AUBURN - An Auburn woman and three Brooklyn residents arrested in connection with an Auburn shooting last month all pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges in Cayuga County Court Thursday.
During arraignment, Leslie Jo Peltier, 52, of 238 State St., Auburn, and co-defendants Nigee Sanders, 16, Daquan Alfonz Breland, 19, and Jacquan Cleveland Breland, 19, all of Brooklyn, pleaded not guilty to first-degree attempted assault with intent to cause serious physical injury, second-degree assault with intention to cause physical injury with weapon or instrument, second-degree criminal use and possession of a firearm, second-degree criminal use and display of a firearm and fourth-degree conspiracy, all felonies.
A grand jury indicted the defendants on all of those charges in connection with a June 10 shooting the defendants are accused of carrying out at the intersection of Washington and Seymour Streets. The Brelands are accused of exiting a vehicle driven by Peltier and using 12-gauge shotguns loaded with Remington deer slugs to fire at a group of people, superficially wounding a 31-year-old man as he ran for cover.
According to her written statement, Peltier said she bought the shotguns from Dick's Sporting Goods after people had burglarized her home a week before.
The defendants had been charged with three felonies each within the first few days after the shooting, but grand jury added the second-degree assault and criminal display of a firearm charges.
In separate proceedings Thursday, three of the defendants asked for a bail reduction, currently set at $25,000 cash, $50,000.
Judge Thomas Leone granted a reduction in bail - $20,000 cash, $40,000 bond - for Peltier, as she is a resident of Auburn and owns a home. He denied such applications made by defense attorneys on behalf of Sanders and Jacquan Breland because they have no connections to the area.
In arguments for the reduction, Sanders' attorney, John Mullady, said that Sanders was “duped,” that Peltier had an “idea and set it up.” Mullady said the teenagers did not want to go through with it, but rather wanted to go home.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Valdina said he didn't buy that story. He recommended to Leone maintaining bail as is.
Prior to Daquan Breland's arraignment, defense attorney John Elkovitch asked the court to remove him as counsel and appoint attorney Joe Sapio to replace him. Elkovitch said he received a “nasty” letter from Daquan, within which the defendant wrote that he heard from someone at the Cayuga County Jail that Elkovitch has a history of attorney misconduct.
“I feel like I can't represent him in good conscience,” Elkovitch said.
Leone relieved Elkovitch, and said to Breland that whomever he spoke to was misinformed.
Sapio reserved on a reduction of bail request until he knows Breland better.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
A grand jury indicted the defendants on all of those charges in connection with a June 10 shooting the defendants are accused of carrying out at the intersection of Washington and Seymour Streets. The Brelands are accused of exiting a vehicle driven by Peltier and using 12-gauge shotguns loaded with Remington deer slugs to fire at a group of people, superficially wounding a 31-year-old man as he ran for cover.
According to her written statement, Peltier said she bought the shotguns from Dick's Sporting Goods after people had burglarized her home a week before.
The defendants had been charged with three felonies each within the first few days after the shooting, but grand jury added the second-degree assault and criminal display of a firearm charges.
In separate proceedings Thursday, three of the defendants asked for a bail reduction, currently set at $25,000 cash, $50,000.
Judge Thomas Leone granted a reduction in bail - $20,000 cash, $40,000 bond - for Peltier, as she is a resident of Auburn and owns a home. He denied such applications made by defense attorneys on behalf of Sanders and Jacquan Breland because they have no connections to the area.
In arguments for the reduction, Sanders' attorney, John Mullady, said that Sanders was “duped,” that Peltier had an “idea and set it up.” Mullady said the teenagers did not want to go through with it, but rather wanted to go home.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Valdina said he didn't buy that story. He recommended to Leone maintaining bail as is.
Prior to Daquan Breland's arraignment, defense attorney John Elkovitch asked the court to remove him as counsel and appoint attorney Joe Sapio to replace him. Elkovitch said he received a “nasty” letter from Daquan, within which the defendant wrote that he heard from someone at the Cayuga County Jail that Elkovitch has a history of attorney misconduct.
“I feel like I can't represent him in good conscience,” Elkovitch said.
Leone relieved Elkovitch, and said to Breland that whomever he spoke to was misinformed.
Sapio reserved on a reduction of bail request until he knows Breland better.
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
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