AUBURN - A Syracuse man, who Auburn city police said swallowed a quantity of cocaine after leading officers on a chase in March, pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.
Kenneth Duncan, 21, sold cocaine to a police informant on March 1 within city limits. Duncan fled a traffic stop at the intersection of Seymour and Paul streets March 21.
Heamen Duncan, 27, also of Syracuse and a passenger in the car that lead police on a chase, pleaded guilty last week to fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Duncan's sentence is scheduled for July 19.
Kenneth drove eastbound on Grant Avenue in a 1997 four-door purple Plymouth and lost control of the car near Gates Road while trying to go around a tractor trailer blocking the eastbound lane of Grant Avenue in front of the Fox Honda dealership. Police caught up with the brothers after an abbreviated foot chase, they said.
Surrogate Court Judge Mark Fandrich said Kenneth would be sentenced July 5 to 3 1/2 to four years in prison.
Kenneth's bail was reduced to $2,500 cash and $5,000 bond.
Also in court:
- Cedric Alford, 24, of 3 Benton St., Auburn, was sentenced to three to six years in prison for third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. Alford sold cocaine Sept. 10.
Alford had a prior felony conviction in 1998 of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, for which he was released from state prison in March 2004, when he returned to dealing drugs, Surrogate Court Judge Mark Fandrich said.
"You may very well have a drug problem for which I have sympathy, but the community needs protection from you and this type of activity," said Fandrich in front of a courtroom filled with several of Alford's family members.
Alford declined to give a statement to the court.
Alford's application for a waiver of the state felony conviction surcharge in lieu of money seized from him by the police was denied.
- April Gould, 29, of 24 Hoffman St., Auburn, was sentenced to five years shock probation, including six months in the Cayuga County Jail, for a felony conviction of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Gould admitted she sold crack cocaine June 23, 2004.
"I would just like to apologize to our community for doing what I did," Gould said.
- Desi Melendez, 28, of Marietta, was re-sentenced to five years probation and 12 months of weekend work release on every other weekend to allow him to continue to maintain his employment.
Melendez was sentenced last week to five years probation and six months of weekend work release for a felony charge of third-degree criminal sale of marijuana. Melendez sold marijuana Dec. 23, 2002 within city limits.
- Carmen Valerino, 51, of 196 State St., Auburn, had his sentencing for a probation violation postponed for two weeks to allow the county Probation Department to access Valerino's medical records. Valerino tested positive for opiate drug use, but one of his medical prescriptions may contain an opiate component, Valerino's defense attorney, Simon Moody, said.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 x282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Heamen Duncan, 27, also of Syracuse and a passenger in the car that lead police on a chase, pleaded guilty last week to fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Duncan's sentence is scheduled for July 19.
Kenneth drove eastbound on Grant Avenue in a 1997 four-door purple Plymouth and lost control of the car near Gates Road while trying to go around a tractor trailer blocking the eastbound lane of Grant Avenue in front of the Fox Honda dealership. Police caught up with the brothers after an abbreviated foot chase, they said.
Surrogate Court Judge Mark Fandrich said Kenneth would be sentenced July 5 to 3 1/2 to four years in prison.
Kenneth's bail was reduced to $2,500 cash and $5,000 bond.
Also in court:
- Cedric Alford, 24, of 3 Benton St., Auburn, was sentenced to three to six years in prison for third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. Alford sold cocaine Sept. 10.
Alford had a prior felony conviction in 1998 of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, for which he was released from state prison in March 2004, when he returned to dealing drugs, Surrogate Court Judge Mark Fandrich said.
"You may very well have a drug problem for which I have sympathy, but the community needs protection from you and this type of activity," said Fandrich in front of a courtroom filled with several of Alford's family members.
Alford declined to give a statement to the court.
Alford's application for a waiver of the state felony conviction surcharge in lieu of money seized from him by the police was denied.
- April Gould, 29, of 24 Hoffman St., Auburn, was sentenced to five years shock probation, including six months in the Cayuga County Jail, for a felony conviction of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Gould admitted she sold crack cocaine June 23, 2004.
"I would just like to apologize to our community for doing what I did," Gould said.
- Desi Melendez, 28, of Marietta, was re-sentenced to five years probation and 12 months of weekend work release on every other weekend to allow him to continue to maintain his employment.
Melendez was sentenced last week to five years probation and six months of weekend work release for a felony charge of third-degree criminal sale of marijuana. Melendez sold marijuana Dec. 23, 2002 within city limits.
- Carmen Valerino, 51, of 196 State St., Auburn, had his sentencing for a probation violation postponed for two weeks to allow the county Probation Department to access Valerino's medical records. Valerino tested positive for opiate drug use, but one of his medical prescriptions may contain an opiate component, Valerino's defense attorney, Simon Moody, said.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 x282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net