AUBURN -- An Auburn man requested to withdraw his guilty plea during his sentencing at Cayuga County Court Tuesday.

Jeremy Neale, 25, of 1 McConnell Ave., was in the process of pleading guilty to third-degree criminal possession of narcotics when he made the request.

During his statement in court, Neale said that he did not fully understand his plea, and he did not believe his lack of prior felony convictions was considered in the pre-sentence investigation. The prosecution and defense had negotiated a sentence of two years in prison and one-to-two years of post release supervision, according to Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann, who prosecuted the case.

Judge Mark Fandrich said he had taken Neale's prior history into consideration, and that he was going to recommend the defendant to shock camp. With his sentence, Neale would have been eligible to attend the boot-camp style program before being released under supervision.

Neale was arrested in April after police say he sold crack cocaine to a police informant. After a search of his residence, authorities found cocaine and ecstasy pills, as well as small plastic bags and a digital scale, Budelmann said.

Fandrich will hear motions to withdraw the plea Oct. 30.

For complete coverage from court Tuesday, read the Wednesday edition of The Citizen.