Gloversville contractor indicted on fraud, petty larceny charges

PHOTOGRAPHER: Jim McGuire

A local contractor already suing Gloversville and its police department alleging false arrest was indicted Tuesday by a Fulton County grand jury on 12 counts including second-degree identity theft, scheme to defraud and petty larceny.

James D. DeRusha, 39, of East State Street, Gloversville is accused of using another individual’s identification to obtain telephone services and taking a down payment for an apartment he was unable to provide.

DeRusha contends in his lawsuit that he was falsely arrested in July 2008 after he had a disagreement with a homeowner who hired him for a landscaping project. The homeowner eventually demanded DeRusha leave his property and return his money, about $400. DeRusha’s attorney, Robert Subik, has said the case should have been handled in civil court.

In other indictments Tuesday:

Joshua S. Bailey, 25, of Park Street, Gloversville was charged with a variety of counts relating to four arrests in August — two in Gloversville and one each in Northampton and Johnstown.

Bailey is charged with fourth-degree grand larceny for allegedly stealing a cell phone, first-degree criminal contempt for allegedly violating an order of protection, resisting arrest and second-degree assault for allegedly injuring a police officer trying to take him into custody. He is also charged with third-degree criminal sale and fourth-degree criminal possession of a firearm for allegedly selling a Remington rifle he could not legally own.

Jonathan D. Subik, 34, of Martin Road, Fonda, is charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, four counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and two counts of seventh-degree possession for allegedly selling 27.6 grams of cocaine in April at a Gloversville location.

Shane A. St. Louis, 56, of Washington Street, Gloversville, is charged with single counts of third-degree criminal sale and criminal possession of a controlled substance and seventh-degree possession after allegedly selling cocaine July 23 in Gloversville. He was arrested Sept. 10.

Mason P. Cool, 33, of Little Falls is charged with third-degree burglary and petty larceny after allegedly breaking into Rocky’s Tavern on Oct. 28, 2008.

Richard Goebel Sr., 48, of Eagle Street, Gloversville, is charged with felony driving while intoxicated stemming from an Oct. 10 arrest in Gloversville.

Sean P. O’Keefe, 29, of Union Avenue, Saratoga Springs is charged with felony DWI and first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation after an arrest Sept. 6 in the town of Johnstown.

Also Tuesday in Fulton County Court, Luke T. Harding, 28, of South William Street, Johnstown was sentenced to a year in jail based on his Nov. 6 guilty plea to felony DWI. He was arrested June 20 in Johnstown.