Burglar gets 5 years in state prison

ALBION – A Medina man who admitted his role in at least two Albion burglaries in the summer of 2013 today was sentenced to five years in state prison.

Isaiah Bonk, 21, was given the maximum sentence as part of a plea deal reached in August when he pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree burglary. His attorney Michael Manusia asked the judge for leniency. Manusia said he wasn’t making excuses for Bonk, but the attorney said Bonk didn’t enter the homes that were burglarized. He served as the look-out while another man went inside, Manusia said.

Bonk has also endured tragedy in his life, including the death of his mother in a fire when Bonk was 6. Manusia said Bonk was ridiculed in school for learning disabilities and was swayed to participate in the burglaries by the other criminals in the case.

Orleans County Court Judge James Punch said Bonk is “reasonably intelligent.” The multiple burglaries warranted prison time, Punch said.

“I think you were as influential to them as they were to you,” Punch said during sentencing. “Once you start wandering through peoples’ houses and taking their stuff that’s serious.”

In other cases:

The judge sentenced Morris Taylor to six months in jail for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree. Taylor, 24, of Albion admitted to selling cocaine in September 2013.

That was a one-time transaction, with Taylor serving as the middle man in the sale, his attorney Mark Foti told the judge.

Taylor is a first-time felony offender. He is a former track and football star at Albion. Several of his coaches submitted letters to the court on behalf of Taylor, vouching for his character.

Taylor has already served six months in jail, from December to May. His sentence today won’t result in additional jail time.

Punch also gave Taylor five years on probation.

“You’re certainly not a hopeless criminal like some of what we see here – of course, no one is hopeless,” Punch said during sentencing. “I’m hopeful you won’t be back (in court).”

An Albion woman was sentenced to two years in state prison after admitting in court she sold prescription medication to make a profit. She was charged on April 1.

Dawn M. Read, 42, has prior convictions, including grand larceny in the fourth degree. Punch gave her the maximum sentence for criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree.

“You just decided somewhere along the way to be a criminal,” Punch said.

An 18-year-old from Medina admitted to sending text messages last May where he threatened to kill other students.

Mackenzie Barrett pleaded guilty today to making a terrorist threat, which carries a maximum of 2 1/3 to 7 years in state prison. As part of a plea deal, Barrett will face a maximum of one year in jail when he is sentenced on Jan. 12. If the sentence is greater than a year, he can withdraw his plea and go to trial.

“Did you threaten to shoot, stab and use bombs at the school?” Punch asked Barrett in court today.

“Yes,” Barrett replied.

He said the texts weren’t directed at anyone specifically.

Punch said people would naturally feel intimidated by those text messages given many instances of mass deaths by student gunmen.

“You know there has been all these school shootings, right, and that would play into that?” Punch asked Barrett.

He replied, “Yes.”

Barrett remains incarcerated in the county jail.