AUBURN - An Ithaca man accused of using a gun to rob an Auburn apartment in broad daylight pleaded not guilty in Cayuga County Court Tuesday to 18 criminal charges stemming from the July 20 incident.
During the arraignment, Cayuga County District Attorney John Budelmann accused Peter Radoja, 21, of 20 Lancashire Drive, Ithaca, of using a chrome-plated .22 caliber handgun to subdue four people who were in the Cayuga Street apartment.
After allegedly binding the victims' hands and feet, Radoja is accused of kicking them as he stole a video game console and nearly $2,848 in cash.
Radoja has been charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of fourth-degree larceny, and one count each of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree criminal use of a fire arm, second-degree robbery, third-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal use of a fire arm, second-degree kidnapping, fourth-degree conspiracy and first-degree unlawful imprisonment, all felonies.
Radoja is also charged with one misdemeanor count of menacing in the second-degree.
Budelmann said that while there were no co-defendants, the conspiracy charge was listed because it was believed Radoja received inside information that there would be a large amount of cash in the apartment.
If convicted, Radoja would qualify as a second felony offender with convictions in 2003 for second-degree attempted assault in the Bronx and in 2008 for attempted sale of a controlled substance and promoting prison contraband after he was caught smuggling heroin to his brother, who was an inmate at Auburn Correctional Facility.
Bail was set by Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond.
Also in court:
€ A New York City man's plea deal was almost in jeopardy after he showed up nearly three hours late for his sentencing.
Defense attorney Thomas Ryan said he believed his client, Rakeem Douglas, 28, of 2455 Williams Bridge Road, Bronx, had purchased a ticket to fly to upstate from New York for his final court appearance, but asked for leniency because Douglas' brother said the flight had been delayed.
“(Douglas) couldn't find anyone to drive him up here,” Ryan said. “And he wasn't going to be able to drive the car back if he came by himself.”
Fandrich agreed to give Douglas until 11 a.m. to show up in his courtroom before he would issue an arrest warrant, but said he would allow Douglas to be sentenced if he arrived before the end of the day.
An hour after the 11 a.m. deadline, Douglas arrived at the courtroom and was sentenced to three years in prison for the attempted sale of a controlled substance in the third-degree and two to four years for smuggling heroin into Auburn Correctional Facility. Douglas also received 2.5 years of post-release supervision.
Because each sentence will run concurrent, Douglas is expected to spend just two years in prison.
If Douglas, who had been late for several court appearances in the past because of traffic and travel difficulties, had failed to show up, Fandrich could have given him a harsher sentence.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
After allegedly binding the victims' hands and feet, Radoja is accused of kicking them as he stole a video game console and nearly $2,848 in cash.
Radoja has been charged with two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of fourth-degree larceny, and one count each of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, first-degree criminal use of a fire arm, second-degree robbery, third-degree grand larceny, second-degree criminal use of a fire arm, second-degree kidnapping, fourth-degree conspiracy and first-degree unlawful imprisonment, all felonies.
Radoja is also charged with one misdemeanor count of menacing in the second-degree.
Budelmann said that while there were no co-defendants, the conspiracy charge was listed because it was believed Radoja received inside information that there would be a large amount of cash in the apartment.
If convicted, Radoja would qualify as a second felony offender with convictions in 2003 for second-degree attempted assault in the Bronx and in 2008 for attempted sale of a controlled substance and promoting prison contraband after he was caught smuggling heroin to his brother, who was an inmate at Auburn Correctional Facility.
Bail was set by Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich at $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond.
Also in court:
€ A New York City man's plea deal was almost in jeopardy after he showed up nearly three hours late for his sentencing.
Defense attorney Thomas Ryan said he believed his client, Rakeem Douglas, 28, of 2455 Williams Bridge Road, Bronx, had purchased a ticket to fly to upstate from New York for his final court appearance, but asked for leniency because Douglas' brother said the flight had been delayed.
“(Douglas) couldn't find anyone to drive him up here,” Ryan said. “And he wasn't going to be able to drive the car back if he came by himself.”
Fandrich agreed to give Douglas until 11 a.m. to show up in his courtroom before he would issue an arrest warrant, but said he would allow Douglas to be sentenced if he arrived before the end of the day.
An hour after the 11 a.m. deadline, Douglas arrived at the courtroom and was sentenced to three years in prison for the attempted sale of a controlled substance in the third-degree and two to four years for smuggling heroin into Auburn Correctional Facility. Douglas also received 2.5 years of post-release supervision.
Because each sentence will run concurrent, Douglas is expected to spend just two years in prison.
If Douglas, who had been late for several court appearances in the past because of traffic and travel difficulties, had failed to show up, Fandrich could have given him a harsher sentence.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
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