North Country Briefs

Canton teenager admits

role in damage at church

CANTON — A Canton teen admitted Wednesday in St. Lawrence County Court to smashing glass out of several doors last year at St. James Catholic Church in Gouverneur.

Zachariah A. Church, 17, of 68 Riverside Drive, Apt. 4, pleaded guilty before Judge Jerome J. Richards to felony third-degree criminal mischief.

The plea agreement calls for Mr. Church to be placed on interim probation for one year when sentenced May 3. If successful, Mr. Church's charge would be reduced to fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. He also has to testify against co-defendant Frank J. King, 18, of 408 County Route 2, Ogdensburg, and pay restitution.

Both were accused of causing $6,653.03 in damage to the Gordon Street building on March 14, 2009.

Judge Richards also placed several conditions on Mr. Church after the latter tested positive for marijuana. The conditions include a curfew, obtaining a General Educational Development diploma and submitting to random drug testing. Mr. Church was released under probation supervision.

Police say woman stole

$4,151 in jobless benefits

CARTHAGE — A former village woman was charged Tuesday with felonies on allegations that she collected unemployment benefits while holding a job at Akwesasne Mohawk Casino, Hogansburg, according to state police.

Stassa A. Lamay, 31, Burke, Franklin County, was released without bail following her arraignment before Village Justice S. Lucille Shettleton on charges of third-degree grand larceny, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing and falsifying business records. She awaits action by the Jefferson County grand jury, police said.

She is accused of filing claims for unemployment while a resident of Carthage, police said, and of collecting $4,151 in benefits between October 2008 and January 2009 while being employed at the casino.

Men injured when struck

by vehicle in driveway

SANDY CREEK — A Mannsville man reversed his van in a driveway Tuesday evening and struck two other men, including his twin brother, according to state police.

No summonses were issued to the driver, John L. Lavery, 53, of 1280 S. Main St., as a result of the 4:30 p.m. accident at 2321 County Route 15.

The pedestrians, James F. Lavery, 53, Mannsville, and Everett E. Miller, 75, County Route 15, town of Sandy Creek, both were unaware the van was coming toward them, police said, and were knocked to the ground.

Mr. Lavery suffered a shoulder injury, and Mr. Miller had an arm injury, police said. Both were treated at Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, police said.

Children's Home resident

cited with assaulting girl

A 17 year-old boy residing at the Children's Home of Jefferson County, 1704 State St., punched a 15-year-old girl in the face Tuesday evening, cutting her lip and giving her a bloody nose, according to Watertown police.

The girl also resides at the facility, police said.

Tony T. Huynh, 17, was charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child. He faces prosecution in City Court.

Canton teenager accused

of harassing his stepsister

CANTON — Village police charged Tristan M. Perry, 17, of 46 E. Main St., about 6 p.m. Tuesday with second-degree harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Police said Mr. Perry pushed his 15-year-old stepsister, pulled her hair and spit in her face.

He was arraigned in Pierrepont Town Court and released without bail to face prosecution in Canton Village Court.