AUBURN - A federal prisoner convicted of robbing banks pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to trying to escape from the Cayuga County Jail.

During a recreation hour on July 4, Inthanousane Borihane, also known as Yo Ming, 26, originally from Johnson City, was accidentally put into a staff observation area without a covered roof. He admitted he tried to flee by scaling an 8-foot high chain-link fence in the recreation yard and climbing onto the Public Safety Building's roof.

”I (saw) an opportunity, and I took it,“ Borihane said.

Borihane was recently sentenced in federal court to 49 years in prison for his bank robbery convictions.

His guilty plea satisfies other felony charges he faced of second-degree attempted assault, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree promoting prison contraband for brandishing a shower head in a sock.

His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 22. Judge Mark Fandrich has agreed to sentence him to 1 1/2 to three years in state prison, which will merge with his federal sentence.

Also in court:

- Benjamin Bonilla, 32, with a former address of 123 VanAnden St., Apt. 1, Auburn, had his sex offender risk level set at one, the lowest level. Bonilla was convicted of dragging an 18-year-old woman walking along VanAnden Street into his apartment and raping her around 2:30 a.m. July 18, 1999. Bonilla has appealed his conviction. Bonilla will be released from prison today.

- Walter Leonard, 26, of 26 Barber St., Auburn, was sentenced to three to six years for a felony charge of third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. Leonard sold crack cocaine within city limits Feb. 19, 2003.

- Frank Maha, 27, of Rochester, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. Maha admitted he sold four ecstasy pills for $25 a piece May 16, 2003.

- Michael Rodriguez, 20, of Rochester, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of third-degree attempted sale of a controlled substance. Rodriguez admitted he sold crack cocaine June 13, 2004. His sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 22.

- Brian Syrell, 17, of 9 Genesee St., Apt. 1, Auburn, pleaded guilty to burglarizing 81 Osborne St. and stealing frozen fish sticks, Ramen noodles, macaroni, soda and other foods during a burglary Sept. 20. He will be sentenced on the third-degree burglary charge Dec. 1.

- Thomas Ward, 23, of 5 Grover St., Apt. 1, Auburn, pleaded not guilty to two indictments charging him with stealing frozen fish sticks, Ramen noodles, macaroni, soda and other foods from 81 Osborne St. Sept. 20, and stealing photography equipment, music equipment and jewelry from 23 Chedell Place Sept. 20.