Two individuals were convicted of felony-level driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses in Cayuga County last month, part of a broader crackdown that led to multiple misdemeanor convictions as well, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci announced the felony DWI convictions of Matthew Bendixen of Port Byron and Joshua Sayre of Auburn. Bendixen was arrested in Conquest, while Sayre was taken into custody in Aurelius.
Felony DWI charges can be brought against individuals with prior DWI convictions within a set timeframe, or in cases involving an intoxicated driver with a child in the vehicle. Those convicted may face up to seven years in prison, depending on the severity of the offense.
In addition to the felony cases, the DA’s office reported nine misdemeanor aggravated DWI convictions:
- Stefanie Alfieri of Auburn, arrested in Auburn
- Callen Space of Locke, arrested in Summerhill
- Andrew Clark of Sterling, arrested in Sterling
- Sheena Busemic of Martville, arrested in Sterling
- Pedro Alonzo Perez of Auburn, arrested in Sennett
- Eric Dailey of Auburn, arrested in Sennett
- Richard Gordon of Auburn, arrested in Aurelius
- Jordan Rhynes of Auburn, arrested in Aurelius
A conviction for misdemeanor aggravated DWI typically leads to up to one year in jail. Offenders may also face fines ranging from $500 to $10,000 and a minimum six-month driver’s license revocation. Additional requirements often include the installation of an ignition interlock device and other penalties depending on the circumstances of each case.
The DA’s office did not provide further comment on individual sentences or court outcomes, but emphasized continued enforcement of impaired driving laws throughout the county.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].