Saratoga County District Attorney Karen A. Heggen announced today that Justin P. Rock (DOB 02/10/1985) pled guilty to four (4) separate counts of Robbery in the Third Degree, a Class “D” Felony in violation of New York State Penal Law Section 160.05, in connection with his February 2022 crime spree within the City of Saratoga Springs.

Between February 19th and February 21st, 2022, the Defendant entered four (4) separate businesses in downtown Saratoga Springs, indicated that he had a firearm, and demanded cash from the register.  Between those dates, the Defendant entered the X-Tra Mart, Smoke n’ Save, Post Time Wine and Spirts, and I Love New York Pizza and made away with collectively hundreds of dollars in cash.  The Defendant, in fact, robbed three (3) separate business in such a manner on February 21st—two (2) of them less than ten (10) minutes apart.

Ultimately, the Defendant pled guilty in connection with all four (4) robberies, will pay full restitution to the victims, and will have his four (4) separate terms of State Prison run consecutively—or back-to-back— with one another.  He faces eight-to-sixteen (8-16) years in State Prison when he is sentenced on September 15, 2022.

District Attorney Heggen thanked the Saratoga Springs Police Department and the crime victims for their hard work, perseverance, and commitment to ensuring that Rock was held accountable.

“As I have stated previously,” said Heggen “… thanks to the experience of the Criminal Investigations Unit of the Saratoga Springs Police Department we were able to gather, analyze, and act upon a tremendous amount of video and physical evidence within a short period of time.  Given their seasoned professionalism we were able to quickly apprehend Justin Rock before he was able to harm anyone else.  Given the volume of evidence they were able to gather, we were able to bring about a just resolution to all four (4) cases which will hopefully discourage others from following in Justin Rock’s footsteps.” 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joseph Frandino together with Investigator Jack Barney.