liberte is accused of deliberately driving his vehicle into a parked truck and then into a residence, causing substantial damage to the structure at 2:18 a.m., Sunday, at 7997 Batavia Byron Road, Stafford. Liberte was jailed on $5,000 bail.

Yolanda E. Johnson, 26, of 8 Wood St., Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Johnson is accused of stealing a bag of money from the apartment of a friend.

Melissa M. Morton, 27, of 4802 Middlebury Road, Bethany, is charged with criminal contempt, 2nd. Morton was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for alleged traffic violations on Main Street by Officer Chad Richards. There was an active bench warrant for Morton out of Batavia City Court. She was jailed on $500 bail.

Daniel C. Dilaura, 38, of 32 Brooklyn Ave., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Dilaura is accused of hitting a woman he knew in the face. Dilaura was jailed on $10,000 bail.

Brian Lee Smith, 51, of Colonial Boulevard, Batavia, is charged with stalking, 4th. Smith is accused of having continued contact with an ex-girlfriend after being advised by law enforcement to cease all contact.

Patricia Kathleen Vogel, 52, of Exchange Street, Attica, is charged with petit larceny. Vogel is accused of stealing clothing and a book with a total value of $112.58 from Kmart.

Jerry Guity, 21, of Beach 54th Street, Far Rockway, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Guity was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 1:47 a.m. Monday on Route 33, Batavia, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Guity was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Stephanie Leigh Hyatt, 19, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, 3rd. Hyatt allegedly reported that her vehicle was struck in the parking lot of Applebee's and provided a vague description of the "suspect vehicle." Hyatt allegedly later admitted to having an accident on the I-490 in Monroe County at a prior time.

Eric Michael Kelckler, 24, of Pratt Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Kelckler allegedly tried turning around in a private driveway on Hopkins Road at 4:15 a.m., Saturday, when his vehicle became stuck in the front yard of the residence. Upon investigation by Deputy Jason Saile, Kelckler was arrested for alleged drunken driving.

Suzanne Ryder, 46, of South Newstead Road, Akron, is charged with felony DWI, felony driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and speeding. Ryder was stopped at 10:24 p.m. Friday on Main Road, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves for allegedly driving 53 in a 40 mph zone.

Pamela Lynn Palaszynski, 27, of Tillotson Place, Buffalo, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, speeding, operating without headlights and failure to yield to emergency vehicle. Deputy Patrick Reeves attempted to stop Palaszynski's vehicle on Main Street, Batavia, at 10:39 p.m. Thursday for allegedly speeding (52 in a 45 mph zone) and other alleged traffic violations. Palaszynski allegedly did not stop for 2/10ths of a mile from the original traffic stop location.

Robert James Dempsey, 23, of Prole Road, Batavia, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and moving from lane unsafely. Dempsey allegedly drove his vehicle into a tree on Junction Road, Pavilion, at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. The accident was investigated by Deputy Eric Seppala.

Erik A. Kendell, 34, of East Bethany, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater, moving from lane unsafely and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Kendell is accused of being in involved in car vs. telephone pole accident at 5:20 a.m. Saturday on Route 20, Alexander, and then fleeing the scene. The incident was investigated by Deputy Howard Carlson and Deputy Frank Bordonaro.

The Stafford Volunteer Fire Department held its annual awards and installation dinner Saturday night at the Clarion Hotel.

Firefighter of the Year was Stephen Johnson (left).

Also receiving awards were Tim Eckdahl, Chiefs Award, and Stephanie Call, Special Recognition. Eli Dawson had the most fire/rescue training hours and Bob Mattice had the most EMS training hours.

The top 10 responders for 2012 were Tim Eckdahl, Eli Dawson, Don Hall, Tom Snyder, Stephen Johnson, Dave Rumsey, Ryan Lokken, Chris Bobo, Jamie Call
and Mike McDonald.

John Woodworth Sr., received a 50-year Service Award.

During 2012, Stafford responded to 213 calls. Those calls were 159 rescue calls (including motor-vehicle accidents), 14 fires, 11 calls for service, 12 hazardous conditions, 10 good intentions and seven false alarms. Those calls added up to 942 man hours.

Department members completed 2,238 training hours, which was fourth highest among the departments in the county.

To purchase prints of the photos, click here.

A man allegedly caught in the act of burglarizing a residence on Griswold Road in Le Roy Feb. 12, has been charged with five more burglaries in Stafford and Bergen.

Jeffrey J. Leaton, 22, of Caswell Road, Byron, was arraigned in Bergen Town Court today on five counts of burglary, 2nd, a Class C felony.

Leaton is accused of stealing jewelry and cash from two homes on Griswold Road, Stafford, and homes on West Bergen, Hunter and Peachey roads, Bergen.

The suspect remains jailed on $20,000 bail.

An observant resident may have helped the Sheriff's Office yesterday nab a suspect in a series of burglaries in the county.

So far, Jeffery James Leaton, 22, of Caswell Road, Byron, has only been charged with an alleged burglary on Griswold Road, Le Roy.

According to Deputy Chief Jerome Brewster, Leaton was caught in the act at the Griswold Road home after a person reported suspicious activity at the residence.

Brewster said investigators are looking at Leaton as a possible suspect in other burglaries. There have been strings of burglaries reported since early January in Elba, Oakfield, Byron, Bergen and Stafford.

Leaton has been charged with one count of burglary, 2nd, and is accused of making forced entry into the Griswold Road residence. He was allegedly in the process of stealing jewelry.

Following arraignment in Town of Le Roy Court, he was jailed on $20,000 bail.

Sheriff's investigators are actively pursuing leads on a string of burglaries that started in January in Elba, Oakfield, Byron and Bergen.

Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster said investigators believe two different crews are involved in the burglaries.

"The crew in Elba and Oakfield enters with door kick-ins," Brewster said. "The other crew is more sophisticated about getting into a house."

The Elba/Oakfield crew may be associated with a white van. The Byron/Bergen crew (which may be responsible for a burglary in Stafford) may use stolen vehicles.

One vehicle from Bergen is still missing, another has been recovered and a car that was stolen in Henrietta was located in Bergen.

The Elba and Oakfield burglaries have occurred during daylight hours.

There are suspects in the Elba/Oakfield burglaries, Brewster said, and they don't live in the area.

Brewster said residents who see anything suspicious could contact the Sheriff's Office at (585) 343-5000.

"Give us a call," Brewster said. "We love to look into those things."

Residents should be on the lookout for a suspicious vehicle in a neighbor's driveway, a car slowing and apparently trying to check out homes in a neighborhood, and somebody knocking on your door with no apparent need to knock on your door  -- all the sort of things that should be phoned in as suspicious, Brewster said.

Russell P. Cessna, 25, of 18 Pleasant St., Le Roy, will spend somewhere near the next 15 years in state prison.

Cessna was sentenced in county court this morning for burglarizing more than a dozen homes in Genesee County.

As District Attorney Lawrence Friedman told Judge Robert C. Noonan, if Cessna received the maximum sentence under his plea agreement, he would spend less than a year in jail for each of his crimes.

Three of Cessna's victims told Noonan how Cessna's burglaries had changed their lives forever.

"I don't like that I don't trust people anymore," said one victim. "I don't like that I don't like seeing cars parked in front of my house because I don't know if somebody is looking at my house because they want to take something from me."

The victim suggested that when Cessna gets out of prison, he be required to do 2,080 hours of community service to reimburse the government for all the resources used to investigate, prosecute and incarcerate him.

Another victim said Cessna stole her wedding ring (custom designed by her husband, which she wasn't wearing during her pregnancy) and her graduation ring.

"He took away the two things that meant the most me and something that can't be replaced," she said.

Another victim also said he has become more distrustful and worried about people coming onto his property.

"You're going to have a lot of time in the next 1,800 to 5,400 days of your life," the victim said. "You'll be able to think about why you did what you did and why you didn't just get a job."

Noonan also received letters from friends and family who support Cessna, but there was also a letter Cessna wrote to a former girlfriend and obtained by the District Attorney's Office that Noonan characterized as "vile."

The letter was discussed extensively by Friedman and defense attorney Jerry Ader.

The letter was written shortly after Cessna's arrest at a time, Ader said, when Cessna was coming down from a severe heroin addiction. Cessna was unhappy with his former girlfriend for something she did that was unrelated to his criminal case.

Ader argued that the letter shouldn't be used as evidence of Cessna's character, yet he couldn't deny that it's a part of who his client is. But he's also a person with friends and family who support him, the attorney said.

"The letters do not paint my client in some rainbow," Ader said. "He is somebody who is troubled, who, while he may not admit it, has mental health issues, issues that run in his family and a drug problem that runs in his family. I'm not saying that excuses him. It explains him."

Local law enforcement caught up with Cessna July 31 as part of an undercover operation that located Cessna in the act of burglarizing a home on Summit Street, Batavia. He accepted a guilty plea to two counts of burglary, 2nd, on Jan. 16.

According to Friedman, Cessna cooperated with investigators from four different law enforcement agencies, admitting to a string of burglaries. Friedman said that cooperation did more to help Cessna himself than it helped law enforcement, because by admitting to the crimes, Cessna avoids possible separate prosecution later on new charges.

Cessna read a handwritten statement to Noonan.

"I wish I could take it all back, but it's too late now," Cessna said, adding later that he knows his actions were selfish. "I'm sorry. I hope they (his victims) can forgive me."

Noonan said Cessna's statement was "a reasonable response for somebody who has committed terrible acts against strangers."

But then there is that letter to Cessna's former girlfriend.

"The letter submitted that was written to a former girlfriend is one of the most vile things I've ever read as part ofa pre-sentence package," Noonan said. "Whether it represents who Mr. Cessna is or, as his attorney said, a part of Cessna, that this man would write such a very, very disturbing letter tells me a lot about the person I am about to sentence."

Cessna was also ordered to pay $32,107.15 in restitution.

An overloaded fireplace is reportedly "leaking fire" at 9767 Roanoke Road, Stafford.

Stafford fire is responding. York fire is responding, and also filling in for Le Roy at Le Roy's fire hall, as well as any other available Le Roy personnel (Le Roy held its annual awards and installation dinner tonight).

UPDATE 10:54 p.m.: Chief on scene reports fire contained to the fire box.

UPDATE 11:05 p.m.: Fire is out. Ventilating.

UPDATE 11:36 p.m.: Stafford and York back in service. York returning to Le Roy's hall for standby duty.

A large structure fire is reported at 8251 W. Bergen Road. It's next to a garage. Le Roy fire and ambulance are responding along with mutual aid from Bergen. Pavilion and Stafford fire departments are requested to send an engine to stand by in Le Roy's fire hall. The location is on the curve between Randall and Selden roads.

UPDATE 1:52 p.m.: Fire police are requested to shut down that portion of West Bergen Road.

UPDATE 1:57 p.m.: Pavilion is now requested to stand by in its own quarters.

UPDATE 2:05 p.m.: Pavilion is called to the scene in emergency mode. A thermal imaging camera will be used to check for heat in the garage.

UPDATE 2:12 p.m.: EMTs are asked to check the well-being of a volunteer firefighter.

UPDATE 2:16 p.m.: A deputy is requested to the scene, possibly to deal with bystanders. Earlier, command asked that they told to back away from the scene. When Bergen is through with its task, the crew can go back in service.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: The fire is out and they are breaking down their equipment and preparing to go back in service.

Ashley R. Keene, 25, of 244 Liberty St., Batavia, was arrested on a warrant out of city court for an alleged failure to appear on previous charges. Keene was previously charged with unlawful dealing with a child and harassment, 2nd. The endangering the welfare of a child charge stems from an incident in July when Keene allegedly gave bath salts to a child. Keene was taken into custody upon her release from the Monroe County Jail, where she was held on an unrelated charged. Keene was jailed on $2,500 bail.

Stacy Lynn Patterson, 25, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with grand larceny, 3rd, and offering a false instrument for filing. Patterson is accused of filing false information with DSS in 2010 and 2011 in order to receive benefits. Patterson was released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Tammy L. Piesczynski, 36, of 1 Florence Ave., Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 3rd. Piesczynski is accused of damaging two doors of a residence on Florence Avenue on Jan. 1.

A power line is down and arcing in the front yard of 5815 E. Main Road, Stafford.

Stafford Fire Department is dispatched.

UPDATE: Below, reader submitted photo. National Grid was on scene and had power cut just before midnight and Stafford went back in service at that time.

Elijah Robert Coombs, 18, of Orchard Street, Oakfield, is charged with obstruction of governmental administration 2nd, resisting arrest, criminal nuisance, 2nd, harassment, 2nd, and unlawful possession of marijuana. Coombs is accused of causing problems when deputies arrived at his residence to investigate a report of an underage drinking party at 11:43 p.m., Friday. When deputies attempted to arrest Coombs, he allegedly resisted arrest and struck a deputy. Deputies Matt Fleming and Patrick Reeves responded to the call.

Andrew Zimba Perdock, 25, of Bethany Center Road, Bethany, was arrested on a bench warrant, alleged failure to pay fine related to a petit larceny charge. Perdock was jailed on $100 bail.

Ronald James Tombari, 24, of Court Road, Pavilion, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, unlicensed operation, failure to keep right and no seat belt. Tombari was stopped at 12:12 a.m. Sunday on Perry Road, Pavilion, by Deputy John Weis.

(name redacted), 19, and (name redacted upon request), 24, both of South Lake Avenue, Bergen, are charged with unlawful dealing with a child. xxx and xxx were arrested following an investigation into a report of a loud gathering. xxx and xxx were accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Christopher William Fowler, 24, of Batavia, is charged with felony DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and parking on a roadway. Fowler was allegedly found in his vehicle at 10:13 p.m., Saturday, with it stopped on Stegman Road and Miller Road, Batavia, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

A 17-year-old from Batavia has been charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. The youth was stopped at 3:28 p.m., Saturday, on Lewiston Road, Batavia, for alleged traffic violations by Deputy Patrick Reeves. During the traffic stop, the youth was allegedly found in possession of marijuana.

Lori Ann Brightenfield, 53, of Main Road, Stafford, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Deputy Jason Saile responded to a report of a citizen requesting assistance because her vehicle ran out of gas in the Town of Le Roy. Following an investigation, Brightenfield was arrested for alleged DWI.

Press release:

Please be advised that the Genesee County Highway Department will be hosting a public information meeting regarding the replacement of the bridge on Griswold Road in the Town of Stafford. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 11 at the Stafford Town Hall. All residents are invited to hear a presentation and comment on the design and schedule of the project by County Highway Superintendent Tim Hens and project engineer Wendell Buckman. The bridge is scheduled to be replaced next summer.

Edward Otis Hardy, 54, of Pelham Road, Pensacola, Fla., is considered a fugitive from justice by the State of Florida and was in Genesee County Jail on unrelated charges when he was arrested on warrants from Florida. In Escambia County Circuit Court, he is charged with battery/touch or strike, battery on a police officer or firefighter, assault on a police officer or firefighter, obstruction, depriving a person the means of protection or communication, disorderly intoxication and resisting arrest with violence. Hard was arraigned in Stafford Town Court and jailed without bail pending extradition.

Shawn Michael Twardowski, 30, of Dodd Run Road, Marietta, Ohio, was arrested on bench warrants for criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Twardowski was arrested in Caldwell, Ohio, after allegedly fleeing the state after being charged with criminal contempt and harassment. Twardowski was returned to Genesee County Court and arraigned by Judge Robert C. Noonan and jailed without bail. There are also active warrants for Twardowski out of Batavia City Court and Town of Oakfield Court.

Shantell Sharnice Gibson, 20, of East Avenue, Batavia, is charged with grand larceny, 4th, and petit larceny. Gibson is accused of stealing merchandise from Kmart. She also allegedly stole property from another person.

Rebecca N. Bethune, 24, of 5008 Hundredmark Road, Elba, is charged with two counts of unlawful dealing with a child, 1st. Bethune was arrested by Le Roy PD after allegedly buying alcohol for two people under the age of 21.

A motor-vehicle accident with injury has been reported in Stafford on Route 5, just east of Route 237. It is blocking.

Two Mercy medics and Stafford firefighters are on scene.

UPDATE 4:07 p.m: Fire police closing down Route 5 at Route 237

UPDATE 4:17 p.m.: One Mercy ambulance is transporting one person to UMMC, and the other subject is a sign-off. Only the eastbound lane is closed now.

Stephen P. Pahuta III, is indicted on charges of on two counts of criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, one count of strangulation in the second degree, coercion in the first degree, criminal mischief in the fourth degree and assault in the third degree. Pahuta is accused of choking another person June 23 at a location in the Town of Alabama. It's alleged that the victim lost consciousness or was in a stupor for a period of time. Pahuta is accused of instilling fear in the victim so she wouldn't contact law enforcement. There also an alleged choking incident July 16. Pahuta is accused of damaging a phone to prevent the victim from requesting emergency assistance.

Richard R. Vetter is indicted on on count of grand larceny in the third degree and 16 counts of falsifying business records. Vetter is accused of stealing $8,689.78 from a business in Darien. He is accused of making at least 16 false entries into log books to conceal his theft of cash from the business.

Mark K. Biggins is indicted on counts of felony DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. It is alleged that Biggins drove drunk on Route 33 in Stafford on Sept. 12. According to the indictment, Biggins was convicted of DWI in July, 2003.

A car vs. tractor-trailer accident, believed to be without injuries, is reported on Route 63 near Little Canada Road. The roadway is completely blocked. Bethany Fire Department is responding.

UPDATE 8:12 p.m.: A second semi-trailer is now involved. The first one "believe it or not," says the Bethany chief, was "pushed into the ditch by the wind and will need a heavy-duty tow." Stafford Fire Police are rerouting traffic. It is confirmed that there are no injuries.

UPDATE 8:32 p.m.: Bethany requests that southbound truck traffic be held at Cedar Street.