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Three Brooklyn residents accused of trying to use fake credit cards in Batavia stores

By Howard B. Owens
Monta Little Robert Assing Nelson Grant

Three Brooklyn residents apparently thought Batavia would be a good place to try and pass some fraudulent credit cards, but alert employees at local stores tripped them up and all three are now in custody.

The Sheriff's Office was first alerted to suspicious activity by an employee of Rite-Aid, who reported two men were attempting to buy items using several different credit cards.

Their descriptions were given to patrols and dispatchers alerted other area stores.

A short time later, a loss prevention officer at Walmart reported the men were at the store by the Subway concession. 

Deputies responded and spoke with the subjects and a third companion was located.

All three subjects were allegedly found in possession of fraudulent credit and debit cards.

Investigators believe the suspects cloned cards with other people's information and then tried to use the fake cards to purchase authentic gift cards for themselves.

Arrested were: 

  • Monta H. Little, 20, of Bushwick Street, Brooklyn, charged with 28 counts of criminal possessioni of a forged instrument 2nd. Little allegedly held 27 fradulent credit and debit cards and one fradulent New Jerese driver's license.
  • Robert T. Assing Jr., 20, of Humbolt Street, Brooklyn, charged with seven counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument for allegedly possessing seven fradulent credit and debit cards.
  • Nelson Grant Jr., 26, of Seigel Street, Brooklyn, charged with five counts of possession of a forged instrument, 2nd, for allegedly possessing five fradulent credit and debit cards.

The three suspects were arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and ordered held on $10,000 bail each.

The investigation was conducted by Deputy Joseph Corona, Deputy Chris Erion and K-9 Destro, Deputy Joseph Graff, Investigator Roger Stone, Sgt. Ron Meides, along with Trooper Eric Daigler and Trooper Eggert. An agent of the Secret Service also assisted in the investigation.

Accused rapist faces new charges

By Howard B. Owens

When Kesean Shannon was charged with rape in early February, police said he may have victimized other women.

Today, Batavia PD announced four more rape counts against the 22-year-old Batavia resident.

Shannon is accused of having sexual intercourse with a woman who was unable to consent on four occasions in June. 

He was arraigned yesterday on four counts of rape in the first degree, police said.

He was already being held in the Genesee County Jail on three counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of third-degree sexual abuse, and one count of sexual misconduct.

Those charges were the result of two separate investigations into allegations that Shannon engaged in sex crimes against two girls, age 15 and 16, and with a victim who is 30 years old.

The alleged abuse occurred in 2012 and 2013.

Shannon is due back in City Court for further proceedings April 14.

The investigation is being led by Det. Kevin Czora. He can be contacted at BPD headquarters, Batavia PD, at (585) 345-6350.

Man arrested after fleeing probation department

By Howard B. Owens

Via The Batavian's news partner, WBTA:

A Basom man remains in the Genesee County Jail today accused of resisting arrest after fleeing probation officers at gunpoint.

Michael Patnode has been charged with reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration.

Patnode was arrested following a chase that began Tuesday afternoon. Authorities say Patnode reported to the Genesee County Probation Office for a pre-sentence interview.

While there, he learned that he was wanted by police in Monroe County.

Officials said that Patnode, fearing he would be taken into custody, fled the building and ran to the Coffee Culture parking lot on Court Street toward his car.

Two probation officers gave chase, one pulled a service revolver.

Patnode managed to get into his car and race off.

State Police later took Patnode into custody at a relative's home in Basom.

House fire at Roanoke and Keller roads, Pavilion, said to be controlled burn

By Billie Owens

A possible controlled burn of a residence is reported at Roanoke and Keller Road, Pavilion. A state trooper in the area saw a house burning and stopped and talked to people at the site who informed him that they had called authorities to say they were doing a controlled burn there, but Genesee County dispatchers say they have no such record or information. Pavilion fire is responding.

Crash with injuries at Main and Bank downtown Batavia

By Billie Owens

An accident with injuries is reported at the intersection of Main and Bank streets downtown. City fire and Mercy medics are responding.

UPDATE 1:11 p.m.: Mercy EMS left the scene without transporting any patients.

Law and Order: College Village resident accused of stealing card number to order Chinese food and pizza

By Howard B. Owens

Laquasia M. Orr, 19, of Bronx, is charged with two counts of identity theft, 3rd, and one count of attempted identity theft, 3rd. Orr's arrest stems from a fraud complaint filed Feb. 23 and investigated by state troopers. Orr is accused of memorizing the debit card number of a former roommate and linking it to her own e-mail address and using it to order Chinese food delivery on two occasions and one attempt to order pizza.The total value of the alleged theft is $60. Video surveillance was used to help identify the person who signed for the food delivery orders.The investigation is ongoing.

Zivko Kacurovski, 56, of Linden Tree Lane, Rochester, is charged with possession of more than 400 untaxed cigarettes. Kacurovski was stopped at 11:06 a.m. Thursday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Kacurovski was allegedly in possession of 3,200 untaxed cigarettes.

Joshua Lenair Webster, 28, of West Main Street, Batavia, is charged with two counts of attempted criminal contempt, 2nd. While incarcerated at the Genesee County Jail, Webster allegedly made two attempts to contact a person he is barred from contacting by court order.

Ryan Michael Bobzin, 26, of West Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle. Bobzin allegedly took a vehicle without permission. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Snow geese make local stopover enroute to far north breeding grounds

By JIM NIGRO

It was just about dinner time last Saturday when we received a call telling us about a big flock of snow geese in a Byron field. According to the caller, there were reportedly "at least 200" snow geese out there.

Either the caller underestimated the size of the flock or else we took a wrong turn and came across an even larger gathering of "snows."

It isn't that unusual to see snow geese occasionally in Genesee County. Normally, however, if one wants to view sizeable flocks of "snowies" during spring migration they take a drive down the Thruway to Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge or one of the Finger Lakes. But this was an opportunity to view a flock of snow geese close to home.

When we first spotted them they were more than a mile away, yet there was no mistaking the high-pitched chorus of snow geese on the wing. There must have been upwards of 2,000 of them with a smattering of Canada geese along for the ride. The massive flock had taken flight only moments before and from a distance the main concentration appeared as a sold band of brilliant white oscillating above the eastern horizon. 

Whatever the reason for their departure from the Byron location, it was soon apparent they were not yet ready to continue on their migration northward.

Within minutes they were in Elba, and by that time the main flock had dispersed somewhat, breaking up into several small flocks, each of which still numbered in the hundreds. These flocks settled down into fields along Norton and Edgerton roads, as well as fields adjacent Bank Street Road, seeking any leftovers from autumn's corn harvest.

Whether migrating or simply making a temporary change in feeding locations, snow geese call the entire time they are on the wing.

Two thousand geese may seem like a lot, but where snow geese are concerned it's hardly a drop in the bucket. The snow goose migration is one of the longest in terms of time and distance and flocks sometimes number in excess of 50,000.

Fortunately, the snow geese are just passing through and their stopover is sure to be brief since they breed on the open tundra, well above the North American timberline -- and still a considerable way off.

Summit Street entrance of UMMC closed starting Monday

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The Summit Street Entrance at United Memorial Medical Center will close on Monday, April 6, as construction begins for the new comprehensive cancer center. Fencing will be placed around the wedge-shaped parking area and there will no longer be an entrance to the facility off of Summit Street.

Visitors and patients should use the Main Entrance of the Hospital off of North Street or the Emergency Department Entrance at the rear of the building. Required employee parking at the Bank Street Campus was recently expanded to increase the number of available parking spaces for patients and visitors to the Hospital.

Previously closed on weekends, the Main Entrance will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. United Memorial will assess the need for transport services, additional wheelchairs and alternate weekend hours to best serve patients.

A sidewalk will be installed on the east side of Summit Street leading to the Main Entrance, along the side of the Hospital so that pedestrians can more easily access the front entrance.

Beginning on April 6th, visitors and patients should expect to see greater activity at the North Street facility as the construction begins. Cranes, earth-moving equipment and other construction vehicles will be brought on site. Every effort has been made to create and maintain a safe environment for our neighbors, employees, patients and visitors.

The new cancer center is a $6.5-million project, which will bring comprehensive cancer services to the Genesee County region and provide a new high-tech, fully integrated and comfortable home for life-saving oncology services.

These include: a state-of-the-art linear accelerator to deliver radiation therapy; the ability to use the hospital’s existing technology to plan customized radiation therapy treatment plans; chemotherapy infusion services; medical oncology for diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring; navigator services to guide patients through their individualized treatment process; and surgical oncology.

Architectural services are provided by Clark Patterson Lee and construction management is being provided by Manning Squires Hennig.

Photos: Area residents ready for some outdoor weather

By Howard B. Owens

The main gates are still locked, but on a day like today, after a winter like we had, a lot of people couldn't wait to spend some time in DeWitt Recreation Area.

Meanwhile, the warmer temperature is melting snow; some rain is expected this evening, so a flood watch is in effect from tonight through Saturday afternoon.

Also, after today, expect more freezing weather for a few days.

Field fire on Swamp Road, Bergen

By Billie Owens

A field fire is reported at 7939 Swamp Road. Bergen fire department is called.

UPDATE 2:17 p.m.: The caller told dispatch he was burning trash and now the blaze is moving toward his neighbor's house.

UPDATE 2:30 p.m.: Mutual aid is requested from Byron, Le Roy and Stafford fire departments. Each is asked to send in a brush truck.

UPDATE 2:43 p.m.: Holley and Churchville were also called and are now put back in service along with Stafford.

UPDATE 3:06 p.m.: The fire is out and the assignment is back in service.

Appointment of new City Court judge ruffles some county feathers

By Howard B. Owens

Ray Cianfrini, chairman of the Genesee County Legislature, and himself an attorney, wishes Durin Rogers all the best as the new Batavia City Court Judge, but also expressed disappointment that Rogers sought the job in the first place

Speaking during a Ways and Means Committee meeting Wednesday, Cianfrini said it was his impression that when Rogers took an assistant county attorney position, he was setting himself up to eventually become the county attorney.

Now he's no so sure.

"It seems to me he's using the county to advance his own position," Cianfrini said. "I'm not going to stand in his way, but I think being a city court judge hurts him when it comes time to consider a new county attorney."

Granted, the current county attorney, Charles Zambito, has no apparent immediate plans to step down, but Cianfrini said he was under the impression Rogers was given duties and responsibilities commensurate with gaining the experience necessary to eventually replace Zambito.

Zambito said Rogers has certainly filled an important role, one that should continue in his department, of being prepared to step in as county attorney if Zambito was unavailable.

Rogers was appointed City Court judge last week by the Batavia City Council to replace Michael Del Plato, a Cianfrini law partner, who retired from the judge position at the end of his term.

Rogers is on vacation and an assistant said there was no way to reach him to get his comment on the sudden controversy over his new appointment.

The discussion came up while Zambito introduced a resolution to adjust Rogers' position from full-time to part-time.

As a City Court judge, Rogers will be required to be in court at least one day a week, which means he won't be available to the county on those does.

His hours are being reduced from 37.5 hours per week to 30 hours per week. That means he will now be paid $66,494 a year by the county, instead of $83,118, a payroll savings for the county of $18,624.

State law also prohibits judges from acting as prosecutors in criminal matters. As part of Rogers county ties, Rogers has handled cases in family court involving under-age offenders and PINS (persons in need of supervision) cases, which while technically civil cases, are also considered criminal prosecutions.

Assistant County Attorney Paula Campbell will assume that case load and Rogers will take over her duties handling abuse and neglect cases and termination of parental rights.

Liberty Pumps making progress on three-phase expansion

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

Liberty Pumps, a manufacturer of sump, sewage and wastewater pumps is undergoing a major expansion of its facilities in Bergen, New York.

The construction, which doubles the size of the current facility, will occur in three phases over the course of 2015. In total, the expansion will add over 123,000 square feet to the corporate operation in Upstate New York.

Phase one, already underway and nearing completion, is 81,600 square feet of additional manufacturing area. The added space will allow for new manufacturing cells, increased warehouse area for component inventory and expanded machining operations. A new powder coat line is also planned as part of this expansion. Phase two, scheduled for completion in May, increases the research and engineering lab, service area and features a new lunchroom facility for its members. The 14,200-square-foot lab expansion allows for the addition of new equipment required for Liberty’s recent qualification as a CSA test facility. The area also features an additional 20,000-gallon test pit designed to support Liberty’s expanding product line.

Phase three – a 23,000-square-foot sales/marketing wing and product training center -- is slated to begin construction in April with a target completion date of August. The new wing features an 80-seat multipurpose room, product display area for hands-on product training and demonstrations, as well as additional offices, a historical product display and visitors lounge.

Randall Waldron, V.P. of Sales & Marketing, said “As our products continue to advance technically, we realize product knowledge is critical -- not only to our sales team, but for those who use and install our products on a daily basis. The new product training center will allow us to better share this knowledge in a way that provides a great experience as well.”

Credit: Building rendering by Smart Design, of Batavia.

Volunteers sought for walkability audit in Batavia

By Howard B. Owens

Press release:

The City of Batavia is hosting one of 10 "walkability audits" happening across the Finger Lakes Region. The project is funded by the Genesee Transportation Council through its Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP). The purpose of the audit is to get local perspectives on the problems and opportunities faced by pedestrians, and develop solutions for improving pedestrian safety, accessibility, convenience and comfort.

The intent of the audit is to help increase foot traffic and encourage alternatives to automobiles as a means of transportation. As a result, it hopes to increase the vibrancy and appeal of the City as a place to shop, socialize and recreate. The walkability audit will succeed best if it includes a range of community stakeholders from all perspectives working together to understand the issues and opportunities, and make sure the plan is responsive to locally identified needs.

The City of Batavia’s audit is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 22, 2015. Please join us for lunch and a presentation in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Following lunch the group will walk the City approximately one to two miles (90-minute walk) returning to the Council Chambers for discussion in small focus groups. The focus groups are to review problems and concerns identified on the walk and throughout the day and discuss solutions for future improvements. The day will conclude at 4 p.m.

For participation in the walkability tour, please contact Lisa Casey at the City Manager’s Office at (585) 345-6333 or e-mail at Lcasey@batavianewyork.com no later than April 10th to be placed in attendance.

Additional information will be mailed to you after your acknowledgement of attendance. We are looking for at least 30 people. Please bring your walking shoes, galoshes, or do I dare say snow boots? We will be walking in rain, snow or shine!

Law and Order: Two men accused of smoking marijuana inside play tube at Austin Park

By Howard B. Owens

Brian Keith Laird, 20, of Wallace Street, Batavia, and Christopher Michael Smith, 20, of Porter Avenue, Batavia, are charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Laird and Smith were observed inside a blue play tube attached to a swing set at Austin Park. Upon investigation, there were found to allegedly possess marijuana and were smoking marijuana inside the tube.

April M. Palmer, 28, no permanent address, is charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument. Palmer was allegedly found with a hypodermic instrument at 2:33 p.m. Tuesday at 29 Summit St., Batavia, by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Chevaughn D. Hanson, 21, of East Main Street, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Hanson was allegedly found with marijuana inside his residence after police responded to a complaint of a disturbance.

Charles H. Wroten, 54, of Buell Street, Batavia, was arrested on a warrant stemming from a third-degree assault charge and showing up at the jail for weekend incarceration with alcohol in his system. Wroten turned himself in. Wroten was jailed on $2,500 bail or $5,000 bond.

Brandon C. Dodd, 28, of Highland Park, Batavia, is charged with criminal mischief, 4th. Dodd allegedly intentionally damaged the window of his apartment.

Frank Mickey, 70, of State Street, Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Mickey allegedly threatened to punch another person in the face.

Tonya M. Weber, 31, of Baily Drive, Cowlesville, is charged with DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation, 1st, driving without interlock device, drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle and refusal to take breath test. Weber was arrested by Officer Eric Foels following a property damage accident reported at 12:21 a.m., Saturday, at 113 S. Swan St., Batavia.

Ryan James Wetsell, 21, of Trumbull Parkway, Batavia, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Wetsell was arrested following a traffic stop at 10:45 p.m. Sunday on Trumbull Parkway by Officer Christopher Lindsay.

Nicholas Joseph Elmore, 26, of Grandview Terrace, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Elmore is accused of stealing $546.76 in merchandise from Walmart. 

Barbara Jean DeNinno, 57, of West Main Street, Little Falls, is charged with possession of untaxed cigarettes, speeding and obstructed plate. DeNinno was stopped at 11:18 a.m. Wednesday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. DeNinno was allegedly found in possession of 21,000 untaxed cigarettes. Also charged, passenger Laura Christina Fenty, 46, of East Jefferson Street, Little Falls.

Dillon Austin Peacock, 20, of Whelehan Drive, Rochester, is charged with criminal possession of a weapon, 4th, unlawful possession of marijuana and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle. Peacock was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Deputy Joseph Corona at 5:22 p.m. Tuesday, Route 77, Pembroke. He was allegedly found to be drinking in the vehicle and in possession of brass knuckles and marijuana.

Ashley Rose Grip, 20, of Whitehall Drive, Rochester, is charged with possession of unstamped cigarettes. Grip was stopped at 5:22 p.m. Wednesday on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Joseph Corona and allegedly found in possession of 4,954 untaxed cigarettes.

Photo: A hopeful sign of spring

By Howard B. Owens

Children outside playing under bright blue skies, surely this is a sign of spring?

Ah, alas, a cruel April 1 joke, as the weatherman says there's still some freezing temps in our near future.

But today is nice enough for children from the YMCA's preschool program to practice a little chalk art. Above, Teegan, 5, draws a house.

Photo: Volunteers present vocabulary booklets to students

By Howard B. Owens

Genesee County AmeriCorps member Steven Kleckler and RSVP of Genesee County Program Director Courtney Iburi presented vocabulary booklets created by volunteers to students at the Agri-Business Child Development Center in commemoration of the Cesar Chavez Day of Service. 

Photo and info submitted by Kathy Frank.

Top Items on Batavia's List

Tourism Marketing Assistant Position The Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, serving as the official tourism promotion agency for Genesee County, NY is seeking an experienced marketing professional to assist in the overall Chamber tourism and marketing initiatives for Genesee County. https://visitgeneseeny.com/about/join-our-team
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Town of Batavia Court Department is seeking a part time as needed Court Officer. Court Officers are responsible for maintaining order in the court room and court facility during proceedings. Please send resume to Town of Batavia, Attention Hiedi Librock, 3833 West Main Street Road, Batavia, NY 14020. Complete job description is available on the Town web site or at the Town Hall Application deadline is April 15, 2024.
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