AUBURN - A former Cayuga Community College student pleaded guilty in Cayuga County Court Thursday to stealing more than $22,000 by rerouting money from a college bank account to his private account.

Eric Sutton, 18, of 81 Genesee St., Apartment 2B3, said he used information he found on a copy of an old financial aid refund check to gain access to the campus account. Sutton said he began stealing the money after he lost his financial aid package when he failed some of his classes.

Sutton also admitted that he committed identity theft when he posed as a college employee in order to answer security questions to ensure that the money he stole made it into his account.

Sutton then admitted he stole his roommate's credit card out of the mail and used it to make purchases for himself. The credit card had originally been mailed by the victim's mother to purchase text books, Sutton said.

Sutton is expected to receive a shock-camp eligible prison term and will make more than $23,000 in restitution when he is sentenced on July 17.

Also in court:

• A Monroe County man will be committed for mental health treatment after two psychologists deemed him unable to mentally comprehend his surroundings.

According to New York state criminal law, Nicholas Greene, 21, of 1 Pleasant St., Chili, who is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, will not be able to continue in court until he is deemed mentally fit.

Green has refused to take any of his medication and could be enrolled into a long-term mental health treatment facility if his mental state does not improve.

• A Moravia man will spend 18 months in Cayuga County Jail after he pleaded guilty to having sex with a minor.

Jonathan Wood, 22, of 2550 Rockefeller Road, Moravia, received nine months for the felony statutory rape of a 16-year-old and nine months for committing criminal sex acts against a minor, also a felony.

The two nine-month sentences will be served consecutively.

Wood also received two one-year sentences for the misdemeanor crimes of sexual abuse and acting in a manner to injure a child. Those sentences will also be served consecutively with the felony convictions.

Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Wood was previously convicted of statutory rape in 2005, but added that Woods married the victim from that incident.

• An Auburn man pleaded guilty to second-degree robbery and third-degree criminal possession of a narcotic drug.

Morris Bowman, 21, of 145 Park Place, admitted to stealing sneakers from a victim during a robbery in November and to selling .3 grams of cocaine for $50 to a confidential informant in July 2007.

Bowman faces 3.5 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 14.

• A local man will spend his weekends for the next four months in the Cayuga County Jail for possessing nearly one pound of marijuana.

Jason Bergerstock, 22, of 187 Cottage St., Auburn, also received five years probation and will have to pay $165 in restitution.

• Melissa Brady, 47, of 8627 State Route 90, King Ferry, pleaded not guilty to manufacturing methamphetamine, a felony; possession of methamphetamine precursors, a felony; two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, a misdemeanor; reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor and failure to stop at a stop sign.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net