A 17-year-old Auburn boy pleaded guilty Monday to first-degree attempted sexual abuse for touching the buttocks and breast of a 15-year-old girl as she walked home from Auburn High School.

During the October 2005 incident, Marcell Brown, then 16, and a 15-year-old boy allegedly restrained and touched the victim, according to Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann. Brown also displayed a knife, Budelmann said.

Brown, of 3 Pine St., had entered a not guilty plea in February.

Brown will be sentenced Tuesday, June 20, in front of Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich. The crime carries a sentence of up to four years in prison.

Also in county court:

€ George Caswell, 20, of 17 Wright Ave., Auburn, also changed his plea to guilty Monday.

Caswell had been indicted on charges of sodomizing and forcing a younger boy to perform oral sex July 14, 2005; he was also accused of smoking marijuana with the 12-year-old before the alleged sexual assault. On Monday, Caswell pleaded guilty to a first-degree attempted criminal sex act, Budelmann said.

He will be sentenced by Cayuga County Judge Peter Corning Thursday, June 22. The crime is punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

€ Ron Craven, 25, of D80 Brogan Manor, Auburn, will go on trial Monday, May 22, for three felony charges of first-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument and three misdemeanor charges of petit larceny.

Following a hearing Monday, Corning ruled that witnesses could make an in-court identification of Craven if they were able to.

The hearing had been called to ensure that there was nothing suggestive about the way the police's photo array identification procedures were conducted. Last week, Craven turned down a plea bargain offer when faced with felony charges for second-degree possession of a forged instrument.

The Cayuga County District Attorney's office had recommended he serve six months in Cayuga County Jail and a term of probation. At the time, Corning told Craven that though he has the right to go to trial, the proof against him is “fairly forceful.”

If convicted of all three charges, Craven faces up to 45 years in state prison. Craven is accused of using a forged $20 bill July 30 and Aug. 1 for purchases at Wal-Mart on Grant Avenue and using a forged $20 bill Aug. 7 for a purchase at T&K Hardware in Auburn.

Staff writer Linda Ober can be reached at 253-5311 ext 237 or linda.ober@lee.net