Watertown Daily Times | Drug court, Willard mandate sentences handed down in Lewis County Court

LOWVILLE — A New Bremen woman charged with the highest felony drug charge possible was given a chance to get clean through drug court and reduce the charge to a lower felony and avoid prison if she successfully completes the program.

Renee J. Ross, 35, Artz Road, pleaded guilty Friday before Judge Daniel R. King to second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, an A2 felony, and endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor.

On March 18 in New Bremen, Ms. Ross admitted she had 109 grams, over 2 ounces, of methamphetamine. She also admitted she had the drug “in close proximity” to her 6-year-old child.

Ms. Ross admitted she is addicted to drugs and was admitted to drug court.

Successful completion of drug court will result in a reduction of the A2 felony charge to a D felony, five years of probation and a six month suspension of her driver’s license. If she is unsuccessful in drug court, she will be sentenced to three to 10 years in state prison.

Cody J. Amidon, 28, was sentenced to two to six years in state prison with a Willard mandate and must pay a $500 fine and $375 in court fees and surcharges, as anticipated by his plea deal.

Mr. Amidon will be in prison for 10 days before his transfer to the Willard facility. If he successfully completes the 90-day Willard program, he will serve the remainder of his sentence on parole rather than in state prison.

Last October, Mr. Amidon, still on probation from a 2017 aggravated unlicensed-driving charge, violated that probation and drove in West Leyden after taking fentanyl.

Kyle T. Simpson, 24, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal possession of a stolen property.

Mr. Simpson admitted that on Sept. 10, he had a credit card belonging to Katherine Holbrook in the town of Croghan.

He is likely to be sentenced to one year in county jail at his May 31 sentencing and is required to pay $291 in restitution as per the terms of his plea deal.

Abigail J. Loomis, 35, of Ava, pleaded guilty to felony fourth-degree criminal possession of narcotics in a deal that will likely have her sentenced to one year of interim probation.

Ms. Loomis admitted that at 3:16 a.m. July 2, she had over 4 grams, or an eighth of an ounce, of hydromorphone when she was stopped in West Turin.

This plea satisfies charges of unlicensed operation and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation in the village of Turin and in the town of West Turin, unlicensed operation, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, unlawfully dealing with fireworks and false personation.

If Ms. Loomis is successful on interim probation, her charge will be reduced to seventh degree criminal possession of a narcotic and she will be required to complete three years of probation and community service. If she is unsuccessful, Ms. Loomis will go to county jail for one year.

She will be sentenced on July 19.

Bladimar Torres Morales, 27, of Puerto Rico pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with intent to cause physical harm and was sentenced to six months in jail with credit for time served followed by five years of probation that will be transferred to Puerto Rico.

An additional charge of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon was satisfied by this plea.

Working through a state-provided interpreter, Mr. Morales disputed that he was the aggressor in the October incident at the Montague Inn, claiming that the man he stabbed, William Runner, had been choking him. He said he only pulled his jackknife, what he described as a “tool for work,” and used it because he couldn’t breathe.

Judge King explained that in New York, a person “can only repel an attack with equal force.” The other man did not use a knife to attack Mr. Morales.

Although Mr. Morales began serving his term immediately after the proceeding, his official sentencing will take place on July 19.