Hammond man refuses plea offer; accused of sexually abusing 2 girls

CANTON — A Hammond man accused of sexually abusing underage girls turned down a plea offer Tuesday in St. Lawrence County Court.

Bruce M. Galloway, 52, of 20 S. Main St., Hammond, faces five counts of first-degree sexual abuse and three counts of first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child. He is accused of sexually abusing two girls under the age of 11 in 2001 and the summer of 2003, along with providing alcohol to them and a third girl in the summer of 2003.

The offer called for him to plead guilty to reduced counts of attempted first-degree sexual abuse. Judge Jerome J. Richards asked him if he wanted to reject the plea offer and go to trial, scheduled to start July 21.

"Yes I do," Galloway said.

He is a Level 1 sexual offender because he pleaded guilty in November 2006 to forcible touching and endangering the welfare of a child. He was accused of rubbing the breasts of a 9-year-old girl in July 2004 in a camping area at Can-Am Motorsports Park in LaFargeville and of providing alcohol to three minors at the camping area.

In other court proceedings:

Rustin K. Wood, 27, of 88 Blue Mountain Road, Oswegatchie, pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree grand larceny. He admitted to stealing cash and a check Aug. 10 from NYSARC at Dodge Pond in the town of Fine. He could be placed on interim probation for one year when sentenced Aug. 17.

Darrell J. Herne Jr., 19, of 43 Brighton St., Massena, pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree burglary. He admitted to breaking into Dee's Bar, 20 Water St., Massena and stealing several bottles of liquor. He could be placed on interim probation for one year when sentenced Aug. 17.

Michael LaRock, 29, of 8656 Route 56, Apt. 7, Norfolk, pleaded guilty to attempted third-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

He admitted to stealing an all-terrain-vehicle in September, valued at more than $3,000, from David P. Felix. He will be sentenced Aug. 17.

Tammy R. King, 32, of 47 Ransom Road, Rooseveltown, was sentenced to three years probation for a conviction to petit larceny, a misdemeanor. She admitted to stealing a 1993 Polaris SLT snowmobile on Feb. 22, 2005.

She had been indicted on a felony fourth-degree grand larceny charge, but prosecutors said a lack of evidence offered to a grand jury on the value of the snowmobile couldn't sustain the charge.

Judge Richards also issued a protection order and transferred her probation supervision to Franklin County.

Gerald J. Castle Jr., 21, of 23 Talcott St., Massena, was placed on interim probation for one year at his sentencing Monday. He pleaded guilty in April to attempted third-degree burglary.

He admitted to breaking into the Fashion Bug store at the Harte Haven Shopping Center in Massena on Dec. 6.

If successful on interim probation, his charge will be reduced to fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.