Man facing prison for theft, drug sale
A town of Watertown man faces five years in state prison after entering guilty pleas Wednesday in Jefferson County Court in connection with three cases against him.
David Ortega,34, of 17481 Route 11, Apt. 4H, also will have to undergo up to eight additional years of supervision upon his release for guilty pleas to two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and a single count of third-degree attempted burglary.
In satisfaction of a grand jury indictment unsealed in court, Mr. Ortega admitted that sometime between March 1 and March 21 he entered the residence of Terence R. Carlin with the intention of committing a crime. Mr. Carlin, a retired Watertown police officer, said in July that six long guns were stolen from his Mundy Street home while he and his wife were out of state. The guns were recovered.
Mr. Ortega also admitted that he sold cocaine Sept. 29 within the county and July 19 in Watertown. He is due to be sentenced Nov. 8.
In other court activity Wednesday:
Michael J. Young,39, of 471 Van Duzee St., pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of stolen property. He admitted that sometime between Feb. 4 and March 1 he possessed more than $3,000 in stolen jewelry which he sold at Square Lion Coins & Jewelry, 91 Public Square.
He is expected to be sentenced Nov. 5 to 31/2 to 7 years in state prison. It is anticipated that he will serve the sentence under the prison system's Willard Drug Rehabilitation Program. If he successfully completes the 90-day program, he will be eligible to serve the remainder of his sentence under parole supervision. Restitution of $9,680 will be ordered in the form of a civil judgment.
Troy L. Thomas,31, Watertown, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He is expected to be sentenced Nov. 8 to three years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. He admitted that he sold cocaine within the county Jan. 19.
Travis W. Fraleigh,16, no fixed address, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault. He is expected to be sentenced Nov. 5 to an unspecified amount of time served at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building and five years' probation. He admitted that he caused a torn tendon in a finger of Watertown police Officer Michael S. Maney while scuffling with the officer Aug. 12.
Tiffany A. Bouyer-Lucas,24, Watertown, admitted violating probation and was resentenced to a year in the PSB. She was sentenced in early July to five years' probation for a fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. According to court documents, she violated probation by being charged with petit larceny.
