batavia

Press release:

Northgate Free Methodist Church in Batavia is continually opening its doors to the community and inviting everyone to their events throughout 2019. In addition to worship services, Northgate offers dozens of volunteer-led small groups, many of which are open to the public. Several groups relaunch in January, including:

• Grief Share, a 13-week group designed to help and encourage those grieving the loss of a loved one due to death. The format is a weekly video presentation and discussion time that offers hope and comfort. Find more information at http://www.griefshare.org/about. Meetings will take place on Tuesdays from 6 to 7:30 p.m., starting Jan. 22nd, at Northgate’s North Campus, 8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia. There is a $15 cost for workbooks, scholarships available.
• Divorce Care, a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through separation or divorce alone. Divorce Care seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help. You will learn how to heal from the deep hurt of divorce and discover hope for your future. A new 13-week session begins on Saturday, Jan. 19th, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Northgate’s North Campus. There is a $15 cost for workbooks, scholarships available.
• Mothers of Preschoolers or “MOPS” are women who gather together twice a month to share and support each other in the remarkable journey that is motherhood. Meetings consist of relevant speakers, fun crafts, supportive conversations and fellowship. There is always hot coffee and childcare provided at MOPS meetings. Moms can choose a 9 a.m. group or a 6:30 p.m. group. MOPS is open to all moms with children from birth to their youngest child finishes kindergarten. MOMSNext is also available for moms of school-aged children, they meet every second and fourth Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit Northgatefmc.com/mops for more information. Each group has a separate membership fee, scholarships are available.
• Celebrate Recovery meets every Thursday evening at 6:30 (including any and all holidays that fall on a Thursday, unless there is a serious snowstorm). Our CR leaders guide and assist those of us who are gaining joy and freedom in Christ as we apply the 12-Steps of Celebrate Recovery to the hurts, habits and hang-ups we all struggle with. All are welcome! We believe anyone and everyone would benefit by attending this group, where we take off our masks and allow God to transform our lives. We are able to share openly and honestly about our struggles with people we come to trust, who will maintain confidentiality, and who will not judge us. For more info, go to: https://northgatecr.weebly.com/
• Financial Peace University will be held on Wednesday nights, starting on Feb. 13th, from 7-8:30 at the North Campus (8160 Bank Street Road, Batavia). For more than 25 years, Financial Peace University, created by Dave Ramsey, has helped thousands of people take control of their money. Through this nine-week course, Ramsey’s proven money class will show you step-by-step how to create a budget, pay off your debt, make wise spending decisions, and save for the future. Preregistration is required, so please visit https://fpu.com/1079986 to sign up. The cost for the class is $129, scholarships are available. If you have questions please email john@northgatefmc.com.

For more information about any of these groups or other events, please contact the Northgate office at (585) 343-4011 or email office@northgatefmc.com

Batavia Middle School students trekked all over Batavia today as part of the school's annual Give Back Field Trip, where they visit various business and agencies to thank those who have supported the school.

Today's visits included the Sheriff's Office, State Police, Fire Department, and this visit to Batavia PD.

Le Roy PD, in cooperation with the county's STOP-DWI, conducted additional patrols this past weekend, which resulted in three arrests of people who are suspected of driving while impaired.

Late afternoon Saturday, Le Roy PD received a report of a woman who had driven to a local grocery store and appeared to be intoxicated.

Upon arrival, officers identified Linda B. Towner, 57, of Batavia, as the suspected driver. She was near a vehicle the officers believed she drove to the store. After further investigation, officers determined she allegedly drove the vehicle while intoxicated. She was taken into custody without incident and charged with DWI and driving with a BAC of .08 percent or greater.

That evening, patrols observed a vehicle moving at a high rate of speed in the Village of Le Roy. It also appeared that the driver’s view was obstructed. A traffic stop was initiated and the driver was identified as Scott M. Hoover, 46, of Bloomingdale, Ohio. After further investigation, Hoover was arrested and charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .08 percent or greater, speeding, and driver's view obstructed.

Sunday evening, patrols observed the erratic operation of a vehicle. The car was moving in and out of its lane of traffic. At one point, the vehicle struck a curb and it also occupied two lanes at one time. Following a traffic stop, Jeremy J. Trzecieski was identified as the driver. Trzecieski, 42, of Pavilion, was charged with DWI, driving with a BAC of .18 percent or higher, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failure to use designated lane, and improper left turn.

Towner, Hoover and Trzecieski were all issued appearance tickets as the result of their arrests. All are to appear in the Le Roy Town Court on Jan. 17.

Police have yet to locate a person who was reportedly stabbed during an incident Monday night at 337 Ellicott St., Batavia; there has, however, been an arrest related to the case.

Rashawn L. Gosier, 40, of Shady Lane, Batavia, is charged with attempted assault, 3rd.

Chief Shawn Heubusch said Gosier is accused of attempting to assault another person at the same address during the same incident.

He said the police have only limited information on the stabbing victim, so have not been able to locate him.

Police responded to 337 Ellicott St. at 11:40 p.m. Monday to investigate a report of a fight. 

A subject, believed to be Gosier, fled the scene, where police located a stabbing victim and called for an ambulance. Officers then pursued the fleeing subject down Swan Street to the area of the railroad tracks.

While officers were busy trying to apprehend the person who fled, the stabbing victim left the scene.

Gosier, matching the description of the fleeing subject, was located a short time later in the basement of the incident location and he crawled out of a basement window (bottom photo).

He was taken into custody without further incident. After being taken to headquarters he was issued an appearance ticket on the attempted assault charge and ordered to appear in City Court at 1 p.m., Jan. 1.

If anybody has information that can assist in the investigation, they are asked to call Batavia PD at (585) 345-6350 or the confidential tip line at (585) 345-6370.

The Batavia Rotary Club carried on its annual pre-Christmas tradition Tuesday with a visit from Santa and players who will participate in the Club's annual basketball tournament at Genesee Community College after the New Year.

The tournament this year tip's off at 6 p.m., Jan. 2 with a game between Notre Dame and Wellsville followed by a 7:45 p.m. game between Batavia and Cal-Mum.

The consolation game will be Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. with the championship game at 7:45 p.m.

Attica will not participate in the tournament this year because the school's marching band is participating in a New Year's Day parade and members of the basketball team are traveling with the band and they may not back it back in time for the tournament. So Wellsville is playing this year but that team's players and coaches were unable to attend Tuesday's luncheon.

Meet the captains:

Santa's visit is filled mostly with gag gifts for Rotary members. This year he recognized three members who embodied "service above self" through their volunteer efforts.

Callie McCully, Notre Dame, Ryan Stefaniak, Batavia, and Baylee Miller, Cal-Mum.

City Church hosted its annual community Christmas party at St. Anthony's on Liberty Street, Batavia, last night, and gave away 33 bikes to children from the neighborhood.

They also handed out a ton of toys.

Numerous people donated bikes, toys, and money to the event, said Ryan Macdonald.

Photos by Mo Schoen.

Jesse F. Markowski, 23, of East Road, Batavia, is charged with driving while intoxicated -- common law, and DWI with a BAC of .08 or more. Markowski was arrested at 1:44 a.m. Dec. 8 on Lehigh Ave. in Batavia after being involved in a single-vehicle accident on Lehigh Avenue. He was processed at the jail and was due in Batavia City Court this morning, Dec. 19. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Mitchell Cowen.

Justin P. Avino, 25, of Swan Street, Batavia, is charged with speeding, driving while intoxicated -- common law, and DWI with a BAC of .08 or more. Avino was arrested at 1:18 a.m. Dec. 9 on West Main Street in Batavia. He was processed at the jail and was due in Batavia City Court this morning (Dec. 19). The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Mitchell Cowen, assisted by Officer Arick Perkins.

A two-vehicle collision, unknown injuries, is blocking traffic in front of Home Depot, 4181 Veterans Memorial Drive, Batavia. Town of Batavia Fire Department and Mercy medics are responding.

We don't know if Sheriff William Sheron has been naughty or nice -- only Santa knows for sure -- but he sure had a lot of fun during Shop with a Cop at Walmart on Dec. 8. We previously shared a shot of Sheron standing on a shopping cart. This morning we obtained this picture of Sheron on Santa's lap in a photo taken by Trooper James O'Callahan.

A reader submitted this video of a car fire this morning at Main And Oak streets, Batavia, in front of Oliver's Candies.

An accident with injuries is reported on West Main Street Road, east of Wortendyke Road, Batavia.

East Pembroke fire and Mercy EMS responding.

UPDATE 4:19 p.m.: East Pembroke assignment is back in service.

An ambulance is requested to Swan and Ellicott for a subject with stab wounds.

Police are on scene.

A few minutes before there was a reported of an individual saying he was going to kill somebody and an officer was chasing a black male, bald, in a blue jacket.

Multiple police units are in the area.

UPDATE 12:04 a.m.: One person is in custody.

UPDATE 1 a.m.: The apparent stabbing victim left the scene with another individual while police chased a person they believe was the suspect in the stabbing. The possible suspect ran through the neighborhood but managed to return to the residence where the alleged stabbing took place and went into the basement. He was then spotted crawling out of a basement window (see second picture) and taken into custody. He has not yet been charged with a crime because the alleged victim was not available to interview by the time he was taken into custody. He was taken back to the station for questioning. The stabbing victim, as of 12:30 a.m., hadn't shown up at UMMC but he may be from Rochester and may have tried going to a Rochester-area hospital. There's no information available on how serious the wounds might be. There were no other suspects, no other people taken into custody, and no other injuries reported either to civilians or police.

A retired Army general who was born in Batavia, attended Notre Dame High School, and was nominated by the late Rep. Barber Conable to attend West Point, has been accused by his grown daughter of sexual abuse that started when she was a toddler and continued into her high school years.

The Army attempted to court-martial Maj. Gen. James J. Grazioplene, 69, who retired in 2005, last year. But a judge ruled the statute of limitations had run out under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, even though there was otherwise enough evidence to prosecute Grazioplene.

While Grazioplene avoided a court-martial, civilian authorities took up the investigation and Grazioplene was arrested Dec. 7 following an indictment by a grand jury in Prince William County, Va., on multiple counts of rape and incest.

Jennifer M. Elmore, 47, a Virginia resident, told the Washington Post, which broke the story, her earliest memory of sexual abuse was when she was 3 years old and at her grandmother's house in Le Roy.

The military's investigation focused on events from 1983 to 1989. Virginia authorities concentrated on events in 1988 and 1989, when the family lived in Woodbridge, Va., where Elmore attended high school in her junior year.

According to the Post, Grazioplene has denied the charges, telling a reporter in September, “The charges are false and incorrect." Grazioplene and his attorney have declined to comment on the case otherwise.

Like many news organizations, the Post does not typically reveal the names of victims in sexual crimes but Elmore told the Post she wanted to go public.

According to the Post, reporters interviewed Elmore, other family members, including Grazioplene 's sister, coworkers, and reviewed letters, all of which corroborated some of Elmore's version of events.

Elmore said she's been estranged from her parents for years and her parents have tried to bridge the gap. She decided to tell the military about the alleged abuse in 2015 after a phone call where her parents apparently again tried to talk her into being part of the family again and her father said, according to Elmore, that “the only thing worse that I could have done to you is murder you.”

Grazioplene was nominated to West Point by Conable in 1967. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the academy in 1971. His LinkedIn profile says he is currently CEO at Mission Readiness LLC. He's also worked for Total Life Cycle Support and DynCorp. International.

Under the state Agriculture & Markets law, Article 26, Section 353, the charge is a Class A misdemeanor. If found guilty, a defendant faces jail time of more than 15 days but not greater than one year. In addition, a fine of up to $1,000 can be imposed.

Frens was in court this morning wearing eyeglasses, a bright purple jacket, black cargo pants, black boots, and when her name was called, she stood unsmiling before Batavia Town Court Judge Michael Cleveland. An associate from the law firm of Friedman & Ranzenhofer, attorney Samuel Alba, accompanied her to the bench.

The prosecution requested and was granted a postponement in the dog neglect case so they could interview an animal control officer. Thus, it's now on the Batavia Town Court calendar for 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 28.

Previously, on Oct. 22, the matter was held over so Frens could provide more documentation, ostensibly of her efforts to aid the 3-year-old Labrador retriever mixed breed prior to her arrest by State Police on July 10.

Maya was found by Frens' neighbors across the street from her Pearl Street Road home on July 9. They called the law after discovering the canine standing feebly by the roadside. The neighbors said the dog was extremely dehydrated and malnourished; it drank four bottles of water and ate multiple bowls of food right away. They said the dog's paws were in such bad shape it could barely walk.

Frens, who is in her mid-50s, went to retrieve the animal from the shelter the following day but was arrested instead (mugshot, inset photo). 

Maya was subsequently diagnosed with multiple skin infections, mange, double ear infections that left her only able to hear a dog whistle, and uncut nails so long they were cutting into the pads of her paws.

Maya's very poor physical condition was caused by neglect, according to Volunteers for Animals, citing veterinary reports.

Maya was adopted a couple of months ago after vets and the volunteers got her health back on track.

Antwan L. Odom is indicted for the crime of first-degree assault, a Class B violent felony. It is alleged that on Aug. 4 in the area of Ross Street in the City of Batavia that Odom -- with intent to cause serious physical injury to another person -- caused such injury by means of a dangerous instrument -- a knife. In count two, Odom is accused of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly possessing a "dagger, dangerous knife, dirk, razor, stiletto, imitation pistol or other dangerous instrument with intent to use the same unlawfully against another."

Michael D. Kopyscianski is indicted for the crime of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a Class B felony. It is alleged that on June 19 in the Town of Darien that Kopyscianski possessed lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD -- a hallucinogenic drug) with intent to sell it. In counts two and three, respectively, he is accused of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a Class A misdemeanor, for allegedly possessing alprazolam (the generic of Xanax) and suboxone (treats opioid addiction). In Special Information filed by the District Attorney's Office, Kopyscianski is accused of having been convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance, 7th, on Jan. 3, 2013, in the City of Saratoga Springs Court and also on May 6, 2005, in City of Newburgh Court.

Jeffrey A. Youngs is indicted for driving while in intoxicated, as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on Oct. 27 Youngs drove a 2003 Toyota on Route 98/Oak Street in the Town and City of Batavia while intoxicated. In count two, he is accused of DWI, per se, as a Class E felony, for allegedly driving at that time while having a BAC of .08 or more. In count three, he is accused of the offense of driving across official markings -- a vehicle and traffic violation. In count four, Youngs is accused of consumption or possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle on Oct. 27. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney's Office, Youngs is accused of having been convicted by DWI as a misdemeanor on June 12, 2017, in City of Batavia Court and that conviction was within 10 years of the crimes alleged in the current indictment.

Josh J. Peterman is indicted for the crime of driving while intoxicated, as a Class E felony. It is alleged that on June 28 in the Town of Darien that Peterman drove a 1998 Honda on Park Road while intoxicated. In count two, he is accused of DWI, per se, as a Class E felony, for allegedly driving at that time while having a BAC of .08 or more. In Special Information filed by the District Attorney's Office, Peterman is accused of having been convicted of DWI, per se, as a misdemeanor on June 28, 2012, in City of Binghampton Court and that convicted was within 10 years of the crimes alleged in the current indictment.

A police officer did not violate the rights of a sex offender when he sent a text message to the suspect's mobile phone upon his arrest to confirm the defendant had used the phone to exchange messages with his victim, and unknowingly, with police, an NYS appeals court has ruled.

Patrick M. Hackett, 44 at the time of his arrest, was accused in May 2013 of having sexual intercourse with a teenage girl in Batavia. He was later indicted on a single count of rape, 3rd, for being more than 21 years old and having sexual intercourse with a partner who was less than 17 years of age.

Hacket was convicted by a jury Nov. 13, 2014, and later appealed the use of his text messages as evidence against him, which was instrumental in his conviction.

"Although there is a lack of medical, scientific, or other physical evidence of the crime, the jury saw incriminating text messages from (the) defendant to the victim in which he admitted that he engaged in sexual intercourse with her and professed his love to her," the justices of the Appellate Division, Fourth Judicial Department, wrote in their decision. "In addition, (the) defendant’s trial testimony in which he denied having sexual intercourse with the victim was not credible inasmuch as he provided the jury with improbable explanations for the incriminating text messages."

The charge against Hackett arose after his victim reported the sexual intercourse to police. She cooperated in the investigation and agreed to send Hackett a text message. Once he responded, a police officer used her phone to exchange a series of text messages with Hacket.

When the officer arrested Hackett, the officer used his mobile phone to send a text message to Hackett's phone. Hackett's phone either vibrated or made a noise and the officer could observe that his text message had arrived at the phone. At that time, the officer did not open the phone and view the text messages. A search warrant was later obtained.

In his appeal, Hackett said the text messages should not have been admissible at trial because the officer's actions at the time of arrest, he said, constituted an illegal search and seizure.

Hackett's appeal relied on a 2014 case, Riley v. California. Riley, a Supreme Court ruling, determined that a search warrant, based on probable cause, is required for police to search a suspect's mobile phone.

The appeals court ruled that the Riley case does not prohibit officers from sending text messages to the defendant and making observations of the defendant's phone and that the court in Riley found that officers can observe physical aspects of the phone.

Further, the text message sent by the officer was not part of the police officer's application later for a warrant to search the phone and there was sufficient probable cause to obtain the warrant.

The court also ruled that Hackett received competent representation from his defense attorney at trial, who was successful in suppressing some evidence the prosecution tried to enter into the record.

It also did not violate Hackett's right to a fair trial by allowing testimony about Hackett providing his victim with alcohol prior to their sexual contact, even though he was not indicted on that "bad act." The court ruled the incident helped complete the narrative of events leading up to the crime on the night in question. The court ruled the exclusion of this information would not have changed the outcome of the trial given the overwhelming evidence of Hackett's guilt. Testimony about the drinking, the court ruled, was "harmless."

At the time of his arrest, Hackett was already a registered sex offender. He was convicted in 1993 in Cattaraugus County of kidnapping and rape in the first degree.

On his local conviction, he was sentenced to three and a half year to four years in prison. He is scheduled to be released in November.

Debra Lynn Mattoon, 39, of Batavia-Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield, is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny, petit larceny and third-degree identity theft. On Dec. 15, following the investigation into a larceny that occured in the City of Batavia at 2:15 p.m. on Dec. 3, Mattoon was arrested on the charges. She was arraigned in Batavia City Court and released under supervision of Genesee Justice. She is due back in city court on Dec. 21. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Kevin Forsyth.

Jacob Joseph Camerera, 27, of North Street, Batavia, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property, 4th, after he was allegedly found in possession of a firearm at 8:45 a.m. on Nov. 19 which had previously been reported stolen. He was issued an appearance ticket and is due in Batavia City Court on Jan. 8. The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Chad Minuto.

Joseph A. Ciociola Jr., 20, of Pembroke, was arrested at 9:56 a.m. on Dec. 5 by troopers out of SP Batavia and charged with: criminal possession of a weapon, 4th; unlawful possession of marijuana; and possession of a loaded firearm in a motor vehicle; he was also cited with vehicle and traffic violations. Troopers stopped Ciociola on Akron Road in the Town of Pembroke for speeding. While interviewing Ciociola the odor of marijuana was allegedly present. During a probable-cause search of his vehicle, Ciociola was allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana, brass/metal knuckles, and two loaded and chambered firearms. Ciociola was issued appearance tickets and he is scheduled to appear before the Town of Pembroke Court later this month. 

Sath Paul Dhanda, 38, of Clapsaddle Road, Bethany, is charged with two counts of criminal contempt in the first degree. He was arrested on Ellicott Street in Batavia at 3:30 p.m. on Dec. 12 for allegedly violating an order of protection on two different occasions. He was arraigned and jailed without bail and was due in Batavia City Court on Dec. 13. The case was handled by Batavia PoliceOfficer Peter Flanagan, assisted by Sgt. Eric Bolles.

John Albert Snook, 30, of Oak Orchard Road, Albion, is charged with first-degree criminal contempt and unlawful possession of marijuana. At 2:20 a.m. on Dec. 15, Batavia police responded to a Jackson Street apartment for a 9-1-1 hangup call. While on scene, patrols discovered that Snook was on location in violation of a stay-away order of protection; he was also allegedly found to be in possession of marijuana. Snook was arraigned and jailed without bail and is due in Batavia City Court this afternoon (Dec. 17). The case was handled by Batavia Police Officer Arick Perkins, assisted by Officer Peter Flanagan.