Trio charged in early morning home invasion
Patrick Ponzo
Haley Recor
Robert Sawyer
On Friday, March 08, 2019, at 1:06 a.m., state police in Philadelphia were dispatched to a reported home invasion involving a firearm at 31551 Moon Lake Road in the town of Theresa, Jefferson County.
Prior to patrols’ arrival, the suspects fled the scene in a 2016 Dodge Dart. The suspect’s vehicle, while fleeing the scene, lost control and became disabled off the shoulder of the roadway.
The three suspects then fled on foot.
One suspect, Haley Recor, 19, of 630 Bronson, Watertown, was located walking along the roadway by an investigator who was responding to the scene. A second suspect, Patrick Ponzo, 33, of 154 Broadway, Albany, was located by uniform patrol and BCI members when he returned to the vehicle owner’s residence.
The third suspect, Robert Sawyer, 32, of 614 Philly Courts, Philadelphia, was located in a heavily wooded area, after a three-and-a-half-mile track by Troopers Kevin Conners and K9 Schini in four-degree weather.
Sawyer was found to be suffering from possible hypothermia from prolonged cold exposure and was transported by Indian River Ambulance to Samaritan Medical Center where was treated and released.
Evidence associated with this crime was found in the roadway and in the field and woods along the roadway, including a revolver that was believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.
All three were charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary, both class B felonies; second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class C felony; fourth-degree conspiracy, a class E felony; and second-degree menacing, a class A misdemeanor.
The trio was arraigned in Pamelia Town Court. Recor was remanded to the Jefferson County Jail on $20,000 cash bail or $40,000 bond; Ponzo and Sawyer were remanded to the Jefferson County Jail without bail.
Herkimer County woman charged with stealing more than $50,000 from former employer
State police arrested Debra M. Claus, 51, from Salisbury Center, for second-degree grand larceny, a class C felony.
Claus is accused of stealing more than $50,000 from her former employer Peter Smith Trucking. It is alleged that Claus, who was employed as a secretary and bookkeeper for the company, cashed business checks and deposited them into her personal account.
Claus was arraigned in the town of German Flatts Court and remanded to the Herkimer County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bail or $10,000 bond and is scheduled to reappear in court at a later date.
The investigation continues.