CATTARAUGUS COUNTY COURT
Probation ordered in theft of stepdaughter’s trust fund
LITTLE VALLEY — A 74-year old Salamanca man who stole his stepdaughter’s trust account was sentenced Monday in Cattaraugus County Court to five years on probation.
William Lisman, formerly of East State Street, was sentenced by Judge Larry M. Himelein, who also ordered Lisman to serve 50 hours of community service and pay restitution.
Lisman pleaded guilty Aug. 4 to fourth-degree grand larceny.
District Attorney Edward M. Sharkey said Lisman, a retired state Department of Transportation worker, stole money between Aug. 25, 2006, and last Dec. 13 from his 58-year-old stepdaughter’s special-needs bank account, where he was listed as trustee.
Court records indicate that the woman was awarded $40,000 from a car accident several years ago and that Lisman took nearly all the money for his own use.
The woman, who is disabled, now lives in an Allegany nursing home. Lisman’s wife is in a Salamanca nursing home and Lisman had relocated to Westfield.
There were several more sentencings on Monday:
• Leslie R. John, 33, of Salamanca, was sentenced to five years in prison for her conviction on a count of thirddegree criminal possession of a controlled substance, crack cocaine, Dec. 7 in the City of Salamanca.
John must serve sixth-sevenths of her sentence before she is eligible for parole, Sharkey said. It will be followed by three years of post-release supervision.
• Patricia H. Gray, 43, of Olean, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, Feb. 15 in the City of Olean. She was then sentenced to serve one year in state prison.
Gray also was sentenced to two years in prison for her guilty plea to third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, cocaine, Sept. 26 in Olean.
Both sentences are to be served concurrently, and will be followed by three years of post-release supervision.
•Chauntell M. Nichols, 20, was sentenced to five months in jail and 10 years of probation for her conviction on a count of first-degree attempted sexual abuse May 9 in the Town of Hinsdale involving a person under age 11.
•Mark J. Smith, 39, of Machias, was sentenced to a three-year conditional discharge and must pay restitution for his guilty plea to third-degree criminal mischief May 1 in the Town of Machias involving damages of more than $250 to another person’s property.
Two others will be sentenced Nov. 10:
•Deon R. Rogers, 26, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty to fourth-degree attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, cocaine, Dec. 13 in Olean.
• Samantha Wright, 32, of Olean, pleaded guilty to third-degree attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance, crack cocaine, Oct. 31 in Olean.
On Dec. 15, Himelein is to sentence Joshua J. Devlieger, 17, of Forestville, who pleaded guilty to thirddegree attempted burglary of a barn June 5 in the Town of Perrysburg. Devlieger also pleaded guilty to second-degree offering a false instrument for filing June 25 in the Village of Little Valley while being taken into custody by police.
