AUBURN -- James Scott admitted giving a false name to an Auburn Police Department detective interviewing him after he rode along with two others who allegedly burglarized Jake's Liquor Store July 2.
Scott, 23, of 144 VanAnden St., Auburn, pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Thursday to the two misdemeanor crimes of false personation and petit larceny. His plea satisfied two felony charges and one other misdemeanor charge.
Scott said he was unaware his codefendants were going to burglarize the liquor store at 96 North St., Auburn, but he admitted riding with them in a car when they were pulled over shortly after the 8 a.m. burglary by state police.
Scott's case has been a protracted one. He changed attorneys once and had to be directed by former Cayuga County Judge Peter Corning to communicate to his assigned attorney Douglas Bates.
Scott's codefendant, Scott Farrelly, 20, of 198 State St., Auburn, recently rejected a plea bargain offer that would have required him to cooperate against Scott. His case is still pending.
Another codefendant, Whitt White, 24, of 28 Perry St. Auburn, tried to omit that Scott had been present during the burglary and was required to take an oath to tell the truth before he was allowed to enter a guilty plea in December. White was sentenced to three years in state prison after he pleaded guilty in the liquor store burglary case and another case.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Scott's misdemeanor plea reflected that he did not carry out the burglary, but he did inform his two codefendants that a store clerk witnessed their smash-and-grab of three liquor bottles.
"This is based upon this defendant's relative culpability," Budelmann said.
Bates said that Scott's plea was appropriate because as an accomplice in the burglary he bore as much responsibility under the law as the actual burglars.
Judge Thomas Leone committed to sentencing Scott to two consecutive one-year sentences in Cayuga County Jail. Scott's bail was reduced to $1,000 cash or $2,000 bond. He has been in jail since his arrest after the burglary.
His sentencing is scheduled for March 8.
Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Citizen.
Scott said he was unaware his codefendants were going to burglarize the liquor store at 96 North St., Auburn, but he admitted riding with them in a car when they were pulled over shortly after the 8 a.m. burglary by state police.
Scott's case has been a protracted one. He changed attorneys once and had to be directed by former Cayuga County Judge Peter Corning to communicate to his assigned attorney Douglas Bates.
Scott's codefendant, Scott Farrelly, 20, of 198 State St., Auburn, recently rejected a plea bargain offer that would have required him to cooperate against Scott. His case is still pending.
Another codefendant, Whitt White, 24, of 28 Perry St. Auburn, tried to omit that Scott had been present during the burglary and was required to take an oath to tell the truth before he was allowed to enter a guilty plea in December. White was sentenced to three years in state prison after he pleaded guilty in the liquor store burglary case and another case.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Scott's misdemeanor plea reflected that he did not carry out the burglary, but he did inform his two codefendants that a store clerk witnessed their smash-and-grab of three liquor bottles.
"This is based upon this defendant's relative culpability," Budelmann said.
Bates said that Scott's plea was appropriate because as an accomplice in the burglary he bore as much responsibility under the law as the actual burglars.
Judge Thomas Leone committed to sentencing Scott to two consecutive one-year sentences in Cayuga County Jail. Scott's bail was reduced to $1,000 cash or $2,000 bond. He has been in jail since his arrest after the burglary.
His sentencing is scheduled for March 8.
Read the full report in Friday's edition of The Citizen.
