Man admits sexual contact with girl

CANTON — An Ogdensburg man admitted Monday in St. Lawrence County Court that he had sexual contact with an underage girl.

Matthew J. Madill, 34, of 217 Belmont Courts, avoided a trial scheduled to start today by pleading guilty before Judge Jerome J. Richards to felony second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child. He will serve 41/2 years in state prison after being sentenced Sept. 14.

He admitted to having sexual contact several times with a girl under the age of 11 in 2004 and 2005 in Ogdensburg. He was indicted in November on a first-degree criminal sexual act against a child charge.

The plea agreement also called for him to register as a sex offender when released from state prison and abide by a protection order for the victim.

In other recent court proceedings:

Andrew G. Courson,19, of 2 Kennedy Court, Massena, was sentenced to one year in the St. Lawrence County jail for violating the conditions of his interim probation.

Mr. Courson admitted to missing appointments with his probation officer, skipping general equivalency diploma classes, hosting a party in his apartment and drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

"We had an agreement; you blew it off," Judge Richards said.

He received one year of interim probation in March for having more than 400 Ecstasy pills in his possession. He pleaded guilty in January to felony fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Mr. Courson most recently was accused of possessing 132 grams of Ecstasy, along with two small bags of cocaine and a small amount of marijuana, when arrested Thursday.

Robert A. Wright, 25,pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted burglary. He admitted he had entered the Edward J. Walker residence on April 18, 2008, with the intent to steal.

He was indicted on two counts of second-degree burglary. He had been charged with unlawfully entering the Walker residence, 415 Route 11C, Winthrop, and demanding money.

State police initially charged James B. Elward, 44, and Mr. Wright with first-degree burglary. The elderly male inside the home had to be taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries to his arm suffered during the incident.

Mr. Elward was sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision in July 2008 for a second-degree attempted burglary conviction stemming from his role in the incident.

Judge Richards has agreed to place Mr. Wright on interim probation when he returns for sentencing Sept. 8. His release under the supervision of the probation department and on electronic home monitoring was continued pending sentencing.

Allan J. Dennis,18, of 7 Brighton St., Massena, was resentenced to serve an intermittent sentence — 4 p.m. Fridays to 6 a.m. Mondays — of one year in county jail after he admitted he had violated the conditions of his probationary sentence. He had been adjudicated as a youthful offender after pleading guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny.

Mr. Dennis was placed on five years' probation and was ordered to make restitution of $7,869,47 and to pay $375 in court fees and surcharges. He must attend and successfully complete his coursework at SUNY Canton, where he has been accepted for the fall semester.

Mr. Dennis also pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted assault. He admitted he threw hot water on Joshua J. Love on May 9 when both men were in the county jail. He is to be placed on probation for that conviction.