Russ Admits Bank Robbery, Home Burglaries
CANTON - James E. Russ admitted Friday in St. Lawrence County Court that he had robbed the Hermon Community Bank and burglarized several homes around the Canton area over the last nine months.
Mr. Russ, 24, of 2145 County Route 21, Hermon, pleaded guilty before Judge Jerome J. Richards to attempted second-degree robbery and attempted second-degree burglary. He will receive six-year sentences in state prison on both counts when sentenced Sept. 13. The convictions will run concurrently.
The plea agreement covers the July 2009 bank robbery and a DeKalb Junction burglary in February, along with charges of damaging a sprinkler head while in St. Lawrence County jail last August and stealing four rifles from a Crusher Road home in Canton, prosecutors said.
District Attorney Nicole M. Duve said the plea deal also covers six uncharged burglaries from homes in the Canton area. He admitted to authorities in March during a lengthy interview he stole numerous rifles, cash and various metals during the break-ins.
Several of the rifles have been recovered, along with some cash, but a few antique coins remains missing, Ms. Duve said. The copper and brass were sold to a Potsdam scrap dealer.
Prosecutors didn't believe the plea agreement was too generous.
"Six years in state prison is not an insignificant amount of time for someone that hasn't been to state prison before," Ms. Duve said. "This allowed us to complete several investigations, close out several cases and get some closure for those people affected by his actions."
Most of the money taken from the burglaries and bank robbery was used to fuel his Oxycodone habit, Ms. Duve said.
He will need to serve slightly more than five years before being eligible for parole, Ms. Duve said. Mr. Russ will also serve three years post-release supervision and must pay restitution.
Mr. Russ admitted to robbing the Hermon Community Bank on July 21, 2009, taking about $2,400 in cash. He showed a teller a gun tucked into his waistband when he demanded money during the robbery. He never pulled the weapon, but it wasn't recovered, prosecutors said.
He also confessed to breaking into a Risley Road home in DeKalb Junction on Feb. 17 and stealing a safe containing about $2,000 cash and paperwork.
The uncharged burglaries covered in the plea deal include:
* A burglary in mid-November at a County Route 21 home, with him stealing a rifle and gun case.
* A burglary at his father's storage shed, stealing about 200 pounds of copper and brass, on an unknown date. Mr. Russ told the court he believed only about 30 pounds of metal was taken by him.
* Two break-ins at a Crusher Road home in February, with him stealing eight rifles, cash and a chainsaw.
* A January burglary at a different County Route 21 home, with him taking antique coins and cash.
* The theft of $2,000 to $3,000 in coins from a Cousintown Road home in DeKalb Junction on an unknown date.
Judge Richards warned Mr. Russ that he could serve additional prison time should he get into trouble while in county jail awaiting sentencing.
Mr. Russ, who kept his hands in his back jeans pockets during the plea, then offered a "Thank you, your honor" before leaving the courtroom.
