NORWICH – Chenango County Jail officials arrested two inmates last week for theft and conspiracy in the jailhouse.
Both were already facing charges of theft and robbery. One of them may now face being sentenced on felony charges after violating the terms of his plea agreement.
Officers arrested 29-year-old Sandy L. Beeching of 29 Court St., Norwich, and 30-year-old Gregory F. Huzinec, of 169 Fred Stewart Rd., Norwich.
Both men are charged with petit larceny and sixth degree conspiracy, misdemeanors, after they allegedly stole about $20 in property from another inmate.
Beeching pleaded guilty to third degree assault, a misdemeanor, Aug. 18 in Norwich City Court over an alleged mugging.
According to police at the time, the victim was punched and knocked to the pavement while Beeching went through the man’s pockets and stole an undisclosed amount of money. The man was taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital with minor injuries following the incident and later released.
Beeching is scheduled to return to court Sept. 22 to be sentenced on the assault charges, and is currently at the facility on $25,000 cash bail.
Part of his plea agreement required that he avoid further run-ins with the law.
“The deal is off. When we return to court for the sentencing, we’re going to ask the judge to take these new violations into account and give him a longer period of incarceration,” said First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee.
The ADA said Beeching was originally to be sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge that required him to stay out of trouble for 12 months after he served six months in jail.
Beeching was originally charged with second degree robbery, a C class felony, and fourth degree grand larceny, an E class felony. A class C felony carries a possible maximum sentence of up to 15 years in state prison.
Dunshee said Beeching could choose to withdraw his guilty plea and face the original felony charges against him. If not, he’ll face the prosecutor’s recommendation of the maximum sentence on the assault misdemeanor, which would add at least another six months to the jail sentence and possibly years of additional probation.
“It’s also up to the judge and it’s up to the defendant if he wants to withdraw his plea or not. But we’re not going to offer original terms to someone who continues to violate the law and show such a blatant lack of respect to the court,” said Dunshee.
Beeching was already under court orders to avoid contact with the law pending another theft case in the Village of Oxford, prior even to being arrested for the alleged assault and robbery in Norwich.
The Village of Oxford Police Department arrested him in March for petit larceny, conspiracy and criminal mischief after Beeching allegedly ripped open a 12-pack of Old Milwaukee inside a convenience store and stole seven cans of beer. He was arraigned in Village of Oxford Court and released. The Oxford PD reported that Beeching then failed to show up for his scheduled court appearance and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
While the case was still pending, the Oxford Police said Beeching was charged in Norwich for the alleged mugging after the judge had stipulated he remain out of trouble.
The DA’s Office reported Beeching had been arrested 29 times and convicted of seven misdemeanors and one felony in his lifetime. Dunshee also said Beeching had already served time in state prison.
From January to July of 2009 the Norwich Police Department reported that it had 38 different documented contacts with Beeching in the course of their investigations.
His accused co-conspirator in the jail thefts, Huzinec, was remanded to the correctional facility Aug. 13 on $1,000 cash bail over allegations that he smashed a medicine cabinet at Chenango Memorial Hospital and removed several medicine containers before being spotted by one of the facility’s security guards. He has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges of fourth degree criminal mischief and petit larceny.
Huzinec is due to appear back in Norwich City Court Oct. 1.