NORWICH – A man scheduled for a plea-bargained sentence that included him testifying against his alleged partner in crime refused to do so after he pleaded guilty to the charge.
Anthony J. Pierce, 17, admitted his guilt over a third degree burglary charge for breaking into Chenango Welding Supply, March 10, but wouldn’t admit to his associate’s involvement in court. At the request of the District Attorney Joseph McBride, the court refused to accept the plea.
“Well, I didn’t really see him in there. I think he was asleep in the car,” said Pierce.
“I am deeply offended at the defendant’s decision to lie to the court by refusing to tell the whole truth, and the people reject the defendant’s plea,” said McBride.
The plea would have allowed Pierce to serve a year in the local jail, but now, he could face two and a third to seven years in prison.
Daniel Sabines, 20, was arrested in conjunction to the burglary charges. The two are accused of breaking into Chenango Welding Supply after a late night of partying and stealing about $125 from within. Police said Pierce and Sabines kicked in the back door to the business while a third person, an intoxicated female, was passed out in the back seat of the suspect’s vehicle.
The youths then dropped off the girl and went for a drive. In court the district attorney said they showed up at the New York State Veterans’ Home in Oxford later that night intoxicated asking for help because a car was in a ditch. The car did not belong to the youths, and there is debate between the prosecution and the defense in determining if it was stolen or borrowed from a relative of the two boys. One youth gave a false name to police and both denied being in the car at the time of the accident, said investigators.
The Sheriff’s Office took the two into custody after one had to go to the hospital because of concern over his erratic behavior.
Later that morning, at around 7 a.m., New York State Police were informed of the burglary and began an investigation after workers arrived at Chenango Welding Supply. The Sheriff’s department contacted the troopers over the two suspicious suspects, Pierce and Sabines, being held over the Veterans’ Home incident.
“The deputies called and said that they had two people involved in an accident. Something was fishy about them. One gave a false name,” said Trooper Timothy J. Thatford on the stand.
Police discovered two separate sets of shoe prints in the snow outside and inside of the burglarized building. The prints allegedly matched Pierce’s and Sabine’s shoes. Also, police discovered a key to the business and rolled changed in the crashed vehicle the suspects were allegedly driving.
Pierce and Sabines both were indicted by a grand jury on 3rd degree burglary (D felony) and petit larceny charges last month.
Both men are currently being held at the County jail and their trials have been scheduled for the November trial term, depending on other considerations.