Saturday News Briefing
Written by WBTA STAFF on February 17, 2018
Batavia Sex Offender attempts to back out of sentencing deal.
A pattern of delay tactics and appeal attempts is becoming evident in the numerous cases brought against convicted child sex predator Marlek Holmes.
Holmes was scheduled to appear in Genesee County Court yesterday after sending a letter to appeals attorney Timothy Murphey stating that he had changed his mind on the sentencing deal that capped his sentence to 25 years satisfying all remaining charges in Genesee County.
Holmes was transported from the Correctional Facility in Auburn to Batavia where after 30 minutes talking with attorneys, Holmes decided to stick with the original deal.
District Attorney Lawrence Friedman said it’s possible Holmes could back out on the agreement again, however he will not be afforded a better deal.
Friedman said he would pursue convictions on remaining sex offender violation charges and a persistent violent felony offender status for Holmes that would potentially lock him up for life.
Henrietta Swim Coach cat-fished by Police pretending to be teen girl.
37 Matthew Lincoln of Henrietta was arrested and charged by criminal complaint with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity.
Lincoln who was the head coach for the Golden Comets Swim Club was accused of engaging in sexually explicit online conversations with a child believed to be 16 years old.
After allegedly sending nude pictures of himself to the child he set up a meeting to engage in sexual activity.
Unbeknownst to Lincoln, the child was actually an undercover Brighton Police Investigator and he was arrested.
The charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years, a maximum of life, a $250,000 fine, or both.
An Erie County contractor will spend weekends in jail for the next four months.
24 year old Mathew Hardesty of Blasdell was accused of taking money to build a fence for a Batavia customer and never doing the job.
Hardesty made restitution but only after facing a longer jail term.
D-A Lawrence Friedman described Hardesty as a con-artist.
St. Paul Lutheran Church in Batavia is holding special Active Shooter training for leaders of local congregations.
St. Paul Pastor Allen Werk says the training will address what individuals and groups can do to be prepared for the worst.
He said one issue the training will not address is whether parishioners are safer with guns in church
The training will be offered this morning at 10 at St. Paul’s Church on Washington Avenue.
