SUNY Geneseo student accused of giving marijuana to trick-or-treaters
Victoria E. Freile
Staff writer
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(November 7, 2007) — A Batavia man accused of giving marijuana to trick-or-treaters in Geneseo on Halloween is facing felony charges.
Joshua Balduf, 22, a senior at the State University College at Geneseo in Livingston County, was charged with second-degree criminal sale of marijuana, a felony, first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child and first-degree endangering the welfare of a child, both misdemeanors, said Eric Osganian, Geneseo\'s chief of police.
Four teens dressed in costume allegedly knocked on the door of 72 Court St., Apt. 1, about 8 p.m. Oct. 31 and asked for candy.
Balduf told the teens that he did not have any and turned them away, Osganian said.
About an hour later, the teens allegedly returned to the apartment.
Balduf allegedly invited them inside, gave them some marijuana and smoked it with the teens, Osganian said. The teens were between ages 15 and 17.
The father of one of the involved teens alerted Geneseo police of the alleged incident that night, after his daughter returned home, he said.
On Friday, officers executed a search warrant at the apartment and also arrested Balduf\'s roommates — Nicholas Watson, 21, of Orchard Park, Erie County, and Jesse Schulman, 21, of Larchmont, Westchester County, who are also SUNY Geneseo students, Osganian said.
Both were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana, according to Geneseo police.
Watson and Schulman are scheduled to appear in Geneseo Village Court on Dec. 4.
Balduf was arraigned last week in Geneseo Village Court and was remanded to the Livingston County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond, officers said.
Additional charges may be pending.
College officials were notified of the incident, said Tony Hoppa, a spokesman for SUNY Geneseo.
The three involved students, who are all seniors, are subject to campus disciplinary action, Hoppa said.
Osganian said he did not know if Balduf shared marijuana with any other trick-or-treaters on Halloween.
Anyone with any information about drug activity at the Court Street apartment is asked to call Geneseo police at (585) 243-2420.
