Michael J. Butler will serve 3.5 to 7 years in state prison
The man arrested for robbing more than $3,000 from the Citizens Bank in DeRuyter on Aug. 26 pleaded guilty to the charge against him yesterday in Madison County Court and will spend from 3.5 to 7 years in state prison, according District Attorney Bill Gabor.
Michael J. Butler, 39, of LaFayette, appeared before County Judge Patrick O’Sullivan on Oct. 19 and pleaded guilty as charged to robbery in the second degree – displays firearm. O’Sullivan made a commitment that Butler would receive a determinate sentence of from 3.5 to 7 years in state prison, with a post release supervision of from 3.5 to 5 years. Butler will also face statutory penalties of restitution, fines, fees and surcharges.
Butler waived appeal on his conviction. He will be sentenced at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 11, 2017, in Madison County Court.
The robbery occurred shortly before 11 a.m., on Friday, Aug. 26, at the Citizens Bank at 750 Utica St. in DeRuyter when a male suspect entered the bank wearing a disguise, displayed what was described as a flintlock pistol and demanded money. The robber got away with $3,868.
According to state police, the suspect fled in a black midsize pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet Canyon or Colorado, headed north on State Route 13. State police, Madison County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Cazenovia police officers mobilized immediately upon hearing of the alleged robbery and began to scour Madison County roads in search of the suspect.
Butler was arrested by state police nine days later on Berwyn Road in Fabius.
During the investigation, state police recovered $2,183 of the stolen money. The investigation later showed that the flintlock pistol turned out to be a fake that was not in working order, Gabor said.
