Guilty plea offered in Stewart's robberies
A Watertown man pleaded guilty Wednesday in Jefferson County Court to charges that he twice robbed the Stewart's Shop in Philadelphia at gunpoint.
Xavier T. Rose,18, whose last known address was 234 Coffeen St., Apt. 4B, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree robbery. Sentencing will be at a later date.
He admitted that he displayed what appeared to be a handgun while robbing the convenience store at 1 Main St. on July 23. About $1,000 was stolen in that incident.
He did not admit to all of the underlying facts alleged against him involving a Dec. 23 robbery at the same store. He pleaded guilty to the crime using an Alford plea, meaning that he did not admit to the crime, but was pleading guilty to avoid a possible stiffer sentence if convicted at trial. In that incident, about $740 was taken.
Allen L. Ricks Jr., 20, of 8127 Schell Ave., Evans Mills, had earlier pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted robbery and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property in connection with the robbery in December. He is expected to be sentenced Aug. 10 to a year in the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building followed by five years' probation.
In other court activity Wednesday:
Carlos J. Morales,35, of 725 Davidson St., pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted robbery. He is expected to be sentenced Sept. 1 to a year in the PSB, according to a contemplated sentence outlined in court.
He admitted that he, along with Larry S. Langley, entered a residence on Route 232 in the town of Watertown armed with a baseball bat on Feb. 19. Mr. Morales told Judge Kim H. Martusewicz that it was Mr. Langley who carried the bat.
Charges against Mr. Langley, 22, of Fort Drum, are pending. He faces counts of first-degree burglary and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the alleged incident a the Route 232 residence and misdemeanor count of driving while intoxicated after his vehicle was halted on Route 232 shortly after the incident.
Timothy F. CoyneandBrian P. Kern,both 22 and both of Rochester, pleaded guilty to fifth-degree conspiracy, a misdemeanor. They had been accused of having 20 pounds of hydroponic marijuana in their vehicle following an April 21 traffic stop on Route 11 in the town of Philadelphia.
Both men are expected to be sentenced to 60 days in the PSB, followed by three years' probation and be fined $1,000. Mr. Kern is due to be sentenced Aug. 10, while Mr. Coyne's sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 12.
In court activity Thursday:
A Watertown woman was sentenced to probation for receiving child day-care benefits to which she was not entitled.
Dana M. Ward,27, of 1708 Ohio St., Apt. 74, was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $665 in restitution after having already paid $2,000 in restitution up front.
She pleaded guilty April 3 to fourth-degree attempted grand larceny, admitting at the time of the plea that she received $2,665 in child day-care benefits through the Department of Social Services by obtaining day-care services while she was unemployed, which made her ineligible for the services.
James B. Cook,25, of 207 Emjay Way, Carthage, was sentenced to three years' probation for May 15 guilty pleas to second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and driving while intoxicated as a misdemeanor.
He admitted at the time he entered his plea that he drove while drunk March 12 on State Street in Carthage while his license was suspended for a prior alcohol-related offense. He was also fined $750 Tuesday and had his driver's license suspended.
Jordan Hines,21, of 435 Broadway Ave. E., pleaded guilty to third-degree burglary. Sentencing was set for Aug. 26. He had been accused of entering the Watertown residence of Leon Taper on April 30 with the intention of committing larceny.
