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Police Beat: Woman accused of not waiting for son at bus stop

By Howard B. Owens

Michele Case, 45, of North Bergen Road, Bergen, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child. Case is accused of failing to provide supervision for her juvenile son when he got off the bus at his residence.

John H. Holliday, 47, of Batavia, is charged with offering a false instrument for filing. Holliday was charged by State Police for an alleged incident on July 21. No further details were released.

Ray E. Baker, 46, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and aggravated DWI. Baker was stopped by State Police at 8:38 p.m., Sunday, in Stafford.

Michael Tost

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't school bus drivers supposed to keep the child on the bus if they don't see an adult on the premises where the child is being dropped off?

Aug 5, 2010, 8:52am Permalink
Becky Scroger

I know in Oakfield, an adult is required to be at the bus stop/home for children ONLY in KG. From 1st grade on, they don't require anyone to be there when kids get dropped off at a stop.

Aug 5, 2010, 9:08am Permalink
Jason Murray

Unless the child was in kindergarten what's the difference then the kid walking home. Bus stops are withen walking distance to there house. Clarification on the childs age would be great and also how long it took the mom to get there

Aug 5, 2010, 10:21am Permalink
ELAINE CORBY

She has previous theft charges and a grand jury indictment for stealing from an elderly woman according to the Batavia Daily and the boy is 8 years old.......
Would age make a difference if there were developmental disabilities involved? I don't know that there are but I am just wondering?

Aug 5, 2010, 12:02pm Permalink
Michele Case

Hi Gang, its me! Lets get it straight...first, I am 45 years old and I am a working single mom. I completed paperwork for employer address and phone for the school 2 years ago when I started at my current place of employment. I currently have in my possession a copy dated sept 2009 (complete with office use only filled in... yep it was a copy sent BACK to me)of the Byron Bergen transportation form which indicates my daytime phone as that of my employer however the school official reported they did not know where I worked nor the phone number. Instead of calling me at work that my older son was delayed for a field trip, they left messages at my home. My 8.5 year old was NOT let off the bus and the sheriff was called. My mom was contacted to pick up my son and that was the beginning of it. Despite physical proof to the contrary, CPS has indicated the report anyway and I was arrested Sunday. If there is ANY justice, charges will be dissmissed.

Aug 5, 2010, 12:25pm Permalink
Michele Case

Dear Elaine: The theft charges were dismissed and the alleged victim, was my mother-in-law who lived with me in my home so yes, I accepted rent money. Her son did not help pay ANY blls in the several months he also lived with me in my home, nor did he support his child. After I put him out for his drinking he went to the police with his brother. If I did not have God and the Bergen United Methodist Church I would be crazy by now...or a nutter? Oh, and according to the Batavia Daily, she had alzheimers disease. No, she never had alzheimers disease. Her own Dr has confirmed this. See why I always say not to judge?

Aug 5, 2010, 12:41pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

Michele, Good for you ! I was wondering if you were the same wonderful person I went to high school with many years ago. The only good part of this website is that you have a chance for response (lol). Unfortunately the highlight for many of us can be the judgmental posts on here say evidence that is posted in the original report. I am guilty of it but I try to keep an open mind.

Aug 5, 2010, 3:32pm Permalink
jodi puccio

Boy, after reading the police blotter, i thought"what a bad mom". But now after reading your reply, shame on me. It's sad to me that commonly, the police blotter makes alot of people seem like monsters. I love that this website allows you to respond to the words printed about you. Had you not stated the real facts, many people would assume you are a bad mom. As a mother myself, i think that is one of the worst labels you can put on a woman. Like I said, shame on me for assuming. Really, it should be shame on the press for the deceiving the readers!!I hope everything works out for you and your child!

Aug 5, 2010, 5:11pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Jodi,

You are assuming Michele is telling the truth just like we are assuming what we read in the media is true. I am not saying she's not telling the truth. People saying "the charges were dropped" could mean a lot of things. Did they plead guilty to a lesser charge? Did they rat someone out on something to get the charges dropped or reduced? Who knows? But I have known people who have had serious charges brought against them and claimed the "charges were dropped" and I can tell you for sure they were guilty. I am not saying this is the case with Michele but no one can spin a story like a con artist.

Aug 5, 2010, 6:34pm Permalink
Michele Case

I am not a con artist Lorie. I know you are always very negative and distrusting from your previous posts, so I am not surprised about your comment. You are right, anyone can say anything here. The problem is, you are not just opening yourself up to criticism, you are putting yourself out there to be scrutinized. I have been through the ringer on this one. Instead of being negative, I know the Lord and He will see me through. I pride myself with my happy demeanor and that is what people see when they meet me. I will not let this rotten world get me down. I roll with the punches. I saw Howard in the Byron Park on Saturday and introduced myself. I told him of the dismissal and he will get the info from the courts and share with you I am sure. I stood my ground, there was no "deal". I never wanted my misfortune in the limelight because people will always find you guilty no matter what and this negatively affects my reputation, therefore my job. This latest thing has taken away any anonimity I had left. I could even lose my job. Did I mention I am a Registered nurse? God Bless you all. Comment, Howard?

Aug 5, 2010, 9:33pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Michele,I know the feeling, once the system latches on to you, it's near impossible to shake them off. Thats how all these agencies operate. DSS, the courts, probation, once they get into your wallet, they will fight you tooth and nail to keep the money coming in. If you don't cooperate, they make threats of court, taking your child away.I wish they would put the same effort into getting the drugs off the streets, the pedo's in jail,etc.., etc. My child, and basically my family, were subjected to the most ridiculous brand of justice I have ever witnessed. Even though the New York State Education Dept. found in my favor, I still could not get the court case against my child, which was instigated by the school district, dropped.The school district screwed up for over 5 years, and to try and cover their tracks , they took us to the courts. Good luck, and don't give up

Aug 5, 2010, 9:31pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Excuse me George, but how am I gossiping? I only pointed out that Michele could be misleading just as the media could be misleading. Never said she was...but jodie is immediately jumping to the conclusion what Michele is true. So everything you say here about anyone is face to face. HUH? Ok, now that makes perfect sense.

Aug 5, 2010, 9:38pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Well, thanks for judging me and gossiping about how very judgemental and distrusting you think I am and how you have spent so much time analyzing everything I say to JUDGE me. I did NOT say YOU are this or YOU are that. But you sure did that! Funny how you want no one to judge you yet you judge. Howard why is her age always wrong? Why did the story in the daily say there were similar charges in orleans county? Just wondering what I have read. Oh am sure the bad info is my fault...well better to report bad info than sit around complaining about judging whilst judging...pot, kettle, black!

Aug 5, 2010, 9:59pm Permalink
Michele Case

Thanks, Frank, and Gabor (Are you Dave?) Deutsch. If you are, where were you for the reunion last year, haha. I am not writing the school off yet, in talking with their business administrator (a really nice guy) I think they made an honest mistake. I think they are with me in getting this travesty corrected. I am more concerned about child protective services and whether they will ever be legit with me again. I spoke with their Director and she was going to look into this. She couldn't understand why I would be arrested 2 months later, it is usually the other way around.

Aug 5, 2010, 10:04pm Permalink
Michele Case

Lorie, I am not judging you, I just notice you do have a pessimistic viewpoint. Every one of us could react that way, but all of us don't. Sometimes it is hard to hold back your angry thoughts, especially when the emotions run high. I try to take things in and ponder them a bit. Chew on it and think how I can write to convey my thoughts without lashing out at someone or putting them down. It is much easier to do in writing than in person. I tend to get emotional too, I find I am better at writing my feelings because of it. If I may make an observation, I think maybe you have been very hurt in the past. I have walked in your shoes. If one person makes a comment that is negative toward you, let it roll off like a ducks back and keep cool, put your thought out there like NOTHING was said. You will garner more respect that way. No offense intended.

Aug 5, 2010, 10:22pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Sorry to be bitter but why is it every one accused of a crime starts with the religion stuff, just sound so darn phony to me...but I am VERY JUDGMENTAL and DISTRUSTING. A VERY religious person once told me that...thank god for their judgment!!!whewww!!!

Aug 5, 2010, 10:23pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Reading the blotter is like watching a train wreck in slow motion. Everyone is always guilty before they have any chance to clear their name.

Michele, I wish you well and I hope you can set things straight.

Aug 5, 2010, 10:30pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Lorie, why do you keep bringing the Daily into this?

I haven't wanted to go there on this for Michele's sake -- don't want to seem to be bragging on her story -- but if <a href="http://thebatavian.com/blogs/howard-owens/bergen-woman-accused-stealing… hadn't reported the story first</a>, the Daily wouldn't even have known about it.

As for her age, I go by what law enforcement officials provide me.

As for Orleans County, we mentioned that in our initial story. I have no clue as to the status of the OC case. Tomorrow, I hope to get to County Court and confirm Judge Noonan's dismissal, but since we don't cover OC at all, and I have no sources/connections there, I wouldn't expect any information on the case there.

Aug 5, 2010, 10:27pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

LOL, charlie but how many will say...the charges were dropped...even though they were guilty as hell and everyone knows it. I was not talking about any one person. Just you hear it again and again. Unfortunatley the honest take it with the liars. Trust me, I distrust everyone. Probably law enforcement more than anyone just because of well..the greece police dept for one!

Aug 5, 2010, 10:35pm Permalink
Gabor Deutsch

I am not allowed to go by my middle name: (Dave) because we need to use "real names" on this website. (teehee). My friends call me Dave. I Think that you should pursue this matter aggressively. I would refer you to Frank B. and his blog on school system matters. I guess you can say this is our reunion (lol).

Aug 5, 2010, 10:39pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Howard, you have me confused w/someone else. I have only mentioned the Daily once. But I do not get why Michele's age is always wrong. It has been reported as 35, 41 and she says she is 45 I do not get that.

Aug 5, 2010, 10:42pm Permalink
Charlie Mallow

Lorie, your name in the blotter doesn't mean you are guilty. I would rather a list of convictions but, I don't ever seem to see that. The blotter is nothing more than gossip in my book. Michele shouldn't have to defend herself in public before she has her day in court.

Howard, who cares who's first to drag a person who hasn't been convicted through the mud?

Aug 5, 2010, 10:44pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Howard, I only mentioned the daily because THEY said there were similar charges against her in today's news. That's what I do not get about "the charges were dropped". I am not at all saying she is lying, and if she is not well...holy cow is all I have to say. I do NOT know Michele. There is nothing personal here! I think an eileen or elaine posted about the daily this am and you are confusing me w/them...I will wait for an apology...hhehhe!

Aug 5, 2010, 10:49pm Permalink
Michele Case

I have been going to my local church since I moved here 6 years ago. I have many friends there and they are very supportive. One friend came here Sunday night and helped me do dishes and fold laundry as a caring gesture to show support as I was pretty down. I was not treated very well during the arrest. While I used to seek solitude, now I know I can call on my friends and get support. It is not easy to "give it all to God" thats why we all need supportive friends. I traditionally have been very book smart, but not such a good judge of character for friends/boyfriends...too trusting! I see many in my church as family. I do take grief for being proud of my Christianity because unfortunately there are people in every church who don't have true faith or good intentions. It breaks my heart that this is what you have seen Lorie and it pushed you away.

Aug 5, 2010, 10:56pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

I understand that charlie, and agree that who cares who threw whose name there first. And yes, those charged should definitely be published.

Now howard, if police have not been able to get her age right yet, well why should I trust a thing they say?

Aug 5, 2010, 11:09pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Michele, you keep taking what I am saying personally. Do we know each other? NO? I am speaking generally and sorry you are taking it personally...though howard is making me change my mind. Not about you because I have no opinion about you. I do not know anything about your guilt or innocence, but I can tell you if someone filed false charges against me, I would be spewing venom.

Aug 5, 2010, 11:18pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Lorie, I was not aware until I just went and read it right now that the Daily reported ANYTHING on this today. Having read the story I see where Scott Desmit wrote "remains under indictment."

My guess, he didn't fact check that.

Michele told me on Saturday that the charges had been dismissed. I wish now that while I was in court on Monday or Tuesday, I'd taken the time to go check that out (Michele wasn't actually too anxious for me to drag the story out again).

As for getting things wrong -- I get things wrong, Scott gets things wrong, the cops get things wrong. So what? It's called being human. Saying you can't trust the cops because they get somebody's age wrong is really a pretty big stretch. The only thing any of us can do is do our best to be as accurate as we can, and when we're wrong, own up to our mistakes and correct them.

Aug 5, 2010, 11:30pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Yeah, seemed like this am it said charges were still pending. Howard, her age has been wrong not once but TWICE! I am not saying who is wrong but if someone gets it wrong twice I start to wonder what to trust...just saying! Ok, I will wait for the police to report a correction to her age. KIDDING!

Aug 5, 2010, 11:42pm Permalink
Michele Case

Lorie, just in case you didn't notice, it also says my son was dropped off from the bus...he was not. I don't even know where that came from! On another matter, I once was called out by JoAnne for writing "Lorie, take it easy on us Christians,K?" when you were getting a little heated on religion because a "Christian" had offended you. You then lumped all Christians together. JoAnne called me out for assuming i was agreeing with said Christian by not commenting to her. She was more heated and emotional than you were, and when that happens it is best to step back, not push buttons. It would not help that situation to call her out and only would have hurt her feelings. Christians can lose their temper too, they probably just beat themselves up more for it later! Doesn't mean I agreed at all with her, just that I forgive her. I wish I could tell you I am always Christ like, but I can't. At least I still try.

Aug 6, 2010, 12:05am Permalink
Lorie Cook

Michele, while you may think I am judgmental, yeah, who is not from time to time. I am not getting into the other stuff because it involved other post and really...who cares. It's all history to me.

I am NOT judging you no matter what you think. But the fact they cannot get your age right makes me scratch my head. And didn't the offense supposedly happen in 2004 or 05? Yeah, also sounds off. I guess it could be hidden for years and am sure it happens all the time. But everything seems a bit off to me...just weird. That's it...enjoy your evening.

PS: yes, I did notice the difference in the stories about the son being dropped off or not. And Howard can claim "we all mess up." Of course I get that but dang...to get someone's age wrong TWICE! You got to wonder what they get right!

Aug 6, 2010, 12:28am Permalink
Michele Case

Makes for a juicier story with the added history and drama in Scott's story. I wish I could say Thanks for keeping it to the facts, Howard but how about thanks for keeping it to the charge at hand as reported by the police to you? I had to correct the police paperwork when I was there as they also had my first name mispelled and middle name wrong. There is another person with that name who has been in prison because I had a bunch of police come looking for me with a warrant a few years back ready to take me in for parole violation. I think they get their info crossed with her. Lorie, If I sound familiar it is because I have read many of your comments. I don't think I ever said you were judgemental, just negative/pessimistic. I don't mean it as a bad thing, just your viewpoint is so different than my optimistic one. I actually like most of your posts cuz it makes me think. Good night and God Bless...

Aug 6, 2010, 1:13am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Ladies, The Family court has used the wrong middle initial for my child on 14 seperate documents produced by the court, I pointed it out 3 or 4 times, but gave up, maybe all this time they got the wrong person,lol

Aug 6, 2010, 11:52am Permalink
Lorie Cook

LOL, Frank, you could be on to something there. Howard, I see you found the other age error because it went from 35 to 45, but shouldn't you have crossed it out so we knew it was an error...Kidding...totally kidding.

Aug 6, 2010, 5:22pm Permalink
Janice Stenman

Frank, maybe it's a blessing in disguise. I don't know why your child was in Family Court, but if the police ever have a reason to check his record, they have access to juvenile court contact, even though records are supposed to be sealed and confidential. Wrong initial would mean wrong person.

Aug 6, 2010, 5:37pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

And I will say I did a lot of research yesterday before I ever responded to this article because I do remember hearing some nasty stuff on Kimberly and Beck and I have seen people imply you may share information with them. Do I care? No, I find them entertaining but the info you pulled earlier today was pretty much word for word what I remember a while back. I am 99 percent sure I saw a police blotter on the Batavian saying Michele was 35 also. Like I said, I do not say it unless I have back up. But I can't stop someone from changing something. You definitely changed the age on this article and did NOT acknowledge it as a change. just stating the facts.

Aug 6, 2010, 10:37pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Lorie,

I don't understand why you're hung up on such minor bullshit issue (because while I'm sure her age is very important to Michele, it has NOTHING to do with any significant fact related to her case), but since you keep coming back to it for no understandable reason ...

-- I'm not sure of the significance of the link to the Daily above, but The Batavian and the Daily are not related in any fashion. If they write 35, 41, or 45 -- I have absolutely NOTHING to do with it. You do understand that, don't you?

-- In the very first story I wrote about Michele, I listed her age as 45. I know this because when the age issue first came up yesterday, I went back and double-checked that post and her age was listed as 45. I did not change her age there. (However, I originally spelled her first name with two L's and corrected that last night

-- When I received the press release from the Sheriff's Office on the bus issue, the PR listed her age as 41. Shame on me for not double-checking that fact, but obviously the Daily fell for the same deliberate attempt by the Sheriff's Office to mislead us on Michele's age (please catch satire there).

-- After the age listed as 41 became an issue, I corrected this post to 45. I didn't do a strike-out or otherwise acknowledge the change because IT-DOESN"T-REALLY-FRIGGIN'-MATTER. We don't make a big deal of every minor correction. We only acknowledge corrections where the factual errors change the meaning of the story or could be considered misleading. Whether Michele is 41 or 45 is in no way significant to the meaning of the story. The wrong age is in no way misleading, not when the difference is 41 vs. 45.

As for Kimberly and Beck, I know Kimberly reads the site because during the Cornona stuff, she contacted me to congratulate The Batavian on our coverage. Otherwise, I've had absolutely NO contact with anybody at that radio station. I got one single e-mail from Kim and I've sent her one single e-mail that was nothing more than a "Thank you."

I have absolutely no clue what you mean by "the info you pulled earlier today."

If you can find Michele's age listed on The Batavian as 35, tell me about it, because I don't know about it, and I'm 99 percent confident that I have never, ever listed Michele's age as 35.

Now, can we please be done with this issue because it's a major waste of time, way out of proportion to its significance.

Aug 6, 2010, 11:49pm Permalink
Lorie Cook

Go blow howard because now you are a freaking LIAR! You removed 2 posts today from a Dawn Hart. I am so disappointed in your disgusting outright lie I think I will go vomit.

Aug 6, 2010, 11:59pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Lorie, until just now, you made no reference to removing posts from Dawn Hart. I can't lie about what I don't know about. So who's the one lying?

And yes, I removed posts from Dawn Hart, and the only way you would know that is because you've been in communication with Dawn Hart, and so therefore you know the posts were removed because she violated the site rule by not posting under real name (she registered under her real name but then changed it before posting, so even if you saw the posts, you wouldn't know they were from Dawn Hart unless you've been in communication with Dawn), and you also know they were removed because they were offensive and personally insulting to a member of the site, which as you well know is against the site rules.

Aug 7, 2010, 12:15am Permalink
Bea McManis

Enough is enough for me on this silly topic.
John, I'm stating an opinion - if you want to consider that "making it up" then keep repeating that mantra. It suits your style of debate.
I'm leaving at 5:30am for two glorious days of R & R.
Have a wonderful weekend, all.

Aug 7, 2010, 12:39am Permalink
Lorie Cook

Howard,

"No, I find them entertaining but the info you pulled earlier today was pretty much word for word what I remember a while back. "

I was talking about Dawn's posts...I was trying to be generic in what I said because you pulled her comments and I wanted to respect that. And, yes, I understand why you did pull them.

I have been in no communication with Dawn...please. I thought something was wrong with my phone because her name suddenly changed. Her original posts showed her name. She probably did not realize her name would appear in the post and then changed her profile? I think to just her initials. And, if I were in cahoots with Dawn, why would I then post her name??

Hahaha, I made Howard swear!!!

Aug 7, 2010, 6:36am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Lorie, I had no idea you were referring to Dawn's post. I took "info you pulled earlier today" as an accusation that I posted something and then removed it, which is of course not true.

I saw Dawn's second post only minutes after it went up and her name was listed as D.H.

Aug 7, 2010, 8:42am Permalink
Michele Case

Look out for the 1% Howard, it did say 35 in your first article...the one full of quotes by Leo Hunter. I copied it and remember it distinctly...thought at the time many people who know me would not put 2 and 2 together because of it.

Aug 8, 2010, 1:13am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

Michele, I hadn't looked at that article since it was first published until the age issue came up the other day, and when I did, it said 45. I've never changed the age in that article.

Aug 8, 2010, 8:34am Permalink
Michele Case

You made me look! My bad, you are right Howard, you had 45, it was in the Batavia Daily as 35. There were many other inaccuracies in your article and that of the Batavia Daily, but that is how the Police officer gave it to you. Unfortunately the police rely on their opinions/conclusions after hearing one side and let you guys print them as fact. $14,000 becomes $35,000, people suddenly wake up one day with alzheimers, one indictment is two. It was conveniently omited that mom even lived with me, first in my home in Clarendon, then when I bought my house in Bergen. The theft was not "discovered" by her sons until after mom died in August 2006...except her son lived with me from 2001 to June 2005, the other son told me what realtor to contact to sell her properties etc. and both were aware who was mowing the lawn and doing upkeep on her property...hello!

Aug 8, 2010, 10:22pm Permalink

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