Albany Man Found Guilty of Armed Robbery

District Attorney P. David Soares announced today that STEVEN JAMES, 39, of Albany, was found guilty after jury trial of (2) Counts of Robbery in the First Degree, both Class B Armed Violent Felonies, and (1) Count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C Armed Felony, before the Honorable Judge Thomas A. Breslin in Albany County Supreme Court this afternoon.

On April 14, 2014, at about 4:00am, while in the area of 100 Madison Avenue in the City of Albany, JAMES did possess and display a loaded firearm and forcibly steal property from a victim.  JAMES forcibly stole cash, and I-Phone, and a bracelet from the 42 year old male victim, while aiming a gun at him and stating, “Give it up!”

JAMES faces up to 25 years in State Prison when sentenced on November 5, 2014.  

JAMES also faces two consecutive terms of 5 years in State Prison, for a total of 10 years in State Prison, to be followed by 5 years of Post-Release Supervision, when sentenced on September 15, 2014 for unrelated weapons and assault charges.

On the eve of trial on July 21, 2014, JAMES pleaded guilty to (1) Count of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd  Degree, a Class D Felony, and (1) Count of Assault in the 2nd Degree, a Class C Felony, before Honorable Judge Stephen W. Herrick in Albany County Court.



On October 19, 2012, around 10:20am at 82 Ontario Street in the City of Albany, JAMES stabbed a store clerk in the head, causing physical injury.  The incident was captured on store video.

Additionally, on April 15, 2013, JAMES was pulled over for traffic infractions by members of the Colonie Police Department in the area of Loudon Road and Glennon Road in the Town of Colonie.  JAMES repeatedly grabbed at his waist during the traffic stop, and fled police on foot.  Police were able to subdue JAMES with a taser and placed him into custody, finding that JAMES had a loaded Smith and Wesson .38 caliber handgun illegally in his possession.

Assistant District Attorney Kurt Haas of the Street Crimes Unit prosecuted the weapons case against JAMES.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Sharp of the Major Offenses Unit prosecuted the assault case, in addition to the current robbery and weapons possession case against JAMES that he was found guilty of today.