MASSENA -- A Massena man is charged with stealing an excavator, according to St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Deputies.

William J. LaGrow, 55, of Massena, was charged with third-degree grand larceny after detectives received a complaint from Gaeton A. Yelle, 71, of Fort Covington that his 1997 Akerman-Volvo Excavator was missing.

In the spring, Yelle entered into a rental agreement with LaGrow to lease the machine for private contracting jobs in exchange for a percentage of the profits.

In the fall, Yelle wanted the machine back, but LaGrow told him he had no idea where it was.

During the search for the excavator, detectives received a tip from a citizen saying it could be in the Syracuse area.

Detectives went to Recreational Repair in Blossval, which is owned and operated by William H. Koenig, 37, where they found the missing excavator.

Koenig told investigators he bought the machine from LaGrow for $20,000, who claimed he owned it.

He said he took a bank loan to pay for it.

LaGrow was arraigned by Norfolk Town Justice George Grubee and released under the supervision of the St. Lawrence County Probation Department with orders to reappear at a later date.

The St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office are assisted by the Oneida Sheriff’s Department.

Police say there are further charges pending.