AUBURN - A woman admitted in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to attempting the arson of her home by knocking over a lamp by throwing an item at the lamp and leaving the lamp tipped over in her upstairs attic.
“I just left,” said Patricia Bennett, 56, of 8146 Route 90, Montezuma. “I knew it could have started a fire.”
Bennett was in her attic when she knocked over the lamp without a lampshade. Bennett's actions resulted in a July 24 fire that destroyed the upper level of the single-family home.
Bennett pleaded guilty to the felony crime of third-degree attempted arson.
She admitted that she knew her actions could start a fire and her intention was to start a fire. Under a plea bargain, Bennett will likely be sentenced to shock probation and to pay $5,000 restitution to an insurance company.
Bennett lived with her daughter and children. Bennett's attorney, James Leone, has said in the past that Bennett had a contentious relationship with her daughter.
Last month, New York State Police in Auburn arrested Bennett's daughter's ex-boyfriend, Scott A. Cardinali, on the misdemeanor charge he stole microwaves and a television from Bennett's home before Bennett was able to post bail after it was reduced to $1,500 cash from $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.
Bennett's sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. March 6.
Also in court:
€ Brian S. Cuatt, 36, of Apt. 2, 15 Perrine St., Auburn, was sentenced to one year in Cayuga County Jail and to pay $178.40 in restitution for the felony crime of third-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon.
Cuatt held a 28-inch samurai-style sword to the head of a 14-year-old boy during a domestic incident May 22. Cuatt's pleas also satisfied charges he threw a steel steering wheel at a woman.
€ Lynne Elardo, 39, with a last known address of 13 Wood St., Auburn, currently held in Cayuga County Jail, was arraigned on four felony counts of second-degree forgery, one felony count of fourth-degree grand larceny, one felony count of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and four misdemeanor counts of petit larceny.
Elardo is accused of forging the signature on a stolen Reader's Digest credit card for purchases made June 23 and June 24 at Moravia businesses.
Elardo pleaded guilty in November to financial fraud involving thousands of dollars, including writing checks from a closed Auburn Community Federal Credit Union account and stealing a man's personal identity to open a Bank of America credit card account and a GM MasterCard account through HSBC bank.
€ Wayne Matthews, 19, of Apt. 2, 13 Easterly Ave., Auburn, will face a bench warrant for his arrest if he does not appear in court next week for motion arguments regarding the four felony drug charges he faces.
€ Troy Swan, 37, with a last known address of 31 Congress St., Moravia, currently held in Cayuga County Jail, had motion arguments held over the legal validity of the felony charge of second-degree escape he faces. Swan escaped from the Cayuga County Jail around 10:45 a.m. June 18 by taking off from a work detail deployed to the jail's two-acre inmate produce garden, which is located outside of the jail, the sheriff's office said.
Swan's attorney, Joseph Sapio, argued that based on case law, the charge should be reduced because the second-degree escape charge applies only to inmate flights from a detention facility.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann argued that case law says that an inmate escapes from a detention facility if the escape is from property associated with a detention facility but not within the walls of the detention facility.
Judge Mark Fandrich asked Budelmann to provide proof that the inmate garden sits upon county property. The case was adjourned until Jan. 23.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Bennett was in her attic when she knocked over the lamp without a lampshade. Bennett's actions resulted in a July 24 fire that destroyed the upper level of the single-family home.
Bennett pleaded guilty to the felony crime of third-degree attempted arson.
She admitted that she knew her actions could start a fire and her intention was to start a fire. Under a plea bargain, Bennett will likely be sentenced to shock probation and to pay $5,000 restitution to an insurance company.
Bennett lived with her daughter and children. Bennett's attorney, James Leone, has said in the past that Bennett had a contentious relationship with her daughter.
Last month, New York State Police in Auburn arrested Bennett's daughter's ex-boyfriend, Scott A. Cardinali, on the misdemeanor charge he stole microwaves and a television from Bennett's home before Bennett was able to post bail after it was reduced to $1,500 cash from $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond.
Bennett's sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. March 6.
Also in court:
€ Brian S. Cuatt, 36, of Apt. 2, 15 Perrine St., Auburn, was sentenced to one year in Cayuga County Jail and to pay $178.40 in restitution for the felony crime of third-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon.
Cuatt held a 28-inch samurai-style sword to the head of a 14-year-old boy during a domestic incident May 22. Cuatt's pleas also satisfied charges he threw a steel steering wheel at a woman.
€ Lynne Elardo, 39, with a last known address of 13 Wood St., Auburn, currently held in Cayuga County Jail, was arraigned on four felony counts of second-degree forgery, one felony count of fourth-degree grand larceny, one felony count of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and four misdemeanor counts of petit larceny.
Elardo is accused of forging the signature on a stolen Reader's Digest credit card for purchases made June 23 and June 24 at Moravia businesses.
Elardo pleaded guilty in November to financial fraud involving thousands of dollars, including writing checks from a closed Auburn Community Federal Credit Union account and stealing a man's personal identity to open a Bank of America credit card account and a GM MasterCard account through HSBC bank.
€ Wayne Matthews, 19, of Apt. 2, 13 Easterly Ave., Auburn, will face a bench warrant for his arrest if he does not appear in court next week for motion arguments regarding the four felony drug charges he faces.
€ Troy Swan, 37, with a last known address of 31 Congress St., Moravia, currently held in Cayuga County Jail, had motion arguments held over the legal validity of the felony charge of second-degree escape he faces. Swan escaped from the Cayuga County Jail around 10:45 a.m. June 18 by taking off from a work detail deployed to the jail's two-acre inmate produce garden, which is located outside of the jail, the sheriff's office said.
Swan's attorney, Joseph Sapio, argued that based on case law, the charge should be reduced because the second-degree escape charge applies only to inmate flights from a detention facility.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann argued that case law says that an inmate escapes from a detention facility if the escape is from property associated with a detention facility but not within the walls of the detention facility.
Judge Mark Fandrich asked Budelmann to provide proof that the inmate garden sits upon county property. The case was adjourned until Jan. 23.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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