Woman sentenced to prison, probation on cocaine charge

A Watertown woman was sentenced Tuesday in Jefferson County Court to six years in state prison for trying to sell cocaine.

Chiquita L. Benway-Gebo,56, also will have to undergo three years of additional supervision upon her release from prison for a July 19 guilty plea to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Judge Kim H. Martusewicz mandated that she participate in the prison system's Willard Drug Rehabilitation Program. If she successfully completes the 90-day program, she will be eligible to serve the remainder of her sentence under parole supervision.

She and Rayline O'Connell, 51, had been accused in grand jury indictments handed up in January of allowing their residence at 334 Franklin St., Apt. 2, to be used for drug activity. Ms. O'Connell was sentenced in April to six months' time served in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building and five years' probation.

In other court activity Tuesday:

Charles J. Pratt,26, Bronx, was sentenced to 31/2 years in prison, followed by two years of post-release supervision, for an April 28 guilty plea to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. He admitted he tried to sell cocaine March 16 in Watertown.

James M. Lavancha,32, Watertown, was sentenced to two to four years in prison under the Willard program for July 19 guilty pleas to two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and a single count of second-degree attempted forgery.

It was alleged that on Feb. 3, he used a credit card belonging to Charles and Jill Bates, Carthage, to make a $53.78 purchase at Walgreens, 1655 State St. He also was accused Feb. 10 of having a credit card belonging to Jennifer Hughes, Watertown.

Katelynn J. Moulton,17, Mannsville, was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge and ordered to perform 20 hours of community service for a June 30 guilty plea to fourth-degree criminal mischief. She was accused of causing $1,600 in damage to a vehicle Oct. 16 in a parking lot at Carthage Central High School.

Eloy L. Saucedo,23, of 8409 N. Lewis Ave., Fort Drum, pleaded guilty to second-degree harassment, a noncriminal violation, and was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge. He admitted that he damaged a laptop computer owned jointly with his wife on March 16 in Watertown. He replaced the computer.

Michael A. Bartholomew,17, of 28595 Steinhilber Road, Evans Mills, pleaded guilty to second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and fourth-degree grand larceny as a result of separate incidents. Sentencing was set for Nov. 1.

He admitted that he had sexual contact with a boy under age 11 on two or more occasions in September in the town of LeRay. He also admitted that he stole a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck April 11 in the town of Philadelphia.

Allison M. Piddock,22, of 515 Stone St., pleaded guilty to second-degree falsifying business records. Sentencing was set for Oct. 25. She admitted that she altered records at J.C. Penney Co. to obtain more than $500 worth of benefits while working at the Salmon Run Mall store.

Steel A. Angus,22, Alexandria Bay, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal trespass and is due to be sentenced Sept. 24. He admitted that he entered the town of Orleans home of his father, Frederick M. Angus, without permission in May.