A 29-year-old man from Alfred is headed to state prison after he stole from an elderly person. The crime occurred in 2015 in the Village of Almond. In Allegany County court today, a judge sentenced Josiah D. Gardner to serve seven years in prison. In February, a jury convicted Gardner of felony burglary. The Allegany County District Attorney's Office released this statement: "The burglary occurred at the home of an elderly woman who,
due to health problems, was away from the home and had been hospitalized and
then confined to a nursing home. The defendant and a nephew of the woman broke
into her home and stole a television, cash, a checkbook and lockbox containing
all of the woman's personal papers. Gardner cashed 7 of the checks, which he
made out to himself, pawned the television and was later found in possession of
the lockbox and papers."
In addition, Judge Thomas Brown ordered Gardner to serve five years post release supervision and must make restitution in the amount of $1,155. The case was prosecuted my Assistant District Attorney Tom Fuoco. Gardner was represented by Paul DiCola.
