ITHACA, N.Y. — A man pleaded guilty Friday afternoon to stealing tips from a Collegetown bar and damaging property at the Ithaca Police Department on Halloween.
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Dyqan Norman, 21, admitted in Ithaca City Court to stealing about $75 from a tip jar at Loco Cantina on Stewart Avenue and — when taken into custody and transported to Ithaca Police Department Headquarters — smashed in a wall and damaged a desk.
He was convicted of misdemeanors for petit larceny and fourth-degree criminal mischief as part of a plea deal to land him in jail for no longer than 30-45 days in jail.
In court, officials said Norman stole the cash, punched a man and left the bar.
When Norman was taken into custody at a different location, police said they found cocaine in his pocket. While originally charged with a felony for the drug possession, the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor Friday afternoon, per the request of the district attorney’s office.
While in custody, Norman also damaged drywall at the police department and dented a desk leg when he kicked it.
Court records state that Norman was originally charged with misdemeanors for two counts of fourth-degree criminal mischief, petit larceny, third-degree criminal tampering, second-degree harassment, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
Norman is also on probation for two youthful felony charges until 2017 in the Bronx, Judge Scott Miller said.
“This plea could have adverse effects in Bronx County,” Miller told the defendant, noting that he could be sentenced to one and a third to four years in state prison for violating his probation.
Norman said he understood the consequences of the plea and agreed to the terms of the deal.
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