North Country This Week

CANTON — A Canton man is on the lam after skipping his sentencing for the crime of shooting a female victim in the neck in March of 2022.

Shawn Sheridan, 8 Mechanic St., Canton, was charged with first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Sheridan pled guilty to the first-degree assault charge, but failed to show up at his July 18 sentencing.

St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Pasqua said Sheridan had already had a warrant out for failing to abide by terms of his supervised bail release.

Pasqua said that he believes the sentencing is appropriate. He said he had several conversations with the victim who was hoping Sheridan would be sentenced to at least 10 years.

He said the plea agreement saved the victim from having to relive the trauma in the courtroom.

Pasqua said Sheridan has proven himself dangerous, but he’s uncertain if he poses any immediate danger to the public. However, he expressed concerns that he could pose a serious threat to officers or deputies attempting to apprehend him.

“We believe him to be a dangerous individual based on his conduct and what he was convicted of, but I don't know at this point if he is a danger to anyone aside from law enforcement,” he said.

Pasqua is urging anyone with information regarding Sheridan’s whereabouts to contact the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department at 315-379-2222.

“We have an individual who has shown a propensity for violence. We want to see that he’s brought in as quickly and peacefully as possible,” he said.

St. Lawrence County Undersheriff Sean O’Brien confirmed that a warrant was issued for Sheridan’s arrest and that law enforcement is working to locate him.

The crime

On the morning of March 9 2022, at approximately 1:42 a.m., St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a reported domestic incident at 49 South Woods Road in Rossie.

Upon their arrival, it was determined that a victim had been shot in the neck during the reported domestic incident.

The victim sustained serious injuries and was transported by Medivac to Upstate Hospital in Syracuse for treatment

Over the initial course of this incident, Deputy Sheriff Matthew Merria arrested Sheridan, who was armed with a long gun and a knife, by himself, reports the sheriff’s office.

Deputy Merria also had an intern riding with him at the time of this call, and they were both able to render aid to the female victim until rescue could respond to the scene.

The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s office has issued a warrant for his arrest.