Man pleads guilty to biting police officer's finger
A former Fort Drum man admitted Friday in Jefferson County Court that he bit the ring finger of a Watertown police officer, while also admitting to three other charges.
Christopher D. Simmons Jr.,22, now living in West Virginia, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, resisting arrest, fourth-degree grand larceny and first-degree criminal contempt as a result of three separate incidents.
He is expected to be sentenced Jan. 15 to five years' probation, according to a contemplated sentence outlined in court.
He pleaded guilty to assault and resisting arrest using a partial Alford plea, meaning he did not admit to all of the underlying facts in the case, but was pleading guilty to avoid a possible stiffer sentence if convicted of the crimes at trial.
He had been accused of assaulting Officer Jonathan M. Pitts by biting the patrolman's finger, breaking the skin, while the officer was attempting to arrest him April 26 on a mental health warrant. Mr. Simmons told Judge Kim H. Martusewicz that he did not recall the incident because he was under the influence medications, for which he did not have prescriptions.
He also admitted to grand larceny for stealing a debit card May 30 from Megan L. Hyneman, Watertown, and pleaded to criminal contempt by admitting he violated an order of protection held by Ashley M.L. Grant by sending her alarming text messages July 5.
In other court activity Friday:
Jennifer L. Lowe,40, Monroe, La., formerly of Watertown, was sentenced to six months' time served at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building and discharged from probation as a failure for an Oct. 9 guilty plea to fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and an admission to a probation violation. She had been accused in an indictment handed up in December 2006 of trying to hit a man with a PVC pipe.
Willie L. Lewis Jr.,44, Syracuse, was sentenced to five years' probation, was fined $2,500 and had his driver's license revoked for Sept. 16 guilty pleas to felony driving while intoxicated and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He admitted at the time of his plea that he drove drunk June 19 on Route 12 in the town of Clayton while his driver's license was suspended for a prior alcohol-related offense. His probation supervision will be transferred to Onondaga County.
Patrick J. Bellinger,23, Watertown, was sentenced to three years' probation for an Aug. 31 guilty plea to fourth-degree criminal mischief and resisting arrest. He had admitted kicking the passenger-side door of a vehicle owned by his girlfriend, Amy L. Parker, on June 21, causing a large dent. He also admitted to scuffling with police officers as they investigated the incident.
Nicholas M. Schafer,20, Adams, was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $50 in restitution for a Sept. 1 guilty plea to petit larceny. He had admitted stealing a .270-caliber rifle from an Adams home on April 19.
William J. Spies IV,31, was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $2,199 in restitution for a Sept. 2 guilty plea to petit larceny. He admitted at the time of the plea that he sold a laptop computer that did not belong to him Jan. 22 in Watertown.
Michael J. Ashley,33, Watertown, was sentenced to an unspecified amount of time served at the PSB and restored to probation after admitting Aug. 26 to violating probation. He admitted violating probation at the time by driving without a license.
Ryan J. Childers,26, Carthage, pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment, a noncriminal violation. He subsequently was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and ordered to perform 40 hours of community service. He admitted grabbing Tina M. Delaney during an argument Aug. 15 in Watertown.
Scott P. Arnold,40, LaFargeville, pleaded guilty to felony DWI. Sentencing was set for Jan. 8. He admitted driving drunk May 3 on Black Creek Road in the town of Clayton. The charge was a felony because he had been convicted of DWI in Clayton Town Court in 2007.
Summer Porter,26, Carthage, pleaded guilty to seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Sentencing was set for Jan. 11. She admitted having 10 hydrocodone pills without a prescription July 6 in Carthage.
Brandi L. Gallo,19, Watertown, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana. Sentencing was set for Jan. 8. She admitted she had more than 2 ounces of the drug July 24 on North Rutland Street.
