PLATTSBURGH — The Plattsburgh man convicted of making threats to Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital management last winter was sentenced to eight years in prison Wednesday.
Robert Thibodeau was sentenced on eleven firearms related offenses that stem from an incident that occurred on Feb. 13, 2024, according to a news release from Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie.
As previously reported by the Press-Republican, police apprehended Thibodeau, 52, on Feb. 13 after receiving a call from a relative of his that he was on his way to University of Vermont Health Network — Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh and believed to be in possession of loaded firearms.
The relative, who was later identified as Thibodeau’s brother, John, also told police that Thibodeau had recently been terminated from the hospital and made comments about returning to CVPH to harm individuals. He then provided police with a description of Thibodeau’s vehicle, police said.
Plattsburgh City Police, with the assistance of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Department, SUNY Plattsburgh University Police and New York State Police, were then able to intercept Thibodeau on Prospect Avenue near Broad Street in the City of Plattsburgh, not far from the hospital.
A loaded semi-automatic shotgun and additional ammunition was recovered from Thibodeau’s vehicle, the news release said.
Thibodeau had pled guilty to all eleven charges contained in the indictment against him on Aug 26.
At that appearance, both the District Attorney’s Office and the Court, Hon. Keith M. Bruno presiding, committed to a cap of eight years for the potential prison exposure Thibodeau faced.
The most serious charge Thibodeau faced, charging him with possessing the shotgun with the intent to use it unlawfully against another, carried a potential maximum of 15 years in prison.
Thibodeau was warned that the District Attorney’s Office and the Court would not be bound by that cap if he violated certain warnings, which included that he needed to be honest with the Probation Department during an interview to prepare a pre-sentence investigation report.
At Thibodeau’s sentencing on Dec. 10, the District Attorney’s Office, represented by Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Kehm, noted that Thibodeau had claimed in his interview to Probation that he had never intended to hurt anyone on that day and that he had the shotgun in his vehicle because he was going to his father’s property in Chazy to “blow off steam” and shoot targets.
The Court questioned Thibodeau further about these statements and he claimed that he had at some point intended to use the shotgun to harm management at CVPH, but had “come to his senses” by the time he was stopped on Prospect Ave.
The District Attorney’s Office sought a hearing on the issue of whether Thibodeau had violated the warnings given to him at the time of his plea, and was potentially eligible for a sentence greater than eight years, but Judge Bruno denied the motion and found that Thibodeau’s statements did not rise to a level that warranted a hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Kehm argued for the maximum sentence of eight years, noting the all too frequent mass shootings in the United States and that if it had not been for the heroic actions of Thibodeau’s brother and the members of law enforcement who responded, the incident could have resulted in an absolute local tragedy.
Kehm further noted the fear and mental anguish suffered by those in the hospital, which was placed in lockdown, and the danger that law enforcement was placed in.
Finally, Kehm argued that Thibodeau was not being truthful with the Court or taking full responsibility for his crimes by claiming he was going to his father’s house and not to the hospital to shoot people.
Judge Bruno recognized Thibodeau’s lack of a criminal record prior to the incident on Feb. 13, the support he had from family and friends, and the mental health issues he was suffering at the time.
However, those factors did not ultimately outweigh the seriousness of Thibodeau’s actions or the suffering he caused and Thibodeau was sentenced to a total term of imprisonment of eight years, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
Judge Bruno did not impose any fines, but he did impose the mandatory $300 surcharge, $50 DNA fee and the $25 Crime Victims fee.
“Unfortunately these incidents are all too common and we are extremely fortunate that the actions of law enforcement and John Thibodeau prevented anyone from being injured or killed,” Wylie said.
“My office will always seek to hold individuals who threaten the safety of our community with firearms accountable.”