Teenager pleads guilty to shooting sister

A Watertown teenager admitted Friday in Jefferson County Court that he shot his sister and a friend through a closed door at his residence.

Grant D. Robinson,19, of 1215 Washington St., pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

He entered his plea using a partial Alford plea, meaning he did not admit to all of the underlying allegations in the case, but was pleading guilty to avoid the chance of being convicted of a more serious offense at trial.

He admitted he discharged a shotgun through a door Nov. 29, knowing that there were people on the other side of the door. The shot struck his sister, Carol, in the back of her shoulder and hit a friend, Shane P. Dyer, in the chest. Both were treated at Samaritan Medical Center for their injuries.

Mr. Robinson told Judge Kim H. Martusewicz he had no recollection of the events because he was intoxicated at the time, thus leading to his inability to admit to all of the underlying facts.

He began serving a 60-day jail sentence Friday at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building as part of a contemplated sentence that also will include a period of probation supervision. He will be granted youthful-offender status at sentencing Aug. 18.

In other court activity Friday:

George D. Castine,27, andTina M. Guildoo,34, both of 205 N. Orchard St., were sentenced to time served and five years' probation for earlier guilty pleas to fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He was accused of selling cocaine in November in Watertown, while she was accused of selling the drug in December.

LaDean M. Ladd,46, Buffalo, was sentenced to time served and five years' probation for a May 11 guilty plea to second-degree attempted assault. She was accused of stabbing Ronald D. Schneider, Adams, in the arm March 29, causing a small puncture wound. Her probation supervision will be transferred to Erie County.

Nicole M. Metcalf,21, of 907 Boyd St., was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $450 in restitution for a May 27 guilty plea to fourth-degree criminal mischief. Further information was not available from the court.

Algernon A. Lovell,29, of 709 Knickerbocker Ave., pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance as a result of separate incidents.

He admitted he attempted to sell cocaine Oct. 6 in Watertown. He also entered an Alford plea to an accusation that he possessed more than 2 ounces of cocaine at a Franklin Street apartment Jan. 30. He is expected to be sentenced Aug. 17 to 21/2 years in prison for the convictions.

Arnold J. Higgins III,18, of 36854 Route 12E, Clayton, pleaded guilty using a partial Alford plea to seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He was accused of having Ritalin without a prescription Feb. 25 at Thousand Islands Central School.

Kyle W. Matthews,21, Fort Drum, pleaded guilty, using a partial Alford plea, to third-degree assault. Sentencing was set for Sept. 11. He, along with others, was accused of taking part in the March 18 beating of Michael S. Farmer outside Pewter Mug tavern, 1313 State St., where Mr. Farmer was working as a bouncer.

Adam P. Fugate,24, of 384 Moffett St., pleaded guilty, by partial Alford plea, to fourth-degree criminal mischief. Sentencing was set for Sept. 11. He was accused of breaking a charcoal grill and glass-top table during a May 28 argument with his wife. He admitted breaking the items, but entered an Alford plea because he said the broken items belonged to both him and his wife.

Dwight Newton,25, Watertown, was arraigned on charges of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. The charges were contained in a grand jury indictment unsealed in court.

It is alleged that he had and sold cocaine in Watertown in early May. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was sent to the PSB on $20,000 bail.