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Disagreement over $10 bag of marijuana leads to assault with baseball bat

Wolcott man remains hospitalized after Newark incident

Left: Nealy, Right Robinson

Newark Village Police Officer Dan Weegar responded to a report of a disturbance initiated by disagreement over a $10 bag of marijuana at 621 Mason Street on Wednesday night.

According to police, three men, Albert Cavnuto, age 39, of 12499 Ridge Road in Wolcott, along with Charles E. Taft, age 19, of Waterloo and Michael J. Wade, age 25, of 120 Washington Street in Newark appeared at the house belonging to the girlfriend of Gary Nealy, age 37. An argument ensued over a “dime bag of weed” and Nealy came out with two steak knives and threatened the men.

A Michael Robinson, age 33 also came out of the house, armed with an aluminum baseball bat and while on the porch of the residence hit Cavnuto on top of his head causing severe cuts in Cavnuto's skull and knocking him unconscious. Taft and Wade were than attacked with the bat and hit in the arms and shoulders.

Following the attack, Nealy went back in the house and replaced the knives in the kitchen of the home. Robinson went back in the house, hid the bat and ran out the back door. Gary Nealy reportedly came back out on the porch of the house and continued arguing with taft and Wade until police arrived.

Robinson, who came to Newark from Florida recently, reportedly contacted a Lee Nealy in Lyons, where he hid out until the next morning. Robinson turned himself in to Lyons Village police and was then transported to Newark on Thursday.

Gary Nealy was charged with Menacing in the 2nd Degree and Felony Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd Degree. He was arraigned and remanded to jail on $5000 cash/$10,000 bond.

Robinson, who has an extensive police record in Florida, reportedly fled to Newark to avoid charges in Florida. He was charged with Assault in the 2nd Degree and remanded to jail on No Bail. More charges are pending. He gave police a full statement about his role in the incident.

Cavnuto was initially taken to Newark Wayne Hospital, then taken by Mercy Flight Helicopter to Strong Hospital in Rochester where he was initially put on a ventilator, still unconscious for the next day. He began breathing on his own on Thursday.

According to police, Cavnuto's skull is crushed from the top of his head to his eye socket. He will reportedly have to undergo major surgery to remove bone fragments from his brain area. He was awake and talking on Friday.