Plea agreement for robbery suspect falls apart

CANTON — An expected plea agreement for Hermon Community Bank robbery suspect James E. Russ was delayed today in St. Lawrence County Court because the attorneys couldn't reach a consensus on what charges it covers.

Mr. Russ, 24, of 2145 County Route 21, Hermon, will return to court Friday for the plea hearing, Judge Jerome J. Richards said.

Conflict Public Defender Heather Dona and Assistant District Attorney Rosemary R. Phillips said outside the courtroom that Mr. Russ was expected to plead guilty today to two felony charges and serve state prison time. They declined to disclose the exact charges he would plead guilty to or amount of prison time he could serve.

Both attorneys discussed the plea agreement with Judge Richards at the bench for about five minutes before Ms. Dona asked for an adjournment.

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 on July 21, 2009.

While being led into the courthouse by a St. Lawrence County sheriff's deputy, Mr. Russ didn't respond to a question posed by a Times reporter about why he robbed the bank.

In February, sheriff's deputies charged him with second-degree burglary and fourth-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing about $2,000 in cash and paperwork from a DeKalb Junction home.

A month later, he was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property for allegedly stealing four rifles from a Crusher Road home in Canton.