County court sends two to prison in separate attempts to sell cocaine

Two Watertown men were sentenced to state prison Monday in Jefferson County Court for trying to sell cocaine in separate incidents.

Ryan D. Monroe,28, was sentenced to two years in prison, followed by an additional year of supervision upon his release for a Jan. 25 guilty plea to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance.

He admitted at the time of his plea that he possessed cocaine packaged as if for sale Aug. 31 in Watertown. He was sentenced Monday as a second felony offender, having pleaded guilty in August 2001 in County Court to fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He was sentenced in September 2001 to a year in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building.

Jonathan B. Ezell,48, was sentenced to 11/2 years in prison, followed by a year of post-release supervision, for a Jan. 27 guilty plea to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance. He admitted that he tried to sell cocaine within the county on June 30.

He was sentenced as a second-felony offender, having pleaded guilty in court in January 2006 to third-degree grand larceny. He was sentenced in March 2006 to six months in the PSB and five years' probation.

In other court activity Monday:

Desiree F. Womack,26, Schenectady, was sentenced to six months in the PSB and five years' probation for a Jan. 11 guilty plea to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree promoting prison contraband.

She and her sister, Lakisha A. Singleton, who pleaded guilty to the same charges Jan. 11, both admitted that they tried to smuggle heroin to an inmate at Cape Vincent Correctional Facility on Nov. 15. Ms. Womack's probation supervision will be transferred to Schenectady County. Her sister is due to be sentenced Monday.

James R. Bender,30, Glenfield, was sentenced to five years' probation and ordered to pay $11,488 in restitution for a Jan. 11 guilty plea to fourth-degree grand larceny. He admitted that he stole goods last March and April from 84 Lumber, 20181 Route 12F, by writing bad checks for the goods. His probation supervision will be transferred to Lewis County.

Ryan J. Childers,27, Carthage, was sentenced to an unspecified amount of time served at the PSB and three years' probation for a Jan. 15 guilty plea to second-degree criminal contempt. He also was sentenced to a conditional discharge for a guilty plea the same day to second-degree aggravated harassment.

He entered his pleas using Alford pleas, meaning he did not admit to all of the underlying facts in the case, but pleaded guilty to avoid the possibility of being convicted of a more serious offense at trial. He admitted he telephoned Tina M. Delaney, Watertown, on Nov. 2, but denied he threatened to harm her. He also admitted he violated an order of protection held by Ms. Delaney on Nov. 22, but denied that he threw her to the floor.