County court wrapping up a number of criminal cases

NORWICH – Chenango County Court convened Monday and heard a number of case and accepted several guilty pleas.

Richard J. Glassmire, 43, Davenport, pleaded guilty to first degree sexual abuse. He was sentenced to 10 years of probation for inappropriately touching the 9-year-old victim while she was supposed to be asleep. Glassmire admitted in court that he had been drinking and said he was sorry. Public Defender Alan Gordon reported to the court that although Glassmire was determined to be competent, he was receiving treatment for “mental challenges.”

District Attorney Joseph McBride said, “I understand the defendant has certain mental issues. If the defense thinks he was incapable of understanding what he did, that’s one thing, but otherwise he’s a man with mental problems touching little girls.”

Glassmire was ordered to pay $1,370 in court fees and fines then released.

Anthony Lazzaro of New Jersey will be allowed to plead guilty to 3rd degree grand larceny as a misdemeanor instead as a felony provided he can pay back the $34,000 he allegedly stole from the Department of Social Services. Lazzaro appeared in court with $12,500 and asked the court for an additional 90 days to return the rest. The DA had no objection and the court agreed. He is scheduled to appear back in court April 14 at 11 a.m. with the remainder of the amount owed.

Lawanda I. Vanco, 37, of Broome County, appeared in court and pleaded guilty to first degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and misdemeanor DWI. She has two prior driving while ability impaired (DWAI) convictions dating back to 2000 and 2004. She was released and sentence to five years probation to be handled by the Broome County Department of Probation. She had her license revoked and was ordered to attend mandatory alcohol and drug treatment where she will face periodic testing. Vanco told the judge she needed to change her environment and that she was sorry. “People, places and things,” repeated County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan. Vanco was also ordered to pay $1,800 in court fees and fines.