NORWICH – During the afternoon session in Chenango County Court, several individuals appeared in front of Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr., on matters of plea changes and sentencing – in order to either accept or reject plea offers from the Chenango County District Attorney's Office.
Both First Assistant District Attorney Michael D. Ferrarese and Assistant District Attorney Laura R. Parker represented the people.
• Keannu J. Spencer, 25, appeared on three separate charges with each having a lesser count prepared by the DA's office if Spencer were to enter a plea of guilty. The charges against Spencer included burglary in the first degree, a class B violent felony; assault in the second degree, a class D felony; and bail jumping in the second degree, a class E felony.
The lesser counts that could be offered to Spencer if he voluntarily entered a plea of guilty would be burglary in second degree degree a class C felony – and for the assault and bail jumping charges, a lesser sentence would be given.
After Judge Revoir put on the record District Attorney’s offer to Spencer, Spencer and his Attorney John Kotchick advised the court that the defendant would continue to plead not guilty to all three charges and proceed to trial.
“This is a package deal of pleading guilty to all three,” said Ferrarese advising Spencer and his council.
Judge Revoir then placed Spencer under oath in order for Spencer to verbally reject the peoples’ offer, coupled with reduced sentences.
Revoir also informed Spencer of the maximum sentencing each count could carry if the case proceeded to trial. Spencer could potentially face a total of 36 years in a state penitentiary if found guilty by the people.
Defense council was give an extra few weeks to prepare all necessary paperwork for the possibility of an upcoming trial.
• Johanna S. Bailey, of Sherburne appeared in front of the Chenango County Court in preparation to change her plea of not guilty, and to enter a guilty plea to one count of criminal nuisance.
“During the months of August and September, 2016, at a residence on Grove Ave., in the City of Norwich, while acting in concert with another, did knowingly unlawfully allow individuals to gather at her residence for the purpose of engaging in unlawful sales of methamphetamine, a controlled substance. Further, it is alleged that Bailey did benefit monetarily and/or received meth from the controlled substances transactions that took place at her residence,” said Judge Revoir as he read out loud from the indictment.
After accepting the guilty plea, Revoir gave Bailey an intermediate sentence of probation until sentencing, which is scheduled for Jan. 29, 2018.
•Nicholas J. Wright, 28, of Norwich entered a plea of guilty to superior court indictment of burglary in the third degree, a class D felony – essentially making the defendant a predict felon.
Following the accepted guilty plea and waiving the defendants rights to appeal, Revoir then also waived all fines, fees and surcharges for Wright, making it known that no restitution would have to be paid to the victims at this time.
The people did make note of Wrights criminal history, and he did in fact enter a plea of guilty to a previous charge of burglary in the third degree.
With nothing further said from the people, Revoir gave the defendant until March 24, 2017 to get his affairs in order prior to sentencing. Wright would face a indeterminate sentence of two to four years in a state correctional facility while also entering the facility’s shock incarceration program.
Victims of the Burglary that took place in July, will make a statement at sentencing in Chenango County Court.