A 49-year-old man who participated in a residential burglary at the alleged prompting of an associate pled guilty this morning after some discussion about whether he clearly understood the charges against him.
Frederick H. Robidoux Jr., 49, was spotted along with his alleged accomplice, Eric P. Doleman, 41, breaking into an apartment at 10 Maple St., Batavia, in the early morning hours of Dec. 29.
The occupant of the apartment, Edward R. Freida, had recently been arrested on drug charges and Doleman allegedly knew Freida was in jail and that he had coins and other property of value.
Robidoux initially claimed this morning that he thought Doleman had permission to enter the apartment and that he didn't know his associate would remove items from the home.
Judge Robert C. Noonan informed Robidoux that if what he was saying were true, then he couldn't be convicted of the crime of attempted burglary.
After Robidoux consulted with his attorney, Fred Rarick, District Attorney Lawrence Friedman read from a statement Robidoux made to Batavia detectives when he was arrested.
In the statement, Robidoux said Doleman had told him about an easy way to get money and that he stood outside the apartment while Doleman climbed through a window.
At that point, Robidoux said he better understood what he was being asked to admit to in order to plead guilty.
As a prior felony offender, Robidoux is facing from three to seven years in prison.
In 1999, he was convicted in Livingston County of sodomy.
Robidoux will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m., April 19.
