North Country Briefs
Bank robbery suspect
faces new set of charges
CANTON — A bank robbery suspect is facing charges after allegedly stealing and selling rifles.
James E. Russ, 24, of 2145 County Route 21, Hermon, was charged by St. Lawrence County sheriff's deputies with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property 2:45 p.m. Monday in the village of Canton.
According to deputies, while on probation home monitoring in February, Mr. Russ stole four rifles from a home on Crusher Road in Canton and sold the weapons for $330 in the town of Fowler.
Deputies did not say who bought the guns, or whether additional charges are pending.
Mr. Russ was arraigned in Fowler Town Court. He was sent without bail to St. Lawrence County jail, where he is being held on other charges.
Last month deputies charged Mr. Russ with second-degree burglary and fourth-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing about $2,000 in cash and paperwork from a DeKalb Junction home.
In August, state police charged Mr. Russ with second-degree robbery for allegedly taking about $2,400 in cash from the Hermon Community Bank after showing a teller a gun.
Man accused of striking
woman who stabbed him
Humberto M. Rodriguez, 35, of 447 Arsenal St., was arrested Sunday night after Watertown police allege he grabbed and struck a woman who in September 2008 stabbed him in the rib cage.
He awaits prosecution in City Court on charges of third-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief.
The alleged assault occurred Friday at the residence of Alissan L. Hatlestad, 29, of 615 Boyd St., who was struck on the left side of her face, police said. She also had multiple bruises on her neck and body from her encounter with him, police said.
Shortly after 8 p.m. Sunday, he was at her residence again, and he is accused of throwing her phone to the floor, breaking it, when she attempted to call 911, police said. He was arrested at her home.
Ms. Hatlestad pleaded guilty to third-degree assault in Jefferson County Court as a result of the stabbing, and was sentenced to three years' probation.
Three adults, two children
injured in rollover crash
LOWVILLE — Five people were taken to the hospital with injuries suffered in a one-vehicle accident at 7:46 p.m. Friday on Number Three Road in the town of Lowville.
Lewis County sheriff's deputies said Shannon Bigda, 30, of 10171 Washington St., Copenhagen, was driving northwest when she skidded off the road, causing her vehicle to roll over several times.
A back-seat passenger, Kristopher Ballou, 36, same address, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, deputies said.
Ms. Bigda and Mr. Ballou, along with Casimer Bigda, 30, same address, and two children in the vehicle, who were not identified, were all taken to Lewis County General Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries.
An investigation into the accident is continuing, deputies said, and charges are expected for the driver.
Officials from Lewis County Search and Rescue, Turin ambulance squad and the Lowville Fire Department assisted at the scene.
Third Kmart employee
cited with petit larceny
A third employee of Kmart, outer Arsenal Street, was charged in connection with the theft of merchandise on a number of occasions during February.
Jefferson County sheriff's deputies on Friday charged Sinetta E. Norris, 33, of 810 Boyd St., with two counts of petit larceny for alleged incidents Feb. 7 and 15. She is to answer the charges in Watertown Town Court.
Most items were stolen by recording transactions and voiding items on cash registers, deputies allege.
Raisa Y. Santiago, 21, of 344 Franklin St., and Shelly A. LaRock, 26, of 106 W. Lynde St., were charged with petit larceny earlier in the week.
Police say Carthage man
hit sister with pool cue
CARTHAGE — A Carthage man was arrested Saturday for allegedly hitting his sister with a pool stick during an argument.
Jefferson County sheriff's deputies charged Stephen P. Miterko, 50, of 35415 Route 3, with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal mischief. He was arraigned before Brownville Town Justice Richard M. Parker and sent to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building, Watertown, on $5,000 bail.
Mr. Miterko was accused of hitting Cathy A. Fahsed, Watertown, causing cuts and bruises, and damaging a telephone, television and wall at his residence.
Gouverneur inmate held
as Pennsylvania fugitive
GOUVERNEUR — A Bronx man was arrested on a Pennsylvania warrant immediately after being released from Gouverneur Correctional Facility.
St. Lawrence County sheriff's deputies arrested Adrian S. Reid, 24, at 8 a.m. Monday and charged him with being a fugitive from justice.
According to deputies, Mr. Reid is wanted for a parole violation in Pennsylvania, where he originally was charged with possession of a firearm and cocaine.
He was arraigned in Gouverneur Town Court and is being held without bail to await extradition proceedings to Pennsylvania.
Police accuse Adams man
of possessing switchblade
Jefferson County sheriff's deputies on Friday night charged Matthew J. Kepler, 23, of 6 Institute St., Adams, with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
Mr. Kepler allegedly was found in possession of a switchblade in the town of LeRay; a specific address was not available.
He was taken to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building for processing and turned over to Fort Drum military police.
Man accused of violating
court order of protection
Watertown police on Saturday night charged Freddie A. Cruz Rodriguez, 23, of 261 State St., Apt. 204, with second-degree criminal contempt.
Police said that they stopped a vehicle driven by Mr. Cruz Rodriguez on State Street and that Peggy Guzman was with him, which allegedly violated a stay-away order of protection issued on her behalf in Jefferson County Family Court. He is to answer the charge in City Court.
Castorland teen charged
with second-degree rape
LOWVILLE — Lewis County sheriff's deputies on Sunday charged Jeremiah Townsend, 18, Church Street, Castorland, with second-degree rape and endangering the welfare of a child.
Mr. Townsend allegedly had sexual intercourse with a girl under age 15 in early December in the town of Lowville.
He was arraigned in Lowville Village Court and committed to Lewis County jail on $900 bail.
