After a series of burglaries was reported in January and February in Seneca Hall, University Police were able to identify a suspect, due to the cooperation of several residents.
Adam Marshall, who lives in of Room 308 in Seneca Hall, from Huntington, Long Island, was arrested Feb. 23 for one count of criminal trespass in the 2nd degree, a Class A misdemeanor as well as one count of criminal possession of stolen property in the 5th degree, a Class A misdemeanor.
According to University Police Chief John Rossi, the charges were brought regarding another case separate from the burglaries that occurred on Jan. 24, Jan. 26, Jan. 29 and Jan. 30, yet there is reason to believe that the suspect was responsible for those past burglaries as well.
“We believe the suspect may be responsible for the previous reported burglaries but don’t have enough evidence to pursue charges at this time on those cases,” Rossi said.
It was reported on Feb. 14 that a male was found in a female resident’s room on the third floor of Seneca Hall without reason or permission to be there.
The suspect was later alleged to be Marshall.
According to University Police, on Feb. 21 a resident came to the laundry room in Seneca Hall to retrieve four pairs of blue jeans in the washing machine, valued at approximately $350, and found that they were missing. The resident heard that Marshall was in the laundry room at the time and once the resident confronted him, Marshall returned three pairs of jeans to him.
According to Rossi, charges were filed based on that information.
“We don’t have enough evidence that [Marshall] stole the jeans but we do have enough evidence that he possessed stolen property,” Rossi said.
According to University Police, after the start of the thefts in Seneca Hall in January, officers began a series of directed patrols of the building. Every officer during his or her shift did a floor by floor patrol to serve as a deterrent to additional thefts and to attempt to ascertain additional suspect information.
Even though there is a suspect, the cases are still pending.
“If further information devolves that leads to this or any other suspect, we will pursue the leads where they go,” Rossi said.
Marshall was released on an appearance ticket and is still living on campus. He is scheduled to appear at the Oswego Town Court on March 14. Student conduct charges are also being placed against him, according to University Police.
According to Rossi, it is very rare that a burglary occurs from forced entry or tampering with locked doors, and most of these incidents occur with unlocked residence hall rooms.
“We have had some serious crimes occur under those circumstances so we advise everyone to be safe and to be responsible for [their] room and possessions,” Rossi said. “It is very frustrating that all of these incidents could have been prevented.”
