After more than a year of court appearances in the alleged murder of Renee Greco June 8, 2009, Robert J. Thousand took a plea deal to Class B felony first-degree manslaughter Tuesday morning in Niagara County Court.
After Thousand’s plea, prosecution then dismissed one count of third-degree burglary against co-defendant Anthony J. Allen that would have been tried separately from the defendant’s other four counts.
Thousand, now 18, of Rochester, faces 20 to 25 years in state prison and 5 years post release supervision as a commitment made from Judge Sara Sheldon Sperrazza.
Thousand’s attorney Joseph Terranova said if his client denied the plea offer, then he could have faced life imprisonment.
“We first discussed the plea four months ago with the DAs,” Terranova said. “It was in his best interest to go forward with a plea.”
In taking the offer, Thousand also agreed to cooperate with prosecution against co-defendant Anthony J. Allen, 19, also of Rochester.
Thousand was originally charged with three counts of second-degree murder.
Allen, who prosecution and police call the “ringleader” in the alleged murder, was charged with three counts of first- and second-degree murder.
Both were also charged with first-degree robbery for allegedly stealing Greco’s car keys and second-degree burglary for entering the East Avenue House office and stealing keys to the school’s van one day before the bludgeoning, detective Capt. Rick Podgers said.
Lockport police said they think the burglay sparked the
Thousand also said in court Tuesday, the taped statement he gave to Lockport police June 9, 2009 was the truth and prosecution said they will use that information at trial Aug. 23 against Allen.
The information of the statement made was not disclosed, but former detective John Yotter said at a hearing in December he audio taped a one-hour interview with Thousand who was “cooperative” in police’s investigation.
While the third-degree burglary charge was dismissed for Allen — because a separate trial would have been held Monday for it — Allen’s attorney E. Earl Key presented the fact he needed Dr. Charles Wetli of New Jersey, as his medical expert to contradict prosecution’s expert, Dr. James Woytash who will comment on DNA testing and Greco’s cause of death by blunt force trauma.
Sperrazza accepted Key’s request and put a $1,500 cap on Key’s funds for an expert at trial.
Key said he thinks his client’s chances at trial are good.
“A plea was offered, but was not acceptable,” Key said. “We think we have a good defense at trial.”
Key however would not release his defense strategy.
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled 9 a.m. July 27 and trial will be held Aug. 23.
Contact reporter Britney Milazzo at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
Breaking News
UPDATE: Teen takes plea in slaying of group home worker
- Breaking News
-
-
Barn fire in south Lockport
-
Meth lab found in Olcott
Officers from the Niagara County Sheriff's Office and New York State Police stormed a house in Olcott Beach Thursday night where methamphetamine was being manufactured. Two men were arrested and face various charges connected to the operation.
-
Bank heist suspect captured
City of Lockport Police detectives has arrested a Niagara Falls man in connection with a bank robbery in downtown Lockport on March 8.
-
LPD identify woman
Lockport police have identified the woman who died at Eastern Niagara Hospital - Lockport Saturday after she was found barely alive in a snowbank off Davison Road as Dawn M. Jehrio, 43.
- Buffalo Bills fire coach Chan Gailey
-
Official: 27 dead in Conn. school shooting
NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — A shooting at a Connecticut elementary school Friday left 27 people dead, including 18 children, an official said.
-
Extraordinary measures
Due to circumstances beyond our control, we were forced to create a single, common edition of today's paper with our sister papers the Niagara Gazette and the Tonawanda News. The paper was printed later than usual and may be late arriving at your home or business today.
-
Serious accident on S. Transit
A motorcyclist has reportedly lost his leg, and his female passenger was also seriously injured Thursday afternoon in an accident on South Transit Road, in front of Valu Home Center.
-
Six pulled from Lake Ontario
Boat went down nearly a mile off shore.
-
Canal series announced
Molson's out and Labatt is in as the sponsor for the 2012 Canal Concert Series in Lockport.
- More Breaking News Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
