Martinsburg man admits to assaulting wife, man

LOWVILLE — A town of Martinsburg man already awaiting sentencing on a criminal mischief charge admitted guilt Friday in Lewis County Court to a pair of alleged assaults, as well.

Philip B. Damuth, 37, of 5646 Whitaker Road, was arraigned on charges of second-degree assault and attempted aggravated criminal contempt and pleaded guilty to both of the felonies. Sentencing on those charges and a pending fourth-degree criminal mischief charge was set for Dec. 9.

Mr. Damuth on Sept. 9 pleaded guilty to damaging a 2004 Ford Explorer owned by his wife, Rebecca, on May 21 in the town of Martinsburg.

He additionally was charged with violating an order of protection on Sept. 20 by pushing his wife to the ground and head-butting her, causing a concussion and other injuries, and of assaulting Stephen Paragon, causing facial fractures, on Oct. 27. Both incidents were also in the town of Martinsburg.

Mr. Damuth served two years in state prison from 2007 to 2009 on a charge of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance in connection with a cocaine-trafficking investigation.

Also in Lewis County Court on Friday:

Thomas A. Johnson, 36, Lyons Falls, was sentenced to six months in jail, $5,000 in fines, five years’ probation, a one-year driver’s license revocation, $1,040 in court fees and mandatory participation in ignition interlock and victim impact panel programs on two counts of felony driving while intoxicated and a single count of first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, to which he pleaded guilty Sept. 23.

He was stopped April 25 at Route 26 and Canal Street in the town of Leyden and May 5 on Canal Street in the village of Port Leyden.

Michael A. Townsend, 33, of 6621 Baldwin Road, Glenfield, was sentenced to six months in jail, a $2,500 fine, five years’ probation, a one-year driver’s license revocation, $520 in court fees and mandatory participation in ignition interlock and victim impact panel programs on a charge of felony DWI, to which he pleaded guilty Sept. 23. He was stopped June 27 on Erie Canal Road in the town of Watson.

Eric S. Saulsbury, 48, Homer, was sentenced to three years’ probation, $1,250 in fines, a six-month driver’s license revocation and $395 in court fees on charges of misdemeanor DWI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, to which he pleaded guilty Sept. 9. Mr. Saulsbury was stopped April 2 on Dayan Street in Lowville.

Douglas A. Bender, 32, of 36851 Route 26, Carthage, was arraigned on a charge of third-degree assault and pleaded guilty. Sentencing was set for Feb. 3. He was accused of assaulting Keith Seeley on March 5 at Club Central in Glenfield.

Mr. Bender’s accomplice, Gary D. Genito Jr., 31, of 10025 Erie Canal Road, Croghan, also was arraigned on a charge of second-degree attempted assault and pleaded guilty. He also is to be sentenced Feb. 3.

Nathanael R. Reiter, 30, Route 26, Turin, pleaded guilty to felony DWI, also satisfying charges of speed not reasonable or prudent, failure to stop for a stop sign and leaving the scene of a property damage accident. Sentencing was set for Dec. 9. He was accused of driving while intoxicated May 15 on Otter Creek Road in the town of Greig.

Danielle M. Hess, 39, New York Mills, was arraigned on a charge of misdemeanor DWI and pleaded innocent. Her case was adjourned to Dec. 9. She was stopped June 5 on Route 26 in the town of Turin.

Justin E. Branagan, 24, of 4316 Lyons Falls Road, Lyons Falls, had his case of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument adjourned to Dec. 9. Mr. Branagan was accused of possessing a prescription for Percocet containing an altered pill quantity June 6 in the village of Lowville.

Brandon R. Dicesare, 23, Port Charlotte, Fla., had his case of second-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child adjourned to Jan. 13. He was accused of punching a 16-year-old boy in the head multiple times June 21 in the town of Lyonsdale.

William J. Hill, 26, County Route 194, Copenhagen, had his case of first-degree burglary and second-degree attempted assault adjourned to Dec. 2. Mr. Hill was accused of entering a home on River Road in the town of Harrisburg in December and hitting and kicking Alan Harris in the face and head, breaking his nose and bruising his face and ribs.