CANTON — A 71-year-old sex offender is accused of assaulting another St. Lawrence County jail inmate earlier this month.

James A. Pleau was charged with second-degree felony assault and criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, a misdemeanor, in connection with the Jan. 10 incident at the Canton lockup, St. Lawrence County sheriff’s deputies said Friday.

Pleau, formerly of 16 Mechanic St., Potsdam, is being held in the facility in connection with a sexual-assault case. He was sentenced in November to 120 days in jail and 10 years’ probation after admitting to one count of first-degree attempted sexual abuse, a felony. He allegedly restrained his 13-year-old victim in March and then sexually abused him while the boy was at Pleau’s Potsdam home.

Pleau was arraigned in Canton Town Court on the assault charges and ordered held in lieu of $5,000 bail. He is to reappear before the court next month to answer the charges.

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