Auburn, NY - District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci announced Walter LEONARD, 45, of Auburn, New York, pled guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Armed Violent Felony, following the execution of a search warrant in August of 2024. Law enforcement recovered a loaded .380 caliber pistol and more than ½ ounce of cocaine at defendant’s residence. LEONARD is scheduled to be sentenced in January of 2025 before the Hon. J. Budelmann to 7 years determinate followed by 5 years of post-release supervision; LEONARD is currently released on bail over the People’s objection.
Overly DELOACH, 34, of Auburn, New York pled guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Armed Violent Felony, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, a Class A-I Felony, following the execution of a search warrant in August of 2024. During the execution of the warrant at his residence, police recovered more than 8 ounces of cocaine, along with a loaded 9mm pistol. DELOACH is scheduled to be sentenced before the Hon. Thomas G. Leone in December of 2024 to 8 years determinate, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision on each count which will run concurrently by operation of law. DELOACH is currently remanded to the custody of the Sheriff’s Office.
Paul CURRIER, 39, of Auburn, New York pled guilty to one count of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class D Armed Violent Felony. CURRIER was found to be in possession of a loaded .380 caliber pistol and cocaine during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. He is scheduled to be sentenced in January of 2025 before Hon. J. Budelmann and faces 6 years determinate, followed by 5 years of post-release supervision; CURRIER is currently released on bail over the People’s objection.
All three defendants were arrested following an investigation into the sale, distribution, and possession of narcotic drugs by members of the Finger Lakes Drug Task Force.
Lastly, Kahlila BENDER-BAKER, 37, of Syracuse, New York was sentenced to 5 years determinate followed by 5 years of post-release supervision on the charge of Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class C Violent Felony, before the Hon. Thomas G. Leone in November of 2024. BENDER-BAKER previously pled guilty in December of 2023 for her role in stealing merchandise from Kohl’s Department store. During the larceny, BENDER-BAKER threatened a store employee with a taser. She was scheduled for her original sentencing in March of 2023, but failed to appear for nearly a year. A warrant was issued for her arrest by the Court; police located BENDER-BAKER in Syracuse in October of 2024.
These cases were prosecuted by District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci.
