CATTARAUGUS COUNTY COURT
Eight-year term imposed for drugs
LITTLE VALLEY — An Olean man sentenced in Cattaraugus County Court on Tuesday as a repeat felon for drug possession faces eight years in prison followed by three years of probation.
Elliott I. “Oig” James, 46, was sentenced by Judge Larry M. Himelein for his conviction for fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, on May 17, 2007, in the City of Olean.
District Attorney Edward M. Sharkey said James must serve six-sevenths of his sentence before he is eligible for release.
In another case, Joseph O’Shei, 33, of Franklinville, got six months in jail and five years’ probation for his guilty plea to third-degree robbery, Dec. 13 at the Cattaraugus County Bank in the Village of Franklinville.
Sharkey said he recommended a state prison sentence for O’Shei, who claimed to be homeless when arrested outside the bank. At the time he told police he had run out of money and needed more.
O’Shei was stopped outside the bank by two local men who saw O’Shei taking money inside the bank and jumped him and held him down until police arrived.
According to authorities, O’Shei had been sworn in as an Erie County sheriff’s deputy in April 2007 and dismissed in July 2007. Details were unavailable.
Several others also were sentenced by Himelein:
Steven D. Thomas, 42, of Cassadaga, a repeat felon, drew 1z to three years in prison after being convicted of first-degree criminal contempt. The crime occurred April 6 in the City of Olean, where he violated an order of protection by making repeated phone calls.
Tiffany D. Ferguson, 25, of Buffalo got six months in jail and five years’ probation for her conviction for third-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, crack cocaine, June 1, 2007, in the City of Salamanca.
Scott M. Fuller, 21, of Delevan got five years’ probation, including 100 hours of community service and $2,500 restitution, for for third-degree attempted burglary at Larry Haven’s Scrap Yard in the Town of Yorkshire on July 6, 2007.
Sharyn K. Taylor, 44, of Salamanca got five years’ probation and was fined $4,000 for driving while intoxicated, Feb. 15, 2007, in the City of Salamanca.
David A. Gustafson, 48, of Jamestown got five years’ probation, 100 hours of community service and $3,000 in fines for driving while intoxicated and without a license, Jan. 1 in Salamanca.
