AUBURN - An Auburn man admitted to selling drugs in Cayuga County Court Thursday.
Joshua Seelman, 22, of 69 Owasco St., pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, saying in court that he sold crack cocaine to a confidential informant. The plea satisfied a grand jury indictment that also included a felony charge of third-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug.
Judge Thomas Leone told Seelman that he would likely impose a sentence of no more than three years in prison and two years of post-release supervision, pending review of a pre-sentence report.
That sentence would make Seelman eligible to attend shock camp, a boot camp-style program, before being released under supervision.
Seelman participated in five sales of crack cocaine in September and October 2006, according to Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann, who is prosecuting the case. This is Seelman's first felony conviction, Budelmann said.
Seelman's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2008.
Also in court:
• John Manzari, 50, of 69 Thornton Ave., Auburn, denied multiple drug charges. Manzari pleaded not guilty to three counts each of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of narcotics.
He is accused of conducting three separate sales of cocaine between February and April 2007.
If he is convicted, the charges carry a possible sentence of 9 years apiece in state prison, Budelmann said.
Leone also raised Manzari's bail from $2,000 cash and $4,000 bond to $5,000 cash and $10,000 bond. Manzari is currently being held in Cayuga County Jail. Motions in the case are scheduled to be heard Feb. 7, 2008.
• Leone denied a motion to change the sentence of Daniel Zobkiw, 34, whose last known address is 2804 Route 34B, Aurora.
Zobkiw filed a motion on the basis that a one-to-four year sentence he was given in 2005 for driving while intoxicated was illegal, and the proper sentence should be either one-to-three years or one-and-one-third-to-four years.
Budelmann cited a similar case from 2005 in which a one-to-four year sentence was imposed and said that the sentence is legally sound.
€Leone did not reduce the bail amount for Ricky Winters, 42, of 399 Clark Street Road, Auburn. Winters posted $10,000 cash bail after being charged with felony driving while intoxicated in May. The charge is a felony because it would be his third offense if he was convicted.
Defense attorney Thomas Anelli also issued a not-guilty plea on Winters' behalf.
Anelli requested a bail amount closer to $2,500 cash and $5,000 bond on the grounds that the defendant has never missed a court appearance during the case, is currently employed and is fighting for custody of his son. Though Leone denied the request, he said he would still entertain motions for reduced bail at the next court date. Motions are scheduled to be heard Feb. 7, 2008.
• Leone restored the probation of Shawn Simmons, 21, of 56 Osborne St., Auburn. Simmons admitted in court to violating the terms of his parole by failing to report a change of address, failing to complete a substance abuse treatment program and consuming alcoholic beverages.
Simmons had served time at the Willard drug treatment program after being sentenced to state prison time for attempting to sell crack cocaine in 2005. He has been held in Cayuga County Jail since August for the parole violation.
Simmons' probation term will last through 2011, according to Leone.
• Leone adjourned the case of Todd Ranke so that Ranke can take care of a medical problem and seek treatment at a substance abuse recovery facility.
Ranke, 40, of Locke, is accused of violating his probation in July by drinking alcoholic beverages at a Moravia bar. He was sentenced in 2004 to five years of probation after pleading guilty to a DWI charge.
Defense attorney David Elkovitch said in court that Ranke is willing to admit the probation violation and wishes to complete rehabilitation. Ranke is scheduled to appear in court again Jan 31, 2008.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
Judge Thomas Leone told Seelman that he would likely impose a sentence of no more than three years in prison and two years of post-release supervision, pending review of a pre-sentence report.
That sentence would make Seelman eligible to attend shock camp, a boot camp-style program, before being released under supervision.
Seelman participated in five sales of crack cocaine in September and October 2006, according to Chief Assistant District Attorney Jon Budelmann, who is prosecuting the case. This is Seelman's first felony conviction, Budelmann said.
Seelman's sentencing is scheduled for Feb. 7, 2008.
Also in court:
• John Manzari, 50, of 69 Thornton Ave., Auburn, denied multiple drug charges. Manzari pleaded not guilty to three counts each of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of narcotics.
He is accused of conducting three separate sales of cocaine between February and April 2007.
If he is convicted, the charges carry a possible sentence of 9 years apiece in state prison, Budelmann said.
Leone also raised Manzari's bail from $2,000 cash and $4,000 bond to $5,000 cash and $10,000 bond. Manzari is currently being held in Cayuga County Jail. Motions in the case are scheduled to be heard Feb. 7, 2008.
• Leone denied a motion to change the sentence of Daniel Zobkiw, 34, whose last known address is 2804 Route 34B, Aurora.
Zobkiw filed a motion on the basis that a one-to-four year sentence he was given in 2005 for driving while intoxicated was illegal, and the proper sentence should be either one-to-three years or one-and-one-third-to-four years.
Budelmann cited a similar case from 2005 in which a one-to-four year sentence was imposed and said that the sentence is legally sound.
€Leone did not reduce the bail amount for Ricky Winters, 42, of 399 Clark Street Road, Auburn. Winters posted $10,000 cash bail after being charged with felony driving while intoxicated in May. The charge is a felony because it would be his third offense if he was convicted.
Defense attorney Thomas Anelli also issued a not-guilty plea on Winters' behalf.
Anelli requested a bail amount closer to $2,500 cash and $5,000 bond on the grounds that the defendant has never missed a court appearance during the case, is currently employed and is fighting for custody of his son. Though Leone denied the request, he said he would still entertain motions for reduced bail at the next court date. Motions are scheduled to be heard Feb. 7, 2008.
• Leone restored the probation of Shawn Simmons, 21, of 56 Osborne St., Auburn. Simmons admitted in court to violating the terms of his parole by failing to report a change of address, failing to complete a substance abuse treatment program and consuming alcoholic beverages.
Simmons had served time at the Willard drug treatment program after being sentenced to state prison time for attempting to sell crack cocaine in 2005. He has been held in Cayuga County Jail since August for the parole violation.
Simmons' probation term will last through 2011, according to Leone.
• Leone adjourned the case of Todd Ranke so that Ranke can take care of a medical problem and seek treatment at a substance abuse recovery facility.
Ranke, 40, of Locke, is accused of violating his probation in July by drinking alcoholic beverages at a Moravia bar. He was sentenced in 2004 to five years of probation after pleading guilty to a DWI charge.
Defense attorney David Elkovitch said in court that Ranke is willing to admit the probation violation and wishes to complete rehabilitation. Ranke is scheduled to appear in court again Jan 31, 2008.
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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