Plattsburgh Man Sentenced to Eight Years for Threats to CVPH
A Plattsburgh man received an eight-year prison sentence for making threats against Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital last winter
Plattsburgh, New York, Robert Thibodeau, CVPH, firearms, threats
So, here’s the scoop. Thibodeau was charged with eleven firearms-related offenses after a pretty wild incident back on February 13, 2024. His brother called the cops, saying Robert was on his way to the hospital with loaded guns. Talk about a tense situation!
The police jumped into action, thanks to the heads-up from his brother. They managed to catch Thibodeau not far from the hospital. When they searched his car, they found a loaded shotgun and some extra ammo. Yikes!
Thibodeau pleaded guilty to all the charges back in August. The court had set a cap of eight years for his sentence, which is pretty serious considering the maximum for his most severe charge could have been 15 years.
During the sentencing, Thibodeau claimed he never meant to hurt anyone and was just going to blow off some steam by shooting targets. But the court wasn’t buying it completely. They pressed him on his intentions, and he admitted he had thought about harming hospital management but said he had changed his mind by the time he was stopped.
The District Attorney’s Office wanted to push for a longer sentence, arguing that if it weren’t for his brother and the quick response from law enforcement, things could have turned tragic. They highlighted the fear and chaos that gripped the hospital during the incident.
In the end, the judge took into account Thibodeau’s clean record before this and his mental health struggles. But those factors didn’t outweigh the seriousness of what he did. He got the full eight years, plus five years of supervision after he gets out.
No hefty fines were slapped on him, but he did have to pay some mandatory fees. The District Attorney made it clear that they’re serious about keeping the community safe from threats like this. It’s a reminder of how quickly things can escalate and how important it is to act fast in these situations.