Crime & Safety

Alleged Robber Says This Is the 'Craziest Thing' He Ever Did

John X. Tracy III claims he didn't have a gun and was drunk when police said he robbed Springs Wines & Liquors Saturday.

The 19-year-old accused of robbing a Springs liquor store was released on $10,000 bail after his arraignment on Tuesday.

John X. Tracy III hung his head down, his shoulder-length hair covering his face, as police escorted him into East Hampton Town Justice Court to face a first-degree robbery charge, a violent felony, related to the robbery at Springs Wines & Liquor on Saturday.

Tracy forced the clerk at the store to open the cash register, "displaying what appeared to be a gun inside of his sweatshirt pocket and threatening serious injury," according to the criminal complaint East Hampton Town police filed with the court. He took $1,500 cash from the register, and fled, first on foot, then in a 2004 Dodge Ram pickup truck, police said.

According to the complaint, Tracy made an oral admission: "This is about Saturday, just so you know I didn't have a gun, that was the craziest thing I ever [sic] ever done, I was drunk."

No weapon was found on him during his arrest Monday morning. He did not give a written statement.

When asked, Tracy told East Hampton Town Justice Catherine A. Cahill that he graduated from East Hampton High School in 2012. He said he attended one semester of college in Vermont, but then returned to the area.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office requested $50,000 cash or $150,000 bond. A grand jury is expected to be convened.

Defense attorney John O'Brien said that his client's parents, who were sitting in court, were prepared to post $10,000 cash bail. "He has no intention of fleeing the jurisdiction," O'Brien said.

Justice Cahill agree to set bail at $10,000.

Less than a half-hour later, he left with his parents John Tracy and Judi Desiderio.

Cahill put the case on her calendar for Dec. 5, though the case would be transferred to Suffolk County Criminal Court if there is a grand jury indictment.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.