WATERTOWN, NY — On March 15, 2019, State Police in Watertown responded to 661 Factory St. in the city of Watertown for a reported robbery of a backpack that contained multiple items including $500 in cash.
The victim stated a female acquaintance and an unknown male forcibly entered his apartment and stole a backpack that contained items and cash, troopers said.
As investigators began to identify both subjects and a vehicle they were seen leaving in, a call of a vehicle matching the description of the robbery suspect vehicle driving recklessly and now disabled in the median of Interstate 81 near exit 39 in the town of Ellisburg, troopers said.
The driver, identified as James Lavancha, and passenger, Kara Garnsey, were taken into custody without incident.
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James M. Lavancha, 40, of 17980 County Route 189, Adams, NY, was charged with second-degree robbery (class “C” felony), driving while impaired by drugs (unclassified misdemeanor), and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (class “A” misdemeanor).
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Kara L. Garnsey, 23, of 11470 County Route 9, Clayton, NY, was charged with second-degree robbery (class “C” felony) and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance (class “A” misdemeanor).
Lavancha was arraigned in Watertown City Court and remanded to the Jefferson County Jail without bail. He is scheduled to appear back in court on March 18, 2019, at 10 a.m.
Garnsey was arraigned in Watertown City Court and remanded to the Jefferson County Jail on $20,000 cash bail/ $40,000 bond. She is scheduled to appear back in court on March 18, 2019, at 10 a.m.
NYSP news release March 17, 2019