Woman faces robbery charge in shoplifting case

A Syracuse woman has been indicted on allegations that she threatened a Burlington Coat Factory employee with a knife while shoplifting from the store in January.

Aletha R. Gaines,46, is charged with first-degree robbery, petit larceny and fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property. The counts were contained in a grand jury indictment handed up Thursday in Jefferson County Court.

It is alleged that on Jan. 14, she pulled a knife on Scott Topping, a loss-prevention employee at the store at Salmon Run Mall. Mr. Topping was attempting to stop Ms. Gaines and Tammy M. Hines, 41, from leaving the store with merchandise.

Ms. Hines pleaded guilty May 19 to first-degree attempted robbery and was sentenced June 30 to five years in state prison, followed by five additional years of supervision upon her release.

Other indictments handed up Thursday include:

Nicholas R. Brice,25, Central Square, is charged with three counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two counts of third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and single counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

It is alleged that he had and sold cocaine on multiple occasions within the county in June. He also was charged with driving without a driver's license June 28 on Route 3 in the town of Hounsfield.

Jeremy Wally,28, Evans Mills, faces counts of first- and third-degree criminal sexual act and second-degree harassment. It is alleged that he had forcible sexual contact with a 43-year-old woman on June 10 and 11 in the town of LeRay. It is also claimed that he grabbed and pushed the victim.

Matthew L. Creighton,55, Theresa, is charged with two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and a single count of endangering the welfare of a child. It is alleged that he subjected an 8-year-old girl to sexual contact in July 2009 in the town of Theresa.

John A. Belisle,33, Far Rockaway, faces counts of first-degree criminal contempt, second-degree aggravated harassment and fourth-degree criminal mischief. It is alleged that he violated a County Court order of protection held by his wife, Katrina, by threatening her in an August 2009 phone call. He also allegedly damaged a door at her residence on State Street in Watertown and drove without a driver's license in August 2009 on Emerson Street in the city.