North Country Briefs

Suspect in Rossie arson

released from county jail

CANTON — A Redwood man accused of torching a town of Rossie home in September was released from St. Lawrence County jail. Robert J. Fountain Jr., 48, was charged with second-degree arson.

St. Lawrence County Judge Jerome J. Richards released Mr. Fountain from the county jail Wednesday because the district attorney's office hadn't presented the case to a grand jury within 45 days of him waiving his Sept. 23 preliminary hearing. He was arraigned Sept. 19 in Fowler Town Court. County Public Defender Mary Rain argued for her client's release.

The Sept. 18 fire at 74 River Road left two people homeless. State police said then that Mr. Fountain admitted to starting the fire. The home was destroyed.

Carthage teenager faces

disorderly conduct charge

CARTHAGE — Village police needed the assistance of a teenage girl's mother to arrest the daughter Tuesday night.

Amanda M. Smith, 17, of 36379 Route 3, was being charged with disorderly conduct on Emjay Way after she ignored orders to leave and shouted profanities at officers, police said. To avoid arrest, she locked herself in her car, police said.

After her mother, Marion K. Smith, arrived and unlocked the car, the teen was additionally charged with resisting arrest.

Miss Smith was released on $500 bail, set by Village Justice S. Lucille Shettleton.

Police say Watertown man

violated protection order

Shane K. Richardson, 35, of 642 Emerson St., was arrested by Watertown police Tuesday afternoon on a charge of second-degree criminal contempt.

He is accused of going to the residence of Danielle M. Brown, 418 Tilden St., Monday evening and of starting an argument, violating stay-away terms of an order of protection issued by City Court, according to police.

Mr. Richardson is under grand jury indictment returned in September charging him with felony criminal mischief. Ms. Brown is also the victim in that case, occurring in March.

Man who hit trees, porch

is charged with DWI

POTSDAM — A 23-year-old man hit a fire hydrant, two trees and a porch while speeding on Main Street, village police said.

Kristopher F. Richards, Potsdam, was charged Thursday with aggravated driving while intoxicated, speeding, unlawful possession of marijuana, failure to keep right and driving without a license, police said.

Police were flagged down by a stopped motorist about 1:30 a.m. about the accident. Mr. Richards, who wasn't injured, registered a 0.24 percent blood alcohol content. The porch had moderate damage, police said.

He was issued appearance tickets for Dec. 16 in Village Court.

Watertown woman cited

with hitting her infant son

A Watertown woman was charged by city police Wed-nesday after she allegedly hit her infant son on Sunday night.

Cassandra N. Benway, 19, of 1620 Huntington St. Apt. J2, turned herself in at about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. She was charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. Police said she slapped her infant son on the face, causing a contusion around the left eye.

She is to face the charges in City Court.

Ogdensburg man accused

of trespassing, having pot

LISBON — An Ogdensburg man is accused of trespassing and having about 22 ounces of marijuana plants.

Quinn M. Connell, 38, of 615 Morris St., was charged Wednesday with second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and trespassing, St. Lawrence County sheriff's deputies said. He reportedly entered a Sand Road property without permission and was found Oct. 3 with the marijuana.

He was arraigned in Ogdensburg City Court and released under probation supervision.

Watertown man charged

with failing to pay for gas

Rashad L. Wilson, 22, of 1203 Faichney Drive, Apt. 8, is accused of twice driving away from Stewarts Shop, 229 S. Massey St., without paying for gasoline he pumped, according to Watertown police.

He was initially cited Nov. 3 in an alleged $43 gas theft on Halloween night. City police on Wednesday charged him in another theft four days earlier, Oct. 27, involving $44 worth of gas. He faces two counts of petit larceny in City Court.

Watertown man charged

with disorderly conduct

An apparently inebriated Watertown man was arrested after yelling obscenities in the 200 block of St. Mary Street on Wednesday evening.

Raymond S. Beutel, 40, of 115 Iroquois Ave., was charged by city police around 7:50 p.m. with disorderly conduct after he continued yelling after officers told him to quiet down. He was held at the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building pending arraignment in Watertown Town Court.

Teen cited over damage

at county Children's Home

A 17-year-old girl residing at the Children's Home of Jefferson County, 1704 State St., was charged Tuesday with fourth-degree criminal mischief and is due to appear in City Court.

Moriah L. Clark is accused of breaking three fence post caps with her fist and elbow Saturday afternoon at the rear entrance of the facility's administration building, according to Watertown police.

Man sent to jail for failing

to make support payments

Matthew J. Creighton, 28, of 29822 Route 3, Black River, was sentenced Tuesday by Jefferson County Family Court Judge Richard V. Hunt to four months in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building for failure to make support payments.

Mr. Creighton was also indicted in February by a grand jury on a charge of fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property.

Man cited over conduct

in maternity ward at SMC

A man was charged with disorderly conduct Tuesday night after he allegedly created a disturbance in the maternity ward at Samaritan Medical Center, according to Watertown police.

Patrick J. Ozment, 21, Webster, Texas, pounded both hands on a hospital bed and slammed a door at about 8:30 p.m., police alleged.

He is summoned to appear in City Court.

Lyons Falls teen charged

with sexual misconduct

LYONS FALLS — Kelsie Baslow, 17, was charged by state police with sexual misconduct and endangering the welfare of a child at 1:14 p.m. Wednesday for an incident that was reported at 3:30 p.m. Monday.

Ms. Baslow faces prosecution in Lyonsdale Town Court.