AUBURN - A 16-year-old Auburn resident pleaded guilty to two counts of third-degree burglary in Cayuga County Court Thursday. Nicholas Passarello admitted to breaking into a barn and stealing gas cans as well as being an accomplice while another person stole a generator from a shed on Jan. 18.

Passarello, of 114 Eastwood Ave. in Auburn, told Judge Thomas Leone how he and another person “walked to the barn, threw a rock through the window and went into the barn.”

Leone reminded the teenager that he had no right to be in the building. He also said that Passarello would probably be sentenced to “no worse than shock probation” although he is authorized to give a more severe sentence. If he is unable to honor that sentence, Leone will let Passarello reconsider his plea, he said.

District Attorney Jon Budelmann said that Passarello stated he “knew he didn't have a right to be in there” in a statement he gave on Jan. 21.

Passarello was originally charged with two counts of third-degree burglary, a felony, as well as two counts of petit larceny, one count of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and one count of fifth-degree conspiracy, all misdemeanors but because of a plea-bargain, he only had to plead guilty to the two felonies.

“I'm not sure what the appropriate sentence is. He has done some in-patient treatment” and was probably stealing to support a drug habit, Budelmann said.

“He's a young man. We'll see,” he said.

Passarello also pleaded guilty to third-degree unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor, in the Town of Owasco Sept. 2, Budelmann said. He will return to Auburn for sentencing on Nov. 13.

Also in court:

• Bradley Parker, of 298 Clark St., Auburn, was sentenced to one year in state prison and two years post-release supervision for third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony. Parker apologized to the judge for what he did.

“It was stupid. I don't know why I did it,” he said. “I'm taking responsibility for what I've done. I've admitted to what I've done.”

Parker asked the judge to take that into consideration when making his ruling.

District attorney Jon Budelmann asked the court for three years in prison with two years of post-release supervision based on Parker's prior record as well as possible shock probation. However, Parker's attorney, Joseph Sapio, provided the court with medical documentation indicating that after being run over by a car, the defendant suffered traumatic brain injury and massive leg reconstruction, which would make him unable to perform the calisthenics or function in a structured setting.

“I do think that Mr. Parker needs to be held accountable for his actions and receive the maximum of post-release supervision,” Sapio said.

Parker will also have to pay $200 in restitution to the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force.

Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net