Ithaca man pleads guilty to crimes for forged checks

Patrick F. Booker, 30. (Photo Source: Kevin L. Smith/Cortland Voice).

An Ithaca man pleaded guilty for crimes against him involving fraudulent checks in the fall of 2020 on Tuesday morning at the Cortland County Courthouse.

Patrick F. Booker, 30, has been charged with second-degree possession of a forged instrument (a felony), two counts of petit larceny, obstruction of a governmental institution and resisting arrest -- all misdemeanors.

Following the plea, Booker could be sentenced to two-to-four years in prison, said district attorney Patrick Perfetti. Booker’s defense attorney Robert DeMarco is requesting one-and-a-half-to-three years for his sentencing.

Perfetti noted Booker owes $688.22 in restitution, which Booker is planning to pay through a money order. But, DeMarco anticipates Booker could pay up to $728 before his sentencing is finalized.

Booker had the charges laid on him after attempting to forge two checks -- one for $544.22 and the other for $344.22 -- between Sept. 3-5, 2020, at The Gable Inn on Port Watson Street in the city of Cortland.

Booker successfully forged a check on the night of Sept. 3 last year. However on Sept. 5, an employee at The Gable Inn called city police after Booker reportedly attempted to pass a second forged check that night.

An officer requested to speak with Booker outside of The Gable Inn, but Booker decided to flee the scene. City police caught up with Booker and apprehended him in a parking lot not too far from the motel.

Booker’s next date in regards to his jail sentence has yet to be determined.