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South Dayton man facing prison after enticement, sex with girl, 14

A South Dayton man has pleaded guilty to enticement and having sex with a 14-year-old girl. U.S. Attorney Michael DiGiacomo announced Thursday that Ronald A. Howard, 59, entered the plea before U.S. District Judge John L. Sinatra, Jr. It carries a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life. Between March 16 and April 10, 2024, Howard, then 57-years-old, communicated via text messaging and Snapchat with a 14-year-old female, during which the two engaged in sexual conversation and discussed meeting to engage in sexual activity. Howard knew the victim was 14. ...

County sex offender ruling upheld

A state appeals court has unanimously upheld the county’s handling of a 2025 Sex Offender Registration Act case. Jacob Feldt had appealed the county’s determination that he is a Level 2 risk under the state Sex Offender Registration Act. Feldt was originally charged in 2023 by Lakewood-Busti Police and then indicted 2024 in a nine-count indictment against a south county man accused of committing sexual acts against a child. Feldt was convicted of two felony counts in Chautauqua County Court: third-degree rape - oral sexual contact with a person incapable of consent with a person ...

Dunkin’ Donuts construction begins in Falconer

After a temporary delay while project financing was finalized, remodeling has begun on a Dunkin’ Donuts location in the village of Falconer. According to minutes from the Falconer Village Board’s June meeting, work had begun on the project, while those driving down West Main Street see a ...

Lawmaker proposes visiting procedure for prisons, jails

A state lawmaker wants the state to establish visiting procedures for state and local jails as well as visiting rights for visitors and those in the jails. Assemblywoman Phara Souffrant Forrest, D-Brooklyn, has introduced legislation (A.11507) that would standardize procedures around the ...

Mall owner files new assessment challenge

LAKEWOOD - The Chautauqua Mall is, again, challenging its tax assessment. On Friday, Chautauqua Mall Realty Holding LLC filed an Article 7 filing in the state Supreme Court in Mayville asking the court to review the assessment of the three parcels that make up the Chautauqua Mall property - ...