AUBURN -- A Syracuse man scheduled to go on trial this week pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Monday to the felony of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Charles N. Vaughn, 32, of 127 Richardson Ave., Syracuse, and currently held in Cayuga County Jail, faces at least six years in state prison at his Aug. 9 sentencing. Vaughn declined a plea bargain offer -- open until recently -- that he plead guilty to the felony of third-degree attempted sale of a controlled substance in exchange for a sentencing commitment of four years in state prison.

Vaughn faced two felony charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, two felony charges of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and the felony charge of fourth-degree conspiracy.

Vaughn admitted Monday to a crack cocaine sale to an undercover police officer around 2:51 p.m. June 10, 2006. Codefendant Shana Barnett, 25, of Apt. C4, 120 Riverdale Drive, Syracuse, previously pleaded guilty to the felony charge of fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and admitted driving Vaughn so he could deal drugs.

Vaughn was sentenced in 1994 to five to 15 years in state prison for the felony of first-degree attempted robbery. Vaughn and his codefendants robbed a local man, Jamie Scholz, of money and drugs. Scholz was stabbed several times.

For more, read Tuesday's Citizen