NORWICH – Five individuals charged with a variety of felony and misdemeanor crimes pleaded not guilty in county court Wednesday, while a sixth individual, on Tuesday, was sentenced to a stint at the Willard Drug Treatment Center.
• Christopher A. Bonno, 23, Norwich, was sentenced Tuesday to two to four years in state prison, to be served as parole supervision at the Willard Drug Treatment Center, and was ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution to the Norwich Family YMCA.
In September of 2011, Bonno was charged with one count of second degree criminal mischief after he allegedly smashed a number of windows at the local Y, including a south-facing entrance and windows looking into the building’s pool area. Five panes of the gymnasium’s large, east-facing window were also broken.
A furlough, requested by Bonno’s attorney, Chenango County Public Defender John Cameron, was denied by the court, and acting Judge Joseph Cawley said he had “absolutely no faith,” based on Bonno’s criminal history and past drug addiction, that the defendant could be trusted to stay out of trouble.
“I don’t get it, I really don’t,” added Cawley. “Your criminal history is impressive, [which is] a bad thing for a judge to say.”
On Wednesday, five individuals pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them.
• Christopher Skoros, 39, Oxford, pleaded not guilty to one count of driving while intoxicated, a class E felony.
It’s alleged that Skoros, on or about July 21 on Brooks Bank Road in the Town of Oxford, was observed swaying while he walked, speaking with a slurred voice, having bloodshot and watery eyes and smelling strongly of alcohol following a routine traffic stop and prior to his arrest, according to his indictment.
Skoros has one prior driving while intoxicated conviction dating from Dec. 1, 2008, in the Town of Oxford Court. He was released on his own recognizance and will re-appear in county court at a later date.
• Jennifer L. Pasciuta, 28, Norwich, pleaded not guilty to one count of welfare fraud, a class E felony.
According to her indictment, Pasciuta “did commit a fraudulent act ... taking or obtaining public assistance benefits” in excess of $1,000 from October of 2010 to October 2011. It’s alleged that Pasciuta received approximately $2,945 to which she was not entitled.
Pasciuta was released on her own recognizance and will re-appear in county court at a later date.
• John M. Janus Jr., 21, Bainbridge, pleaded not guilty to charges of first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a class E felony, operation of a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content of .08 of 1 percent or higher and driving while intoxicated, a class A misdemeanor.
It’s alleged that Janus, on or about May 19 on state Highway 206 in the Town of Coventry, operated a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, registering a blood alcohol content of .12 of 1 percent at the time of his arrest.
He was released on his own recognizance and will re-appear in county court at a later date.
• Kenneth E.T. Oefelein, 22, Coventry, pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to register as a sex offender, a class E felony.
According to his indictment, Oefelein failed to register with the Division of Criminal Justice Services within ten days of changing his address. It’s alleged that, in March of 2012, Oefelein moved from 97 Briarwood Circle, Goosecreek, SC, to 441 Beebe Road, Coventry, and as of June 13 had not registered with the Sex Offender Unit.
Oefelein was remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $3,000 cash bail and will re-appear in county court at a later date.
• Corey A. Burns, 24, Afton, pleaded not guilty to charges of second degree burglary, a class C felony, and petit larceny, a class A misdemeanor.
According to his indictment, Burns “did knowingly enter and unlawfully remain” at a Town of Bainbridge location on or about June 16, with the intent to commit the crime of larceny and stealing electronics and jewelry.
Burns was released on his own recognizance and will re-appear in county court at a later date.