ThisIsRochester.com: Crime

Arrest made in fatal stabbing

April 7, 2019 -- A 27-year-old Greece resident was arrested about 12 hours after Cherylann Jackson, 23, was found stabbed to death in her apartment on the 1600 block of North Clinton Avenue.

Police said Ronald Pilgrim Jr. was arrested on Central Avenue without incident and is charged with second degree murder.

Shots fired while Gates police make arrests at defunct hotel

April 7, 2019 -- Police were taking two women into custody for disorderly conduct at a defunct Gates hotel complex when gun shots erupted in another part of the parking lot. Minor fights broke out at the Wheels Up Bar while Gates Police, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Rochester Police Department were monitoring the Ramada Plaza Rochester Airport Hotel at 911 Brooks Ave as approximately 500 people were leaving a promoted party. Police were taking two women involved in the fights into custody when the gunfire began.

No one was struck by the gunfire, and police believe that two weapons were involved. A gray SUV fleeing the scene eluded police on Brooks Avenue near Genesee Park Boulevard.

The two women arrested for disorderly conduct were identified as Aishah Stewart, 19, and Laterra Coles, 22. They were issued appearance tickets and released.

The Ramada Plaza Rochester Airport Hotel has been in foreclosure since shortly after its owner stopped making monthly payments to its lender in February 2018, court documents show. The Monroe County Department of Public Health shut down the kitchen, pool and a wing of rooms in June 2018, citing multiple health hazards.

Guilty verdict in September 2018 double homicide in Hamlin

April 5, 2019 -- Mason Earle was found guilty of murder and arson in the September 2018 shooting of two young men on King Street in Hamlin.

Earle faces life behind bars for the murder of Alex Burrow and Bruce Kane, after which he burned the bodies by setting their car on fire.

Prosecutors told the jury Earle killed Burrow over a dispute about money. Kane appeared to be an innocent bystander who was killed because he drove Burrow to a meeting set up by Earle.

Defense lawyers had contended Earle falsely confessed after being pressured by investigators.

Astacio clearned of gun charge by Syracuse jury

April 5, 2019 -- An Onondaga County jury found ousted Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio not guilty of attempted criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon.

Astacio was arrested and charged with a felony in April 2018 after being accused of trying to purchase a shotgun at Dick's Sporting Goods in Henrietta.

A change of venue motion in Rochester was granted due to publicity surrounding previous cases against Astacio and reporting about her. Astacio began to sob as the jury was polled individually for their verdicts.

Prosecutors said terms of her probation stemming from a previous DWI conviction prohibited her from trying to purchase a weapon. The jury ultimately decided Astacio's actions did not reach the point of attempting to make the purchase.

Astacio was removed from the Rochester City Court bench last year. She remains on probation following the conviction after her February 2016 DWI arrest.

Rochester officials say crime rate at 39-year low

April 4, 2019 -- Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and interim Police Chief Mark Simmons reported that the city's crime rate in 2018 was at its lowest point in at least 39 years.

Simmons said 21 of 25 homicide investigations last year concluded with arrests and that robberies in 2018 were at their lowest level since 1985.

Third arrest made in connection with Greece man's death

April 3, 2019 -- An Onondaga County man has become the third person arrested in connection with the death of 43-year-old Greece resident Maximillian Cook, who was found dead last month in Syracuse.

Lamor Britton, 24, of Syracuse is charged with tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of a weapon, concealment of a human corpse and hindering of prosecution, police said.

Britton was remanded to the Onondaga County Jail.

Aries Ash and Charisse Walton, both of North Rose in Wayne County, had previousy been charged with homicide. Police allege Britton knew that Ash had murdered Cook and served as a lookout while Cook's body was moved from the trunk of a car to a Syracuse home, dismembered and then transported to another location.

Prosecutors also accuse Britton of wiping down the interior of the car to eliminate physical evidence and disposing of gloves used by Ash.

Sculpture artist sentenced on trafficking conspiracy charge

April 2, 2019 -- A man whose sculptured artworks on display from Hawaii to New York City have received rave reviews was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a trafficking conspiracy in which he shipped large amounts of marijuana from the West Coast to his brother in New York City.

Alexander Green, 33, had been arrested in 2014 with others who helped spread the marijuana across the region. In the interim, Green continued work on his interactive illuminated scuptures, including one in Rochester's East End. His 30-feet tall sculpture crafted from stainless steel and nearly 100,000 LED lights was featured last year on East Avenue on the grounds of Christ Church.

The Green brothers pleaded guilty in October 2018 to the trafficking conspiracy and to laundering proceeds from the operation. Charles Green, 30, had previously been sentenced to 27 months in prison.

Police chase ends in homicide charges

March 26, 2019 -- Aries Ash, 30, and Charisse Walton, 36, both of North Rose in Wayne County, are charged with second-degree murder after a missing man was found dead at a vacant Syracuse home.

Ash and Walton were taken into custody following a Rochester Police department chase that began with a traffic stop. The pursuit ended on Clifford Avenue when the vehicle collided with a garbage truck.

The victim's name has not yet been released.

Irondequoit police investigating death in home

March 22, 2019 --Irondequoit police have identified a woman found dead in her home March 20 as Ingeborg Morley, 86, the sole occupant of the house.

Police responded to 651 Lakeshore Blvd. and found Morley unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene and police labeled the death was suspicious.

Driver in fatal vehicle crash indicted

March 6, 2019 -- A driver who police say was behind the wheel Feb. 2 in a fatal crash of a Lyft driver in Rochester has been indicted by a grand jury.

Mary Singhavong, 32, three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, three counts of aggravated vehicular assault, second degree assault, DWI, DWAI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle following the crash at Norton Street and Hudson Avenue that killed Eric Jones of Greece.

Police say Singhavong's Honda CRV ran a red light, hitting Jones' vehicle and then crashing into two others at the intersection.

Jones' passenger was hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening injuries. A passenger in Singhavong's vehicle was also seriously injured.

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	A summary of noteworthy crime news in Greater Rochester
	More from early 2019 Arrest made in fatal stabbing April 7, 2019 -- A 27-year-old Greece resident was arrested about 12 hours after Cherylann Jackson, 23, was found stabbed to death in her apartment on the 1600 block of North Clinton Avenue. Police said Ronald Pilgrim Jr. was arrested on Central Avenue without incident and is charged with second degree murder. Shots fired while Gates police make arrests at defunct hotel April 7, 2019 -- Police were taking two women into custody for disorderly conduct at a defunct Gates hotel complex when gun shots erupted in another part of the parking lot. Minor fights broke out at the Wheels Up Bar while Gates Police, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Rochester Police Department were monitoring the Ramada Plaza Rochester Airport Hotel at 911 Brooks Ave as approximately 500 people were leaving a promoted party. Police were taking two women involved in the fights into custody when the gunfire began. No one was struck by the gunfire, and police believe that two weapons were involved. A gray SUV fleeing the scene eluded police on Brooks Avenue near Genesee Park Boulevard. The two women arrested for disorderly conduct were identified as Aishah Stewart, 19, and Laterra Coles, 22. They were issued appearance tickets and released. The Ramada Plaza Rochester Airport Hotel has been in foreclosure since shortly after its owner stopped making monthly payments to its lender in February 2018, court documents show. The Monroe County Department of Public Health shut down the kitchen, pool and a wing of rooms in June 2018, citing multiple health hazards. Guilty verdict in September 2018 double homicide in Hamlin April 5, 2019 -- Mason Earle was found guilty of murder and arson in the September 2018 shooting of two young men on King Street in Hamlin. Earle faces life behind bars for the murder of Alex Burrow and Bruce Kane, after which he burned the bodies by setting their car on fire. Prosecutors told the jury Earle killed Burrow over a dispute about money. Kane appeared to be an innocent bystander who was killed because he drove Burrow to a meeting set up by Earle. Defense lawyers had contended Earle falsely confessed after being pressured by investigators. Astacio clearned of gun charge by Syracuse jury April 5, 2019 -- An Onondaga County jury found ousted Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio not guilty of attempted criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon. Astacio was arrested and charged with a felony in April 2018 after being accused of trying to purchase a shotgun at Dick's Sporting Goods in Henrietta. A change of venue motion in Rochester was granted due to publicity surrounding previous cases against Astacio and reporting about her. Astacio began to sob as the jury was polled individually for their verdicts. Prosecutors said terms of her probation stemming from a previous DWI conviction prohibited her from trying to purchase a weapon. The jury ultimately decided Astacio's actions did not reach the point of attempting to make the purchase. Astacio was removed from the Rochester City Court bench last year. She remains on probation following the conviction after her February 2016 DWI arrest. Rochester officials say crime rate at 39-year low April 4, 2019 -- Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren and interim Police Chief Mark Simmons reported that the city's crime rate in 2018 was at its lowest point in at least 39 years. Simmons said 21 of 25 homicide investigations last year concluded with arrests and that robberies in 2018 were at their lowest level since 1985. Third arrest made in connection with Greece man's death April 3, 2019 -- An Onondaga County man has become the third person arrested in connection with the death of 43-year-old Greece resident Maximillian Cook, who was found dead last month in Syracuse. Lamor Britton, 24, of Syracuse is charged with tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of a weapon, concealment of a human corpse and hindering of prosecution, police said. Britton was remanded to the Onondaga County Jail. Aries Ash and Charisse Walton, both of North Rose in Wayne County, had previousy been charged with homicide. Police allege Britton knew that Ash had murdered Cook and served as a lookout while Cook's body was moved from the trunk of a car to a Syracuse home, dismembered and then transported to another location. Prosecutors also accuse Britton of wiping down the interior of the car to eliminate physical evidence and disposing of gloves used by Ash. Sculpture artist sentenced on trafficking conspiracy charge April 2, 2019 -- A man whose sculptured artworks on display from Hawaii to New York City have received rave reviews was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a trafficking conspiracy in which he shipped large amounts of marijuana from the West Coast to his brother in New York City. Alexander Green, 33, had been arrested in 2014 with others who helped spread the marijuana across the region. In the interim, Green continued work on his interactive illuminated scuptures, including one in Rochester's East End. His 30-feet tall sculpture crafted from stainless steel and nearly 100,000 LED lights was featured last year on East Avenue on the grounds of Christ Church. The Green brothers pleaded guilty in October 2018 to the trafficking conspiracy and to laundering proceeds from the operation. Charles Green, 30, had previously been sentenced to 27 months in prison. Police chase ends in homicide charges March 26, 2019 -- Aries Ash, 30, and Charisse Walton, 36, both of North Rose in Wayne County, are charged with second-degree murder after a missing man was found dead at a vacant Syracuse home. Ash and Walton were taken into custody following a Rochester Police department chase that began with a traffic stop. The pursuit ended on Clifford Avenue when the vehicle collided with a garbage truck. The victim's name has not yet been released. Irondequoit police investigating death in home March 22, 2019 --Irondequoit police have identified a woman found dead in her home March 20 as Ingeborg Morley, 86, the sole occupant of the house. Police responded to 651 Lakeshore Blvd. and found Morley unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene and police labeled the death was suspicious. Driver in fatal vehicle crash indicted March 6, 2019 -- A driver who police say was behind the wheel Feb. 2 in a fatal crash of a Lyft driver in Rochester has been indicted by a grand jury. Mary Singhavong, 32, three counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, second-degree manslaughter, three counts of aggravated vehicular assault, second degree assault, DWI, DWAI and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle following the crash at Norton Street and Hudson Avenue that killed Eric Jones of Greece. Police say Singhavong's Honda CRV ran a red light, hitting Jones' vehicle and then crashing into two others at the intersection. Jones' passenger was hospitalized with serious but not life-threatening injuries. A passenger in Singhavong's vehicle was also seriously injured. [ LOOK BACK AT OLDER STORIES ]