AUBURN - A Genoa man pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Thursday to the possession of several ingredients used to make the stimulant methamphetamine.
It is the first Cayuga County case involving a state law passed in 2005 to fight growing methamphetamine use in New York by criminalizing the possession of the drug's basic ingredients.
Michael Zirbel, 29, of Route 90, Genoa, pleaded guilty to the class E felony of the possession of the precursors of methamphetamine in front of Judge Mark Fandrich.
Zirbel was arrested by State Police Trooper Thomas Badman after a traffic stop Dec. 9 in which several common meth ingredients - including a ripped open battery, pseudoephedrine tablets and muriatric acid, a basic stripper acid - were observed in Zirbel's 1997 Dodge Ram.
Drain cleaner, three cans of starting fluid, a red plastic gas can and clear plastic tubing also were found in Zirbel's pickup by police.
Fandrich promised to recommend that Zirbel be considered for entry into the state Department of Correctional Services' Comprehensive Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment program if his drug treatment provider sends information indicating Zirbel has a substance abuse problem.
Inmates in the state program are non-violent felony offenders who spend time in prison-based treatment before being released into community-based work release treatment.
Zirbel's plea settled accompanying misdemeanor charges of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
It also satisfied misdemeanor charges in a separate case that Zirbel entered a Genoa residence Aug. 18, stole a wine cooler and possessed a small quantity of crack cocaine Aug. 18.
His sentencing is scheduled for July 18. He faces one year or 1 1/2 years in state prison.
Also in court:
€ Albert P. Cole, 37, of 4512 Grange Hall Road, Moravia, entered a not guilty plea to felony charges of vehicular assault and misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated on White Road in Sempronius about 1:11 a.m. Jan. 1.
Two people in an oncoming vehicle were seriously injured in a crash with Cole's vehicle.
A conference in Cole's case was scheduled for next week. Motion arguments are due to be argued July 27.
His release on his own recognizance was continued by Judge Peter Corning.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Michael Zirbel, 29, of Route 90, Genoa, pleaded guilty to the class E felony of the possession of the precursors of methamphetamine in front of Judge Mark Fandrich.
Zirbel was arrested by State Police Trooper Thomas Badman after a traffic stop Dec. 9 in which several common meth ingredients - including a ripped open battery, pseudoephedrine tablets and muriatric acid, a basic stripper acid - were observed in Zirbel's 1997 Dodge Ram.
Drain cleaner, three cans of starting fluid, a red plastic gas can and clear plastic tubing also were found in Zirbel's pickup by police.
Fandrich promised to recommend that Zirbel be considered for entry into the state Department of Correctional Services' Comprehensive Alcohol and Substance Abuse Treatment program if his drug treatment provider sends information indicating Zirbel has a substance abuse problem.
Inmates in the state program are non-violent felony offenders who spend time in prison-based treatment before being released into community-based work release treatment.
Zirbel's plea settled accompanying misdemeanor charges of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
It also satisfied misdemeanor charges in a separate case that Zirbel entered a Genoa residence Aug. 18, stole a wine cooler and possessed a small quantity of crack cocaine Aug. 18.
His sentencing is scheduled for July 18. He faces one year or 1 1/2 years in state prison.
Also in court:
€ Albert P. Cole, 37, of 4512 Grange Hall Road, Moravia, entered a not guilty plea to felony charges of vehicular assault and misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated on White Road in Sempronius about 1:11 a.m. Jan. 1.
Two people in an oncoming vehicle were seriously injured in a crash with Cole's vehicle.
A conference in Cole's case was scheduled for next week. Motion arguments are due to be argued July 27.
His release on his own recognizance was continued by Judge Peter Corning.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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