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No bail set for woman seriously hurt in accident while on probation

By Howard B. Owens

A Batavia woman still suffering from serious injuries following an accident March 8 in Batavia won't get out of jail any time soon to help her recovery, Judge Robert C. Noonan ruled today.

Michelle T. Crawford, 26, of 7963 Batavia Stafford Townline Road, had her jaw wired shut following the accident, but Noonan said that given her legal status at the time of the accident, he couldn't see setting a bail amount for her.

Crawford was on probation stemming from a DWI arrest in Erie County and had already been convicted once of a probation violation.

She appeared before Noonan days before the accident, having completed one substance abuse program and was awaiting an open bed in another treatment program.

"She committed to me that she had seen the light and was all rehabilitated and ready to get on with a clean life," Noonan said. "She expressed on the record that if she was allowed to stay at liberty until we could find a bed or another treatment program she would stay clean."

Noonan continued the case pending sentencing on the probation violation until 9:30 a.m., April 16.

Assistant District Attorney William Zickl said Crawford was operating on a suspended license at the time of the accident and he has been told by investigators that she had alcohol and a small amount of cocaine in her system at the time of the accident.

She may be facing multiple felony charges, though the Sheriff's Office has not yet completed its investigation.

When Noonan said he wouldn't let Crawford out of jail, she turned and looked at her parents and boyfriend in the gallery and started to cry just a bit.

Crawford didn't speak during the hearing.

Her attorney, Lackawana-based Louis Violantin, pleaded with Noonan for a lower bail to help his client be better prepared for what may come next.

"The court may be hesitant to set reasonable bail," Violantin said. "It's imperative that we do get her help because she's ailing right now and certainly jail is not a hospital. Michelle needs to get herself well physically right now in order to be able to go through anything else."

Doug Yeomans

Waaa Waaa Waaa...a DWI conviction in 2007, a DWAI conviction in 2009, license revoked and then the latest trouble with the rollover accident makes her a high risk to everyone on the road. She obviously will drink and drive without pause and without concern for anyone else. She also shows a propensity for lying to the judge to get what she wants.

If she needs to get better physically, there's no better place for her than resting in jail. She gets her three squares per day, has a warm bed to sleep in, has a shower and she won't be out driving..PERFECT!

Judge Noonan refused to set bail and she's going to cry about it? Good grief, don't cry, say thank you! I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for Michelle. One would think that after the first DWI conviction, she might have learned her lesson. A 2nd DUI arrest and now what will certainly be a 3rd, if I were the judge, she'd spend a memorable period of time in jail.

Mar 26, 2012, 10:46pm Permalink
Dot Carrigan

I feel if the first judge had stood behind her first conviction when she had three children in that car, we would not be having this conversation! But that seems to happen more than we want to know. But I guess her lawyer has to earn his three meals too!

Mar 27, 2012, 8:55am Permalink

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