Sackets Harbor man who represented himself found guilty of credit-card larceny

A Sackets Harbor man who represented himself at trial was found guilty of fourth-degree grand larceny after a non-jury proceeding in Jefferson County Court, according to a report citing state court system public records. Josue Rivera is scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 23 before Jefferson County Court Judge David A. Renzi.

Court records list Rivera, about 56, as having been tried before a judge rather than a jury on one count of fourth-degree grand larceny involving a credit card. The record lists the outcome as tried and found guilty.

The charge and arrest

Under New York Penal Law, fourth-degree grand larceny includes stealing a credit or debit card and is classified as a class E felony. The charge in Rivera's case stems from an incident on Sept. 25, 2025, involving a credit card. A Watertown police blotter said the card was used on Oct. 2, 2025.

Watertown City Police arrested Rivera on Jan. 10, 2026. The case moved through Watertown City Court for arraignment before proceeding to Jefferson County Court.

Police blotters also listed a second-degree criminal contempt misdemeanor in connection with the arrest. The trial report described one count of grand larceny, and the available material does not establish the outcome of the contempt charge.

Accounts of the credit-card incident differ on whether the card was used with or without the victim's permission. That detail was not part of the trial outcome described in the court-record report.

Trial and sentencing

Rivera represented himself during the non-jury trial. The case was decided by a judge rather than a jury, and the public court record lists him as found guilty.

Renzi is listed by the New York State Unified Court System as a Jefferson County Court judge. He was sworn in as the county court judge in December 2019, succeeding Kim Martusewicz, who retired.

Sackets Harbor is a village in the town of Hounsfield in Jefferson County, near Watertown. The case's movement from city court to county court reflects the path of a felony case after an initial arraignment.

What happens next

Rivera is scheduled to appear for sentencing Nov. 23, 2026, before Renzi. Sentencing dates can change. The conviction may be appealed.

Updates about the case may be available through the Jefferson County Court calendar or from the county court clerk's office at 315-570-2955. New York's grand-larceny statute and information about Jefferson County Court are available through the New York State Senate and the New York State Unified Court System.