Man gets prison for taking payment, not doing work
A Watertown man was sentenced Monday in Jefferson County Court to up to six years in state prison for taking more than $13,000 for contracting jobs he never performed.
Mark J. Brown,40, of 1135 Academy St., was sentenced to three to six years in prison for Sept. 9 guilty pleas to third-degree grand larceny and first-degree scheme to defraud. He also admitted that day to violating probation.
He was sentenced under the state Department of Correctional Services' Willard Drug Rehabilitation Program. If he completes the 90-day program, he will be eligible to serve the remainder of his sentence under parole supervision. He will be required to pay full restitution.
He admitted at the time of his plea that he accepted payments of $6,000, $6,150 and $1,700 from potential customers for home repairs in the town of Champion between April and July, but never completed the jobs. At the time, Mr. Brown was on probation. He admitted he violated probation by pleading guilty to the new charges.
In other court activity Monday:
Quiana N. Thomas,26, Chittenango, was sentenced to one to three years in prison and ordered to pay $1,400 in restitution for a Sept. 1 guilty plea to fourth-degree grand larceny. She admitted at the time of her plea that she stole more than $1,000 worth of goods from Super Walmart in the town of LeRay on Feb. 2.
Tracey A. Steier,45, Syracuse, formerly of Redwood, was sentenced to five years' probation for Aug. 12 guilty pleas to third-degree welfare fraud and first-degree offering a false instrument for filing. She also was ordered to pay $33,697 in restitution.
She was accused of not reporting her marriage to Martin Steier and his income to the Jefferson County Department of Social Services, which allowed her to obtain public assistance to which she was not entitled. The fraud occurred between Oct. 1, 2004, and May 31, 2006.
Catherine E. Sweet,30, Watertown, was sentenced to 90 days in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building and three years' probation for a Sept. 18 guilty plea to third-degree forgery. She was also ordered to pay $3,426 in restitution.
She was accused in a grand jury indictment of using a credit card belonging to Edwin Tanner, Dexter, to make purchases at multiple businesses in late May without his permission. At the time, she was serving five years' probation imposed in June 2005 for convictions of first-degree falsifying business records and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She admitted violating probation by being convicted of the new charge.
Sarah S. James,22, Schenectady, formerly of Watertown, was sentenced to time served and three years' probation for a Sept. 1 guilty plea to fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. She admitted at the time of the plea that she possessed a BB pistol during a July 16 altercation on South Pleasant Street. Her probation supervision will be transferred to Schenectady County.
Kevin M. Atkins,46, Carthage, was sentenced to three years' probation, fined $1,500 and had his driver's license revoked for Aug. 26 guilty pleas to second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated. He admitted driving while intoxicated June 22 on Arsenal Street while his driver's license was revoked.
Matthew W. Ottman,20, of 30712 Route 26, Theresa, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. He entered his plea using an Alford plea, meaning he did not admit to the facts in the underlying case but did not want to risk a possible stiffer sentence if convicted at trial. He had been accused of possessing a Home Depot credit card belonging to Jeffrey Fitchette on Nov. 12.
Howard J. Cowans,31, Watertown, pleaded guilty to two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He is expected to be sentenced Dec. 14 to two consecutive one-year terms at the PSB, according to a contemplated sentence outlined in court. He admitted possessing a stun gun as well as a rifle and a shotgun at his Mill Street residence on April 18. It was illegal for him to have the weapons because he had previously been convicted of a crime.
Paul J. Goodwin,27, Bronx, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He is expected to be sentenced Dec. 18 to a year in the PSB. He admitted he possessed cocaine Oct. 17, 2008, during a traffic stop on South Rutland Street, where it was also determined his driver's license was suspended.
Ryan S. Dickson,20, Antwerp, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault and resisting arrest. Sentencing was set for Dec. 15. He admitted he struck a police officer, causing an eye injury, June 21 in the town of Antwerp.
Raymond E. Cooley Jr.,24, of 202 William St., pleaded guilty to third-degree robbery and fourth-degree grand larceny as a result of separate incidents. Sentencing was set for Dec. 14. He admitted he shoved his former girlfriend, Elyse J. McIntosh, to the ground while stealing her cellular phone June 11 on Boyd Street. She suffered a broken wrist in the incident.
He pleaded guilty to grand larceny using an Alford plea.
He also was accused of stealing a pack of cigarettes that also held a Dexter woman's credit card on Aug. 23 at a Watertown bar. He said he believed the cigarettes were his and that he never saw the credit card.
Bryan G. Schouten,20, of 11863 Quarry Lane, Chaumont, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny. Sentencing was set for Dec. 11. He admitted he stole more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from Super Walmart in the town of LeRay on Feb. 2.
Christian A. Peterson,31, Madison, formerly of Clayton, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal contempt. Sentencing was set for Dec. 15. He admitted throwing a stick at his estranged wife's residence in Clayton on May 22, in violation of an order of protection.
Michael J. Rice Jr.,25, Redwood, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and second-degree menacing. Sentencing was set for Dec. 14. He admitted he scared his wife, Judith H. Rice, with a knife June 8 at her residence on Route 37. He was not supposed to possess the knife because he has a prior criminal conviction.
Lyle A. Walker Jr.,41, no fixed address, pleaded guilty, by Alford plea, to second-degree attempted assault. Sentencing was set for Dec. 11. After creating a disturbance Aug. 11 at a Watertown motel, he was taken by police to Samaritan Medical Center, where he punched Officer Joshua P. Moran in the face and kicked nurses Jill A. Newman and Staci R. Michelson in the stomach. Mr. Walker told Judge Kim H. Martusewicz that he had no recollection of the events.
