Afternoon News Brief

Perry Police tell us that James Bumbarger, a 41-year-old Attica resident, now faces a felony charge. He forced his way into an ex-girlfriend’s residence with an ax; she was not at home, at the time. Bumbarger said he was attempting to retrieve personal property but did not have permission to be at the residence. He was committed to Wyoming County Jail without bail and is to appear August 2 in Village Court. Bumbarger is an ex-con with a history of violence and sex abuse. He pleaded guilty in April 2016 to attempted assault and criminal possession of a weapon after stabbing and seriously injuring a man in November 2015. He was sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison and released from Collins Correctional Facility on parole in July 2017, according to state records. Bumbarger is also a Level 2 sex offender after his conviction in August 2000 of first-degree sexual abuse for an incident involving a 19-year-old female in Warsaw.

 

 

A Pavilion man has been acquitted of all charges in a four-year-old rape case that his attorney says should have never been prosecuted. 42-year-old Jerod Baltz of Pavilion was found not guilty of all charges against him, at the completion of a three-day bench trial with Judge Andrew Lotempio presiding. Baltz was arrested in March 2018 and accused of raping a woman he met at a bar and took home. He was jailed and later indicted but the case stalled in County Court and then again when COVID hit. Baltz had maintained his innocence from the beginning and even rejected a plea deal that would have gotten him probation without any prison time.

 

Candlelight vigils are being held at Tops stores across the region tonight to mark one month since the mass shooting in Buffalo that left 10 people dead and three others injured. The vigils will begin at 7pm in the parking lots of Western NY Tops locations, including Batavia. People who are attending are being asked to bring American flags, luminary bags and candles. On May 14th, Payton Gendron allegedly opened fire at the Tops store on Jefferson Avenue in what officials have called a racially motivated attack.

 

Governor Hochul has signed off on a new package of bills aimed at further protecting abortion rights. The governor says legislation will ensure a woman is never forced into a government-mandated pregnancy. One measure allows New Yorkers to sue people who are trying to limit their reproductive rights while another protects women wanted for having abortions in other states from extradition. The state health department is also required to conduct a study and issue a report on unmet health and resource needs for pregnant people in New York.

 

A popular comedian has announced he’s going to be bringing his current tour to Rochester later this year. John Mulaney is scheduled to perform at the Kodak Center on Wednesday, November 9th. During his career, Mulaney has worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live, had several Netflix specials and won two Emmy awards. Tickets for the show go on sale this Friday through Ticketmaster and will cost at least $55.00 each.

 

A youth baseball coach is facing up to a year behind bars after admitting that he stole roughly $15,000. Prosecutors say 40-year-old Peter Pavlovich took the money between June 2017 and June 2020 while he was a coach for the Town of Clarence Baseball Association. Pavolich pleaded guilty yesterday to a misdemeanor charge and has already paid restitution. He will be sentenced in September.

 

A little bit of good news on the Park Road construction…the $4,000,000 project is reportedly a little ahead of schedule. The east side of Park is ready to move to the next stage of work, which includes milling, stone and repaving. Once completed, the east side of the road will be opened up and work on the west side will begin. It is now expected that the entire project will be completed by mid-October. Photo courtesy of https://www.thebatavian.com/

 

The Rotary Club of Batavia is sponsoring their annual Father’s Day Breakfast this Sunday, June 19 at the Genesee County Airport. Breakfast will be served from 7 until 11 a.m. The menu including eggs, pancakes, sausage, omelets, juice, coffee, tea and milk. Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 4-12. Children 3 and under eat free. Tickets are available from any Batavia Rotary Club member. All proceeds from the breakfast help fund the Batavia Rotary Club’s charitable projects.

 

It’s been about a month since prime contractors were told to proceed with work on the $57.27 million new jail for Genesee County. Foundation work is set to start June 27, which is about two weeks before the date listed on the project manager’s construction guideline. It is expected the new jail will be substantially completed by mid-January, 2024 with final completion set for about two months later, on March 15, 2024.