ALBION — Husband and wife team Lisa K. James, 31, and Richard L. James, 35, have received separate judgments for crimes committed when they harvested and used marijuana in a field near their Shelby Basin Road home.
Orleans County Judge James Punch sentenced Lisa James to three years probation and 80 hours of community service. In her April plea, she said she arrived home from work at 3:30 p.m. the day of an Oct. 11 drug bust to discover her home swarming with police.
Her husband grew the cannabis plant near their home, dried and trimmed it in the garage, and smoked it heavily, she said.
“I was an occasional smoker, myself,” she said before pleading guilty to misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.
For his part, Richard James pleaded guilty to felony second-degree criminal possession of marijuana. He was sentenced on Monday in Orleans County Court to 120 days in the Orleans County Jail and five years probation. Lisa James received no jail time, although she faced up to 60 days local incarceration.
At least two pounds of marijuana located in a patch of weeds across the street from the James home was confiscated by local law enforcement. The couple was arraigned in Orleans County Court on the charges of second-degree criminal possession of marijuana, third- and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, three counts of first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Lisa James’ brother, Anthony M. Neal, 37, South Lyndonville Road, Lyndonville, was also charged in the bust. His case is pending.
In other county court news:
n Catherine Thomas, 40, West Park Street, Albion, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She was first arraigned in Albion Town Justice Court on the charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. As a second felony offender, state prison will be mandatory as part of the sentence. She may be eligible for Willard Drug Treatment Campus, a state prison specializing in drug rehabilitation.
n Rafael Chicas, 47, pleaded guilty to a violation of probation dating back to 1996. He entered probation after pleading guilty to felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon at that time. Sentencing is scheduled for July 28. As part of the plea bargain, he faces a state prison sentence no greater than 1 to 3 years.
Chicas was recently extradited from Florida. Bail was set at $10,000 cash or bond.
n Michelle K. Smalls, 22, Center Road, Kendall, was sentenced to one year local incarceration for violation of probation.
n Bobby J. Mattison, 30, Glenwood Avenue, Medina, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny, a crime for which she faces up to 1 1/3 to four years in state prison. Mattison was arraigned on the charges of grand larceny, identity theft, unlawful possession of personal identification information and criminal impersonation in February.
n James J. Bremer, 28, Roycroft Boulevard, Snyder, was sentenced to five years probation after pleading guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in December.
n Robert Finley, 48, was resentenced to one year local incarceration on an indictment that dates to 2005. Finley was charged with felony first-degree promoting prison contraband for possessing marijuana as an inmate at the Orleans Correctional Facility, a crime for which he was sentenced to three to six years in state prison. His attorney appealed the case, arguing that marijuana should not be considered “dangerous contraband,” and won. Finley was resentenced for the crime as a misdemeanor.
n David B. Riggs appeared in court on an extradition out of the State of Michigan. He should be picked up some time next week.
Contact reporter Nicole Coleman at 798-1400, ext. 8227.
Local News
SENTENCING: Couple in court on pot charges
MARIJUANA: Both receive probation, man gets jail time.
- Local News
-
-
Hospice residence construction continues
The construction of the new Martin-Linsin Hospice Residence, which is now well under way just behind the Hospice of Orleans office building on Route 31 in Albion, will allow Hospice to provide care and assistance for those patients and their families.
-
Library construction, fundraising hit milestones
The project to build a new library in Albion is seeing a lot of green — both in the foam insulation that is being added at the South Main Street construction site and in Swan Library’s fundraising effort.
-
Albion plans for summer
Village officials heard details about this summer’s Albion Strawberry Festival and another big event that could bring visitors back to the village later in the summer — if concerns about street usage are cleared up — during Wednesday’s board meeting.
-
Theater impact grant formally announced
The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, has awarded the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor a 2012 Impact Grant to support the launch of the Theatre on Main Street project in Albion in collaboration with the Albion Main Street Alliance and the Western Erie Canal Alliance.
-
Inter-county collaboration
The Orleans County Legislature finalized a formal alliance with their Niagara County counterparts Wed-nesday, a move leaders from both counties said will lead to reduced costs and increased services.
-
County management salary increases discussed
County Legislators will vote later this month on a local law that affects the 2012 salaries and benefits of nine county officials, with a net impact of adding $4,723 in payments.
-
Drug court graduates four
Four participants in the Orleans County Drug Court received cheers Monday for completing the intensive, three-stage program.
-
Albion CSD budget coming to view
The Albion Central School District’s 2012-13 budget is coming into clearer view, and school officials say the picture is better than at this point last year.
-
Medina student is Sabres Jr. Reporter
The Buffalo Sabres have faced many difficult questions during what has so far been a disappointing season, but it was all smiles when Oak Orchard Elementary School student Melanie Hibbard came to First Niagara Center to watch practice and interview players for a feature that will air later this month.
-
Group aims to honor Laughlin
The Medina Mustangs could play their next football game on a field named for longtime coach John “Pinky” Loughlin if the Medina School Board approves a proposal made Tuesday by the Parents Athletic Club.
- More Local News Headlines
-







