Woman tried to smuggle cocaine into Auburn prison, but judge opts to take a chance on her.
By John Stith
The Post-Standard
SYRACUSE, NY — Pamela Buari got a break Tuesday in Cayuga County Court.
Instead of spending years in state prison for trying to smuggle cocaine to an inmate at Auburn Correctional Facility, Buari, 32, of 3153 Seymour Ave., Bronx, will spend four months of weekends in the county jail.
“I’m taking a chance on you,” Judge Mark H. Fandrich told Buari. In addition to the jail time, she was fined $2,500 and ordered to pay a $270 court surcharge and $50 DNA fee.
District Attorney Jon E. Budelmann asked that Buari be sentenced to one to three years in prison, which would allow her to participate in a prison program to get out six months early.
He acknowledged that Buari had overcome challenges to achieve success as director of technology for a New York City hospital. She was one of three children of drug-addicted, alcoholic parents who dropped out of school at 16 to care for her siblings, attended night school, graduated from John Jay College and is studying for a master’s degree.
But, Budelmann also reminded the judge that drugs in prison cause problems among the inmate population and jeopardizes the safety of prison employees.
Defense lawyer Simon K. Moody said Buari was not a typical drug offender. He asked Fandrich to sentence her at the most to weekends in jail.
“This is an isolated event in an exemplary life,” he said.
Buari broke down in tears when asked if she had anything to say. Putting aside a prepared statement, she told Fandrich she had fallen victim to drug use and regretted her mistake.
“This is not me,” she said, sobbing. “This is not my character. ... I’m not a criminal. I made a mistake.”
She vowed that she would do the right thing in the future.
Also in court Tuesday, Eric Brown, 22, of 33 N. Division St., Auburn, was sentenced to six months in the county jail as part of a 10-year sentence of probation for distributing by e-mail a video of a minor having sex with an adult.
Brown was ordered to stay away from schools, parks, playgrounds and other places where children are likely to gather. He pleaded guilty to promotion of a sexual performance by a child. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 supplemental sex victim fee, a $270 court surcharge, $50 sex offender registration fee and $50 DNA fee.
He will be back in court Sept. 9 for a sex-offender risk assessment. Sex offenders are classified as Level 1, 2 or 3 offenders, depending on the court’s determination of the likelihood they will commit a new sex offense.
In other cases Tuesday:
Christopher Michael Verdi, 25, of 65 E. Genesee St., Apt. 2, Auburn, pleaded guilty to rape, admitting he had sex with a 15-year-old female in August at a location on Mattie Street. In a negotiated plea agreement, Verdi will be sentenced to no more than a term of shock probation, which calls for him to serve up to six months in county jail as part of a five-year term of probation. He remained free on $2,500 cash bail and will be sentenced Sept. 9.
Gary Bell, 53, of 1 Madison Ave., Apt. 1, Auburn, was sentenced to five years’ probation with the first six months in the county jail. He was also ordered to pay a $270 surcharge and $50 DNA fee. He was convicted to criminal possession of marijuana and criminal possession of a controlled substance. Police said he had 19 ounces of marijuana and 90 Oxycontin pills.
Louis McCartha, 32, of 65 Franklin St., Auburn, pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a controlled substance, admitting he sold cocaine to a police informant in May. He will be sentenced Sept. 2.
Charles Short, 24, of 280 Wheat St., Cayuga, pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of a personal injury accident in July 2007. He will be sentenced Sept. 9.
Duane Smith, 46, of 44 Fitch Ave., Auburn, was sentenced to 31/2 years in state prison for selling cocaine to a police informant. He was also ordered to pay a $270 surcharge and $50 DNA fee.
Frank Walters, 28, of 22 Franklin St., Auburn, was sentenced to two to four years for burglary and possession of stolen property. He was also ordered to pay $4,450 restitution and a $50 DNA fee.
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