Two plead guilty in St. Johnsville assault case

FONDA - Two of the three men accused of attacking a man at his home in St. Johnsville pleaded guilty to assault charges Wednesday in Montgomery County Court, according to District Attorney James "Jed" Conboy's office.

Nicholas A. Bennett, 24, of 12 Hough St., and Laurence A. Holloway, 22, of 71 W. Main St., both pleaded to second-degree assault.

The two men, along with Carl J. O'Brien, 35, of 44 Church St. in Richfield Springs, are accused of breaking into the home of Alfred L. Dygert, 32, of 18A Lion Ave., on Sept. 26 after an incident at the Central Hotel bar at 12 E. Main St.

Dygert suffered a broken nose, a fractured cheekbone and lacerations that required more than 30 surgical staples and stitches and several days of hospitalization.

Dygert later was charged with forcible touching in connection with an incident that occurred on the same day as the assault.

The charges against O'Brien and Dygert still are pending.

Also in Montgomery County Court:

Francisco J. Peguero, 31, of 6 Voorhees St., Amsterdam, was sentenced to one to three years in state prison on Monday.

He pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal contempt for violating an order of protection on June 22. Peguero admitted to punching an ex-girlfriend and then following her to her residence and verbally abusing her.

Terry L. Self, 21, who is listed as homeless, was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision for second-degree arson and two to four years in prison for first-degree reckless endangerment. The terms are to be served concurrently.

Self was convicted by a jury in September for setting fire to a porch in March 2008 in Amsterdam.

Preston J. Beverly, 42, of 84 Union St., was sentenced Monday to up to four years in state prison and two years of post-release supervision. He must turn over $1,489 in cash for fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Beverly was found to be in possession of 37 bags of heroin and more than $1,000 cash at an Amsterdam High School football game in October.

Victor M. Roman, 23, of 77 Bunn St., Amsterdam, was sentenced Wednesday to six months in county jail, five years of probation and a $270 surcharge for second-degree assault.

Roman pleaded guilty in July to injuring a corrections officer at the jail in late March.