Wednesday News Brief

MISSING 8-YEAR-OLD FOUND SAFE AFTER LARGE LE ROY SEARCH

An 8-year-old child with special needs was found safe Monday night after walking away from a home in Le Roy.
Police say the child was reported missing around 7 p.m., prompting an immediate search as temperatures dropped and darkness complicated the effort.
Le Roy Police established a command post and recalled five off-duty officers, who returned to duty within about 20 minutes.
The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, New York State Police, Genesee County Emergency Management and Le Roy Fire Department also responded or were called in to assist.
Search resources included a State Police bloodhound, drones, door-to-door checks, crews searching near Oatka Creek and a fire department UTV.
Police say the child was located and safely reunited with family after being away from home for roughly 40 minutes.
Several additional resources were still on the way when the child was found.
Le Roy Police praised the rapid response and cooperation among agencies and community members involved in the search.

FORMER BATAVIA MIDDLE SCHOOL EMPLOYEE CHARGED WITH PUBLIC LEWDNESS

A former Batavia Middle School employee is facing a public lewdness charge following an incident on school property late last month.
Batavia Police say 23-year-old Tyler P. Fouquet of Batavia was arrested October 28th after allegedly performing what police described as a lewd act on school grounds after students had been dismissed for the day.
Fouquet was a member of the middle school custodial staff.
Superintendent Jason Smith later notified families that Fouquet is no longer employed by the Batavia City School District.
Smith said district administrators investigated the matter after becoming aware of it and stressed that no students were involved.
The district says student safety and well-being remain its highest priority.
Police have not released additional details about the alleged incident.
Fouquet is scheduled to appear in Batavia City Court at a later date.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

GENESEE COUNTY YMCA EXPANDS ACCESSIBILITY WITH NEW GRANT

The Genesee County YMCA has received an 8-thousand-dollar grant from the Genesee County Health Department to improve accessibility and inclusion for children and young adults with special health care needs.
The funding helped create a dedicated sensory room designed to provide a quiet space for children who need to decompress or regulate sensory needs.
The YMCA also purchased adaptive sports equipment for programs including tumbling, floor hockey and other recreational activities.
Additional improvements include a crash mat in the Child Watch area and sensory-friendly equipment in classrooms.
The grant supports community projects serving children and young adults up to age 21.

RESTITUTION ORDERED IN DEADLY THRUWAY CRASH CASE

The man convicted in connection with the August 2025 Thruway crash that killed five people has been ordered to pay more than 57-thousand dollars in restitution.
Genesee County Court Judge Melissa Lightcap Cianfrini ordered Bin Shao to pay six recipients a combined 54-thousand-673 dollars, plus a five-percent collection surcharge.
Shao pleaded guilty in July to five counts of criminally negligent homicide.
He was previously sentenced to time served, five years of shock probation and 500 hours of community service.
Restitution payments are scheduled to begin in February at 250 dollars per month, subject to review by the court.

THREE MEN ACCUSED IN IRAN-BACKED TERROR PLOT

U.S. prosecutors have charged three men with helping coordinate a series of alleged Iran-backed terror plots targeting Jewish communities and a British military base used by American forces.
Authorities say the defendants were connected to plans for nearly 20 attacks in Europe and the United States, including a September plot involving RAF Fairford in England.
One suspect, Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi, is already in U.S. custody. Prosecutors say he continued directing activity from jail using coded communications.
The indictment alleges the men worked through a network tied to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Kata’ib Hizballah.
Five men were detained near RAF Fairford in September after suspicious vans were spotted traveling toward the base.
Iran has denied involvement.
All charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

U.S. INFLATION RUNS HOTTER THAN EXPECTED IN OCTOBER

Inflation came in higher than economists expected last month, adding pressure on the Federal Reserve ahead of its December meeting.
The Consumer Price Index rose 4-tenths of a percent from September to October, while core prices — excluding food and energy — increased 3-tenths. Both readings were slightly above forecasts.
Food prices climbed half a percent, while energy costs rose 7-tenths. Shelter costs were also higher.
The government did not calculate a year-over-year inflation rate because last year’s federal shutdown prevented collection of October 2025 data.
The hotter report increases expectations that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates again next month as it continues trying to push inflation back toward its 2-percent target.