Man admits to bank robbery and home burglaries

CANTON — James E. Russ confessed Friday in St. Lawrence County Court to robbing Hermon Community Bank, along with burglarizing several homes around the Canton area over the past nine months.

Mr. Russ, 24, of 2145 County Route 21, Hermon, pleaded guilty before Judge Jerome J. Richards to attempted second-degree robbery and attempted second-degree burglary. He will receive six-year sentences in state prison on both counts when sentenced Sept. 13. The convictions will run concurrently.

The plea agreement covers the July 2009 bank robbery and a DeKalb Junction burglary in February, along with charges of damaging a sprinkler head while in St. Lawrence County jail last August and stealing four rifles from a Crusher Road home in Canton, prosecutors said.

District Attorney Nicole M. Duvé said the plea deal also covers six uncharged burglaries from homes in the Canton area. He admitted to authorities in March during a lengthy interview he stole numerous rifles, cash and various metals during the break-ins.

Several of the rifles have been recovered, along with some cash, but a few antique coins remain missing, Ms. Duvé said. The copper and brass were sold to a Potsdam scrap dealer.

Prosecutors said they didn't believe the plea agreement was too generous.

"Six years in state prison is not an insignificant amount of time for someone that hasn't been to state prison before," Ms. Duvé said. "This allowed us to complete several investigations, close out several cases and get some closure for those people affected by his actions."

Most of the money taken from the burglaries and bank robbery was used to fuel his Oxycodone habit, Ms. Duvé said.

He will need to serve slightly more than five years before being eligible for parole, Ms. Duvé said. Mr. Russ will also serve three years' post-release supervision and must pay restitution.

Mr. Russ admitted to robbing Hermon Community Bank on July 21, 2009, taking about $2,400 in cash. He showed a teller a gun tucked into his waistband when he demanded money during the robbery. He never pulled the weapon, but it wasn't recovered, prosecutors said.

He also confessed to breaking into a Risley Road home in DeKalb Junction on Feb. 17 and stealing a safe containing about $2,000 cash and paperwork.

The uncharged burglaries covered in the plea deal include:

■ A burglary in mid-November at a County Route 21 home. A rifle and a gun case were taken.

■ A burglary at his father's storage shed. About 200 pounds of copper and brass were taken on an unknown date. Mr. Russ told the court he believed he took only about 30 pounds of metal.

■ Two break-ins at a Crusher Road home in February. Eight rifles, cash and a chain saw were taken.

■ A January burglary at a different County Route 21 home. Antique coins and cash were taken.

■ The theft of $2,000 to $3,000 in coins from a Cousintown Road home in DeKalb Junction on an unknown date.

Judge Richards warned Mr. Russ that he could serve additional prison time should he get into trouble while in county jail awaiting sentencing.

Mr. Russ, who kept his hands in his back jeans pockets during the plea, then offered a "Thank you, your honor," before leaving the courtroom.