Former Fort Drum woman pleads guilty to charge she burned son with iron

A former Fort Drum woman pleaded guilty Monday in Jefferson County Court to a charge that she burned her infant son’s chest with an iron.

Jessica L. Kay, 24, Pittsburgh, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. She entered her plea using an Alford plea, meaning she did not admit to all of the allegations in the underlying case, but did not want to contest the matter at trial.

Nicole L. Kyle, assistant district attorney, told the court that, had the matter gone to trial, prosecutors intended to present evidence that on July 8 in the town of LeRay, Mrs. Kay placed a hot iron on her 2-year-old’s chest, causing the child to suffer second-degree burns.

Mrs. Kay is expected to be sentenced April 4 to no more than six months in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building and five years’ probation.

In other court activity:

James F. Gagniere Jr., 45, of 261 TenEyck St., pleaded guilty to felony driving while ability impaired by drugs. He admitted driving under the influence of drugs Sept. 26, 2010, on TenEyck Street.

Carlos M. Arroyo, 26, formerly of Watertown, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance, admitting he tried to sell cocaine in Watertown in July 2009. He was subsequently sentenced to an unspecified amount of time served. He is incarcerated in federal prison for an April 2010 guilty plea in U.S. District Court, Syracuse, to conspiracy after being accused of trafficking crack cocaine in Watertown and Ogdensburg. He was sentenced Jan. 20 to 31 months in prison for the conspiracy conviction.

Eldred D. Jacobs, 45, of 70 Center St., Fort Covington, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal trespassing. Sentencing was set for April 4. He admitted he went onto someone else’s property without permission Nov. 20, 2010, in the town of Adams.

Raymond E. Cooley Jr., 26, Watertown, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal contempt and was sentenced to 30 days in the jail. He admitted he violated an order of protection held by Elyse J. McIntosh by talking with her over the phone Jan. 21 in the town of Brownville.

Kellon T. Noel, 31, Bronx, pleaded guilty to second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. He admitted driving on Munns Corners Road in the town of LeRay in November 2010 while his driver’s license was suspended or revoked. He was subsequently sentenced to about three weeks’ time served at the jail and a one-year conditional discharge. He was also fined $1,000.

Trevon L. Upshur, 18, Fort Drum, was sentenced to a one-year conditional discharge for a Dec. 5 guilty plea to petit larceny. He also performed 40 hours of community service prior to sentencing. He admitted he entered a neighbor’s house Aug. 11 and stole Xbox video games.

Albert C. Whiting, 52, of 46 Public Square, was arraigned on a charge of first-degree sex abuse. The charge was contained in a grand jury indictment unsealed in court. It is alleged he had forcible sexual contact with a 48-year-old woman Jan. 2 in Watertown. He pleaded not guilty to the charge and was sent to the jail on $2,500 bail.