Tuesday News Brief
Written by Pete Zehler on February 10, 2026
Genesee County arrests include assault, false reporting, and probation drug charges
Several arrests across Genesee County over the past week involved violent incidents, false emergency calls, and drug offenses.
Aavion Bethel, 21, of Middlebury, is charged with assault 3rd degree and criminal mischief following a reported domestic incident in Bethany on February 8. Investigators say Bethel slammed a female victim’s head into a vehicle window, causing injury, and damaged her car. He was held at the Genesee County Jail pending arraignment.
Jose Martinez, 25, of Rochester, is charged with falsely reporting an incident, trespass, harassment, and criminal solicitation after allegedly walking onto a Bergen property and asking the homeowner to call 911 to trigger a police response. He was also allegedly found with a fake firearm and was jailed pending arraignment.
In Batavia, Edmund Sobresky III, 56, faces drug and paraphernalia charges after a probation search allegedly uncovered cocaine and a digital scale.
Brian Durney, 30, of Batavia, is charged with DWI and obstructing governmental administration after allegedly leading police on a low-speed pursuit and resisting arrest.
All charges are accusations. Defendants are presumed innocent.
Batavia winterguard earns season-high scores at home show
Batavia’s winterguard teams turned in strong performances Saturday at a competition hosted at Batavia High School. The cadet team placed 4th, while the IA team finished 2nd, with both groups earning their highest scores of the season.
The IA team performed to “Slipping Through My Fingers” from Mamma Mia.
Next up are regional trips to Philadelphia on Feb. 20 and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on March 20, with local stops in Lancaster and Medina before the season finale March 28 at Gates-Chili.
Maxwell pleads the Fifth as lawmakers probe Epstein ties
Lawmakers attempted Monday to question Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend and confidante of Jeffrey Epstein, but she refused to answer, invoking her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year federal sentence for sex trafficking, appeared by video from a Texas prison camp as Congress ramps up its investigation into how Epstein was able to sexually abuse underage girls for years without being stopped.
The deposition came the same day the Department of Justice began allowing members of Congress to review more than 3 million unredacted Epstein-related files. Lawmakers can review the records in person with 24 hours notice, but cannot bring staff or make electronic copies.
Committee leaders from both parties called Maxwell’s refusal to testify disappointing, while Democrats argued she was attempting to position herself for potential clemency as she continues efforts to overturn her conviction.
Teen killed in snowmobile crash in Town of Warsaw
State Police say a 17-year-old from Varysburg was killed Sunday afternoon in a snowmobile crash on a private trail off Wilder Road in the Town of Warsaw.
Troopers responded around 12:12 p.m. and determined a 2012 Ski-Doo traveling south on a marked trail lost control and struck a pile of logs, ejecting the operator, Steven J. Gregorie.
A 16-year-old friend riding behind him on a 2015 Arctic Cat also lost control, left the trail, and struck the same log pile. That snowmobile came to rest on Gregorie.
Uninvolved riders called 911 and helped at the scene. Gregorie was taken to Wyoming County Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy is scheduled through the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The 16-year-old suffered minor injuries. State Police say there are no signs of foul play.
Vance makes historic visit to Armenia, pushes peace and energy deal
Vice President JD Vance landed in Armenia Monday, becoming the first sitting U.S. vice president or president to visit the country, as the Trump administration works to advance a peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Vance and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed an agreement to move forward talks on a civil nuclear energy deal. Vance also said the U.S. is ready to invest in Armenia’s infrastructure and export advanced technology.
The visit follows a White House deal signed last August aimed at ending decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The treaty has been initialed but not yet ratified.
Vance is scheduled to travel to Azerbaijan next.
Genesee County high school basketball scores from Monday night
In girls action, Elba defeated Kendall 59–47. Oakfield-Alabama rolled past Wheatland-Chili 49–19. Perry earned a 77–30 win over Alexander, while Waterloo edged Notre Dame Batavia 44–42.
On the boys side, it was a close one in Pavilion, as Wayland-Cohocton narrowly topped Pavilion 36–35.
