Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY
Jailhouse GED program gives inmates a chance
BY STEVEN COOK Gazette Reporter

    Edwin Acevedo’s stay at the Schenectady County jail ended Tuesday with his move to state prison.
    But his unusually long stay at the jail was a productive one. It ended with his taking a test for a General Equivalency Diploma.
    Acevedo had been taking advantage of GED classes at the jail, starting off nearly illiterate.
    In an unusual move earlier this month, his teachers, through Acevedo’s attorney, Steve Signore, asked for a brief delay in Acevedo’s sentencing so he could take the fi nal test for his GED.
    “While he was there, he capitalized on it,” Signore said of Acevedo’s time at the jail. “He worked it so much so that his teachers were very impressed. It was important for them to see it through from start to fi nish.”
    Acting Schenectady County Court Judge Richard Giardino granted the request, postponing sentencing from Jan. 6 to Jan. 20. The appearance was rescheduled for just after the test date. Acevedo, 37, won’t know if he passed until later, but he thanked the judge in court Friday for his patience in allowing him to fi nish.
    An estimated 150 to 180 inmates each year take part in GED programs at the jail, according to Jesse Roylance, director of adult and continuing education with the Schenectady City School District. Figures on how many complete the program are harder to come by, Roylance said, as the overall average stay of inmates at the jail is only about 41 days.
    Those who start the program but are then released are directed to the district’s regular GED program at Washington Irving Adult Education Center.
    Upon entering the jail, inmates are screened and offered the program if they need it, Roylance said. Roylance said the program is an important one for the jail.
    “Statistically, as an inmate gets more education, the recidivism rate exponentially reduces,” Roylance said. “Fortunately, the Schenectady County jail is very supportive of education and training.”
    Acevedo’s stay was considerably longer than the average. He entered the jail after his arrest in October 2009, accused of trying to rob a gas station. He didn’t take a plea deal until December 2010, though, pleading guilty to second-degree attempted robbery.
    In exchange for his plea, Acevedo was to receive five years in prison. A sentencing date was set, but then delayed. The case then fell through the cracks, officials said, and Acevedo stayed at the local jail, instead of being sent to prison.
    The mistake wasn’t discovered until late last year, and sentencing was rescheduled for Jan. 6. .....................>>>>........................>>>>..........................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01701&AppName=1

Just don't SWEAR at the prisoners...

This is a prime example of what has contributed to the hole that Schenectady is currently in.  

The article is horrible. Glorifying a career criminal who once robbed a Stewarts using a gun in 2002 and then while on parole did it again in 2010 and then gets his GED while in the county jail. I need to sell my properties and get out of Schenectady.......this is pathetic.  

This article should be called one of the following:

CRIME PAYS
FREE ROOM AND BOARD WHILE YOU EARN YOUR GED
FREE EXTENDED STAYT ON THE TAXPAYERS DIME WHILE YOU GET AN EDUCATION
EDUCATED CRIMINALS LESS LIKELY TO RETURN TO JAIL OR LESS LIKELY TO GET CAUGHT?
CASES FALL THROUGH THE CRACKS LEADING TO INCREASED TAXPAYER COST BUT THE CRIMINAL BENEFITS SO THATS OK!
HOW TO USE THE WORD PRODUCTIVE INCORRECTLY - SEE ARTICLE BELOW


CUSTOMERS CHASE ROBBERY SUSPECT

SCHENECTADY -- Two Stewart's Shops customers chased an armed robber Friday evening after being forced to the floor at gunpoint.

Edwin Acevedo, 27, of Yates Village, is being held in Schenectady County jail without bail on felony charges of armed robbery, attempted kidnapping and reckless endangerment.

Police said that about 7 p.m. Friday, Acevedo pointed a handgun at employees at the Erie Boulevard store and demanded they give him the money in two cash registers. On his way out the door, he allegedly ordered a customer to come with him, then demanded a ride out of the …


Schenectady man charged with failed attempt to rob gas station
Published 03:08 a.m., Friday, July 2, 2010


Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/loca.....79.php#ixzz1kaOQt0bt
SCHENECTADY — A failed bid in broad daylight Thursday by a Schenectady man to rob a gas station has landed him behind bars on a charge of attempted robbery, according to police.
Edwin Acevedo-Pinet, 35, was arraigned and sent to the Schenectady County Jail on $20,000 bail, according to city police spokesman, Sgt. Eric Clifford.
He said that Acevedo-Pinet walked into Singh's Auto Service, a Mobil franchise, just before 12:30 p.m Wednesday and patted his right hip to show where the weapon was concealed after announcing he had a gun.
He ordered the store employee to hand over the cash and then made a futile attempt to grab the register before jumping on his bike and pedaled away toward the nearby Crosstown Plaza, Clifford said. A mechanic gave chase while talking with a police dispatcher as he followed the suspected bandit. The department's anti-crime units arrived immediately and saw a bike and then a male matching the a description of the robber leaving the Yankee Dollar store in the plaza.
He was detained and later identified at Police Headquarters by the gas station clerk, Clifford said. Acevedo-Pinet is on parole from a previous incident.

And which level of government says we need to have this program?  State or Federal, since the county doesn't decide to do anything on its own.

Quoted Text

Acevedo’s stay was considerably longer than the average. He entered the jail after his arrest in October 2009, accused of trying to rob a gas station. He didn’t take a plea deal until December 2010, though, pleading guilty to second-degree attempted robbery.
    In exchange for his plea, Acevedo was to receive five years in prison. A sentencing date was set, but then delayed. The case then fell through the cracks, officials said, and Acevedo stayed at the local jail, instead of being sent to prison.
    The mistake wasn’t discovered until late last year,

So are we to believe that this guy was in the county jail 'unnoticed'  for TWO YEARS?
WTF???

I wish to offer Sheriff Dagostino HEARTY congratulations on ANOTHER spectacular job WELL DONE! He and his family are some of the finest and most qualified people to ever reside in our town and hold office ....  and I can only THANK GOD that he is on OUR SIDE and not derelict in his duties as would be a Nayboob Sheriff from the NNTP/GOP side.      If you think a program as important and as progressive as this one is would be instituted by a Nattering Gopper - my only response would be a deep belly laugh..