Accused Drug Dealer in Hot Seat After Testimony at Gun Theft Trial

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LIVINGSTON COUNTY – A Dansville woman who was a key witness at the jury trial that convicted drug dealer Christopher Bricks of Grand Larceny and Criminal Possession of a Weapon now stands at the defendant’s table for felony drug possession charges, having been arrested along with her son Joseph, and friend Michael Wallace in early December 2014.

Dawn LaForce, 53, was the victim of the larceny of a shotgun at the hands of Bricks, 29, who says he stole the shotgun from her house as payment for the $300 she owed him for two ‘8-balls,’ of cocaine, totaling 7 grams. LaForce’s testimony as the victim was that she has used cocaine and “had the money and could have paid [Bricks],” but she never said on the record that she bought the cocaine from Bricks. LaForce is charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fifth Degree, with intent to sell, a D felony.

“Today’s defendant can be tomorrow’s victim,” said Livingston County District Attorney Greg McCaffrey. “Unfortunately when people get into complicated relationships with criminals, they can find themselves in both roles.”

DA McCaffrey offered LaForce a sentence of probation, but she with her attorney Edward Degnan has refused the offer and the case was adjourned with a motion date.

LaForce, her son Joseph, 20, and Michael Wallace, 38, were arrested after the execution of a search warrant by Dansville Police in December, whereupon police discovered cocaine, cash, guns, baggies and scales. The investigation into the theft of the shotgun was still ongoing at the time.

Bricks is awaiting sentencing on his new Grand Larceny conviction as a second felony offender.

PHOTO CAPTION: File image.