pembroke

A truck driver who State Police say was looking a porn while on the Thruway in Pembroke just before his rig slammed into a disabled car, killing an Erie County mother, will spend three to nine years in prison.

Ohio resident Thomas Wallace sobbed prior to his sentencing by Judge Robert C. Noonan, reading a prepared letter of apology. The husband of 33-year-old Julie Stratton, as well as other family members, also read statements.

Wallace earlier entered a guilty plea to manslaughter in the second degree.

The 45-year-old trucker was driving on little sleep and watching a pornographic movie on his laptop computer when his truck hit Stratton's car. Stratton's car had only moments earlier hit a deer, causing it to stall in the passing lane. She was on the phone with Genesee County's 9-1-1 dispatcher when her car was struck.

A woman was allegedly pushed from a silver Chevy Cavalier somewhere along Route 77 in Pembroke.

The woman is reportedly lying in the road.

The incident occurred near the Flying J.

Pembroke and Indian Falls Fire is responding.

Mercy Flight is on ground standby.

A 16-month-old is reportedly still in the vehicle.

UPDATE 9:48 p.m.: Mercy Flight is not needed. The woman will be transported by ground ambulance.

UPDATE 9:59 p.m.: The woman has reportedly told law enforcement she jumped from the car.

UPDATE 10:03 p.m.: It sounds like the vehicle has been located and the child is safe.

Shawn Robert Hugar, 24, of Vandermark Road, Scio, is charged with DWI, a felony count of driving with a child under 15 in the car, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle and unsafe backing. Hugar was located at  12:55 a.m., Monday, on Route 77, south of Sumner Road, Darien, after backing his car into a ditch. Upon investigation, Sgt. Greg Walker found Hugar to be allegedly intoxicated and driving with a child in his car (a felony violation of Leandra's Law).

Tina M. Whitbeck, 43, of Penn Yan, is charged with a felony count of DWI, criminal contemp, 2nd, and aggravated DWI (drivng with a BAC of .18 or higher). State Police responded to a call at 8:40 p.m., Sunday, of a car partially blocking Pearl Street Road. The driver was also reported to be acting strangely. Upon investigation, Whitbeck's BAC was allegedly found to be .22. Whitbeck is also accused of traveling with a passenger that she was ordered to stay away from.

Jason Cleveland, 27, of Leroy, is charged with DWI and failure to keep right. Cleveland was stopped at 10 p.m., Sunday, by State Police on Route 77, Darien. Upon investigation, Cleveland was allegedly found to be operating with a BAC of .10.

Lansing H. Gardner, 35, of Lyndonville, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .15. Gardner was stopped by State Police at 9:32 p.m., Sunday, on Colby Road, Darien.

Eric J. Goodwin, 31, of Lockport, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .13. Goodwin was stopped at 12:45 a.m., Monday, by State Police, on Route 77 in Pembroke.

James E. Leair, 19, of Depew, is charged with unlawful possession of alcohol by a person under 21. Leair was cited by State Police at 7:30 p.m., Friday, on Sumner Road, Darien.

Keith A. Harman, 50, of Lancaster, is charged with DWI and aggravated DWI. Harman was stopped at 10:39 p.m., Friday, by State Police on Sumner Road, Darien.

Family members, friends and fellow firefighers gathered at the Corfu Fire Hall this morning for a memorial service for William Dix, who died Wednesday at his business, Jay E. Potter Lumber. He was 56.

Dix served the local firefighting community, and the community of Genesee County, for 40 years.

"He will be with us wherever we go," said Betsy Abramson during a short and dignified graveside service in Alabama following the memorial service. "Everyone who knew Bill so intimately, please, please, tell these precious little ones what a wonderful grandfather they had."

Hundreds of Genesee County's firefighters were in Corfu this evening to pay respects to William Dix, who died Wednesday.

Dix served as a deputy fire coordinator with Genesee County Emergency Services for 22 years as well as past chief of the East Pembroke Fire Department and most recently as commissioner with the East Pembroke Fire District.

Services for Dix will be tomorrow (Monday) at 11 a.m. at the Corfu Fire Hall with burial to follow in Alabama.

Genesee County's firefighting community lost one of its highly regarded members early Wednesday when William Dix passed away while in his office at Jay E. Potter Lumber on Maple Avenue in Corfu.

Dix, a deputy fire coordinator with Genesee County Emergency Services for 22 years, was in his fifties.

In a statement, Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Yaeger said, "DFC Bill Dix will be deeply missed by his family and his fire service family, his dedication to his business and the fire service was never ending. Bill was always there when you needed anything, including a friendly smile and a handshake."

Dix was found dead early Wednesday morning after family members became concerned that he hadn't returned home from the office. His death is not considered suspicious. The cause of death is pending an examination by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Besides his duties as a deputy fire coordinator,  Dix was also the past chief of the East Pembroke Fire Department and most recently a commissioner with the East Pembroke Fire District. The East Pembroke resident logged more than 40 years in the fire service.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

Michael L. Jackson (pictured), 29, of Seneca Avenue, Batavia, is charged with two counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance, 3rd. Jackson is accused of selling prescription medication to an agent of the Local Drug Enforcement Task Force. Jackson was arrested Saturday and jailed without bail.

Jonathan Chad Sisk, 37, Chili-Riga Center Road, Riga, was arrested for alleged failure to appear on a petit larceny charge. Sisk was taken into custody by Monroe County Sheriff's deputies and turned over to Genesee County. Sisk was jailed on $500 bail.

Mitchell Edward Bryan, 18, of East Bethany-Le Roy Townline Road, Stafford, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Mitchell is accused of hosting an underage drinking party.

Craig Alan Tiberio-Shephard, 21, of Lathrop Avenue, Le Roy, is charged with DWI and speeding. Tiberio-Shephard was stopped 7:39 p.m., Saturday, on Route 33 near Colby Road in Darien by Sgt. Greg Walker. Walker responded to Route 33 following a complaint of an erratic driver. Tiberio-Shephard allegedly refused to submit to a breath test.

Kevin R. Eustice, 41, of 18 Church St., Le Roy, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Eustice is accused of pushing his ex-girlfriend. The alleged incident occurred at 11:50 p.m., Sunday.

Forrest F. Ansel III, 20, of 572 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd, and criminal contempt. Ansel is accused of punching a family member at 2:35 p.m., Sunday. There is reportedly an order of protection in place involving Ansel and the family member. He was jailed on $1,000 bail.

Donald A. Stirk, 30, of 639 E. Main St., Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th. Stirk was charged after a Genesee County probation officer visited Stirk's residence and allegedly found crack cocaine residue on a pipe.

Candice J. Wells, 25, of 5280 Old Telephone Road, Bethany, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, and running a red light. Wells was stopped at 2:20 a.m., Saturday, on West Main Street, Batavia, by Officer Marc Lawrence.

(name redacted upon request) 18, of Hidden Meadow Drive, Marcy, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. xxxx was stopped in a car at 11:31 p.m., Aug. 5, on Route 5, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

name redacted upon request, 18, of Walker Road, Deerfield, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. xxxx was reportedly located in a car parked on Route 5, Pembroke, at 11:31 p.m., Aug. 5, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. Reeves reported smelling the odor of marijuana. After checking the car, Reeves allegedly found marijuana and paraphernalia.

Eric J. Shultz, 30, of Main Street, Akron, is charged with DWAI (alcohol and drugs), and failure to comply with the lawful order of a flag person. Shultz reportedly exited the Tom Petty concert 11:58 p.m., Saturday, and nearly struck a flag person directing traffic.

Samuel Leonard Thomas, 51, of Lyell Avenue, Rochester, is charged with attempt to evade cigarette tax. Thomas was stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 2:08 p.m., Sunday, on Route 63 in Oakfield, by Deputy Loni Nati and allegedly found in possession of 32 cartons of untaxed cigarettes.

Rebecca Lee McCoy, 19, of Simonds Road, Darien, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. McCoy is accused of hosting an underage drinking party Sunday morning.

Trevor Bent McGuckin, 19, of Johnson Road, Churchville, is charged with criminal possession of a hypodermic instrument, unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of fireworks. McGuckin was stopped at 1:04 a.m., Sunday, on West Main Street, Batavia, for an alleged traffic violation by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Michael Anthony Amadori, 53, of West Tillen Road, Boston, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, speeding and failure to keep right. Amadori was stopped at 11:23 p.m., Saturday, on North Main Street in Corfu by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Mark E. Beatty Jr., 31, of 46 Church St., Le Roy, is charged with petit larceny. Beatty allegedly tried to leave Tops Market with a shopping cart full of merchandise without paying for the items.

Aaron R. Bosse, 19, of 6971 Knowlesville Road, Alabama, is charged with unlawful dealing with a child. Bosse is accused of hosting an underage drinking party Friday night.

Kyle John Helak, 18, of Meadow Lane, Attica, is charged criminal possession of a controlled substance. Helak allegedly did not have a prescription for medication he possessed while at Darien Lake.

Russell J. Hamilton, 20, Route 19, Brockport, is charged with reckless endangerment, 3rd, criminal mischief, 4th, and harassment, 2nd. Hamilton is accused of driving his car in a reckless manner, nearly striking two people sitting in lawn chairs. Hamilton then allegedly got out of his car and verbally threatened one of the victims. He is also accused of causing damage to the victim's driveway on Aug. 4. He was jailed on $1,500 bail.

Kevin F. Tierney, 51, of Creek Road, Pavilion, is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and sexual abuse, 3rd. Tierney is accused of forcing a woman into sexual contact.

Colleen Marie Kress, 45, of Crown Oak Drive, Rochester, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana, aggravated unlicensed operation, 2nd, operating on a suspended registration, operating without insurance and speeding. Kress was stopped at 1:10 a.m., Monday, on Route 5 in Le Roy by Deputy John Weis for allegedly driving 70 mph in a 45 mph zone.

Daniel Thomas King, 30, of Johnson Road, Bernhards Bay, is charged with DWI, aggravated DWI, speeding and failure to keep right. King was stopped at 12:04 a.m., Monday, on Route 77, Pembroke, by Deputy Patrick Reeves. King was allegedly driving at 63 mph in a 45 mph zone.

Marc F. Faggin, 30, of Triphammer Road, Ithaca, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and following too closely. Faggin was stopped at 11:29 p.m., Sunday, on Route 77, Darien, by Deputy Chris Parker.

Janet Rae Langer, 32, of South Street Road, Le Roy, is charged with DWI and refusal to take a breath test. Langer is accused to driving to a location on West Bergen Road at 8:58 p.m., Sunday, in connection with a property dispute. Langer was allegedly intoxicated at the time.

An aggravated harassment charged filed against the sister of convicted murderer Scott F. Doll is on the verge of being dismissed.

Dawn Doll, 53, a Sunday school teacher, need only avoid trouble with the law and initiate no contact with a Sheriff's deputy who felt threatened by a card and letter she sent to him on Father's Day.

In six months, if Doll abides by the terms of agreement, the misdemeanor charge will be dismissed.

Several factors figured in the decision by the District Attorney's Office to dismiss the charges, including Dawn Doll's character, the likelihood she will not engage in any future criminal behavior and some possible difficulties in getting a conviction.

"You can certainly make the argument that this is a letter written by a person who was very upset and somebody who is just venting," said Assistant District Attorney Robert Zickl. "You can certainly anticipate a defense attorney making that argument and see her gaining some sympathy."

Zickl said that under the circumstances it was still appropriate to bring the charge against Doll.

"This disposition doesn't signify any dissatisfaction in our office that the charge should not have been made," Zickl said.

JodyLynn Wetmore, 35, of North Spruce Street, Batavia, is charged with DWI and with a felony count of driving  with a BAC of .08 or greater with a child passenger (in violation of Leandra's Law). Wetmore was reportedly observed at the East Pembroke Mud Races in an intoxicated condition. She was reportedly told by a Sheriff's deputy not to drive. Some time later, she was allegedly observed driving out of the parking lot. Wetmore was stopped at 10:14 p.m., Saturday, by Deputy John P. Weis. Wetmore allegedly had an 8-year-old passenger in the car.

Dean Wilkins, 46, of Route 20, Pavilion, is charged with criminal contempt, 1st, and harassment, 2nd. Wilkins is accused of slapping his roommate, who had an order of protection in place.

James Michael Palladino, 33, of Waterman Street, Lockport, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater and no or inadequate headlight. Palladino was stopped at 11:06 p.m., Saturda, on Route 77 in Pembroke by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Nicholas Anthony March, 23, of Phillips Road, Oswego, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. March was stopped for an alleged traffic violation at 1:48 a.m., Sunday, by Deputy Patrick Reeves, who reportedly found a quantity of marijuana in March's car during a search.

Jane Amanda Lachut, 23, of Phinney Road, Hannibal, is charged with unlawful possession of marijuana. Lachut was allegedly found in possession of marijuana during a traffic stop on Route 77, Pembroke, at 1:38 a.m., Sunday, by Deputy Patrick Reeves.

Roberto R. Ayala, 25, of 5 Valleyview Drive, Batavia, is charged with assault, 2nd. Ayala is accused of striking another person with parts of a broken chair during a domestic incident 8:10 p.m., Thursday.

Philip J. Ritter, 56, of Stonehall Road, Rochester, is charged with public lewdness. Ritter is accused of urinating in public at around noon, Sunday, in the area of the town park, Town of Pembroke. He was jailed on $500 bail.

Anne C. Levy, 21, of 21 Prospect Ave., Ithaca, is charged with DWI and speeding. Levy was stopped at 11:51 p.m., Friday, on Pearl Street by Officer Dan Coffey.

Martin F. Jones, 39, of 10 South Main St., Batavia, is charged with exposure. Jones was observed by Officer Thad Mart allegedly urinating in public in Austin Park.

Chrystal Marie Bush, 21, of Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bush is accused of shoplifting at Walmart.

Jonathan Paul Bouter, 26, of Oak Orchard Road, Batavia, is charged with petit larceny. Bouter is accused of shoplifting from Walmart.

Vincenzo M. Delucia, 34, of Rochester, is charged with DWI, a right-of-way violation and refusal to take a breath test. Delucia was stopped by State Police at 11:38 p.m., Saturday, in Darien.

Melessia A. Winkler, 23, of Amherst, is charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 or greater. Winkler was stopped by State Police at 11:10 p.m., Friday, in Darien.

David R. Meier, 51, of Alexander, is charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 or greater, operating without insurance, no license, aggravated unlicensed operation and suspended registration. Meier was stopped by State Police at 7:08 p.m., Thursday, on Alexander Road, Alexander.

A pile-up of seven vehicles is reported on the Thruway at mile marker 397.7 in the westbound lanes.

East Pembroke is responding along with Mercy EMS. Pembroke and Indian Falls and Darien are standing by in quarters.

Traffic is badly snarled and backed up. Cars are in the meridian and on the sides of the roadway. Multiple 9-1-1 calls have been received.

At least two injuries are reported so far and one person is trapped in a vehicle.

UPDATE (4:39 p.m.): East Pembroke units are back in service.

UPDATE (4:44 p.m.): Thruway traffic is moving again.

UPDATE (by Howard) 5:48 p.m.: Photos. Top photo, from Indian Falls Road. Bottom photo take at least five minutes after accident scene cleared, showing traffic still at a standstill past the Oak Street bridge (shown in the distance).

CORRECTION: This post originally contained information about Mercy Flight. Mercy Flight was never part of this incident. Mercy Flight was dispatched to the Stafford accident.

David D. Homer (photo), 40, of 7 North St., Le Roy, is charged with disseminating indecent material to minors, 2nd, a Class E felony. Homer is accused of sending indecent photographs of himself using a mobile phone to a 17-year-old person. He was arraigned and released under the supervision of Genesee Justice.

Erik P. Roth, 40, of 7595 Bank St. Road, Elba, has been indicted by the Genesee Grand Jury on three felonies and two misdemeanors. Roth is charged with two counts of sexual abuse 1st, course sexual conduct against a child, 2nd, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Roth is accused of having sexual contact with a child under 11 years old. The alleged crimes occurred in Elba between November 2004 and March 2006.

Michael Patrick Tanner, 18, of Hopkins Road, Getzville, is charged with unlawful dealing with fireworks. Tanner is accused of possessing illegal fireworks and shooting them from a car traveling on West Main Street Road, Batavia, at 11:48 p.m., Thursday. Tanner was reportedly later located in East Pembroke.

A 16-year-old resident of Maple Street, Batavia, has been charged with criminal mischief. The youth is accused of punching a hole in the wall of the Department of Social Services at about 8:30 a.m., Thursday. He was arraigned in Town of Batavia Court and jailed on $2,500 bail.

A car reportedly struck a semi-truck at Oak Street and Park. Unknown injuries. City fire and Mercy EMS are responding.

UPDATE (12:10 p.m.): Law enforcement on scene reports nothing showing. Although the call reportedly came from a toll booth operator at the Thruway, police say the nearby toll booth workers say no such call was placed. All units back in service.

UPDATE (12:17 p.m.): A toll booth worker did make the call about an accident, but the accident location is on the Route 77 overpass in Pembroke. Nothing more known at this time.

UPDATE 12:26 p.m.: No injuries. Vehicles have been moved off the road.

A vehicle is reported to have smashed into a parked vehicle at Route 77 and Cohocton Road. There are injuries in this rollover accident and Mercy Flight is on standby.

Pembroke and Indian Falls fire departments are responding.

The subjects involved are out of the vehicle.

A car has rolled over on the Thruway in the area of mile marker 403.3, eastbound.

Pembroke and Indian Falls and Mercy EMS dispatched.

A caller saw a vehicle on the shoulder on its roof.

Unknown injuries.

UPDATE 10:27 p.m.: First responders are not finding any signs of an accident.

UPDATE 10:29 p.m.: There is a trailer parked off the side of the Thruway and responders are thinking that the caller may have mistaken it for a rollover. Emergency responders being put back in service.

Scott F. Doll, 48, convicted by a jury of his peers of murdering his friend, 66-year-old Joseph Benaquist, has been transferred to the maximum security prison in Fishkill, Dutchess County.

The Downstate Correctional Facility, 320 miles from Corfu, is a transfer facility. Doll will likely be held there for a few weeks before being transferred to the prison where he will likely serve out his 15-years-to-life term.

Doll arrived at Downstate on July 7.

Officials told me after Doll's conviction that he would be sent to a prison a good distance from Attica and Wende, two facilities Doll worked at during his nearly 25-year career in corrections.

Prison officials would not want Doll mingling with either former co-workers or the men he guarded, so they would want to get him out of Western New York.

Doll's Department Identification Number is 10B1993.

He is eligible for parole April 17, 2024.

Doll is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court again on July 27 for a hearing related to a charge of promoting prison contraband. His attorney says he plans to challenge the charge.

A truck has hit a utility pole in the area of 1550 Indian Falls Road, Corfu.

Power has been knocked out to several homes in the area.

It's in East Pembroke's district, but Indian Falls and Pembroke fire departments were initially dispatched.

No injuries are reported.

The pole was completely sheared off.

"The truck is pretty much demolished," a chief reports.

A portion of the pole is on top of the truck.

The road is not blocked.

UPDATE: The alleged driver, Jason Edward Schanley, 33, of Indian Falls Road, Corfu, was arrested and charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 or greater and moving from the lane unsafely.

View Larger Map