Cincinnatus man 'not sure why' he robbed Speedway gas station, court documents show

The Speedway gas station and convenience store, 106 Port Watson St, Cortland (Photo: Google Maps)

CORTLAND, N.Y. — Unarmed and under the influence of a psychoactive drug, a Cortland County man walked into a gas station and decided — on the fly — that he was going to rob the place, according to court documents.

Matthew T. Maricle, 21, was charged last month in connection with the robbery of the Speedway gas station at 106 Port Watson Street in Cortland. He faces charges of first-degree robbery, a class B violent felony, and second-degree criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor.

On Sat., Jan. 21, at around 11:40 p.m., an employee at the gas station was getting ready to end his shift when a man walked into the store carrying a large white trash bag.

The man told the employee he wanted to put money on his phone card. After the employee opened the cash register, the man reportedly asked the clerk, "Do you want to give me all the money in there?"

The employee, thinking the man was joking, said "not really," according to court documents.

"He then said, 'Give me all the money or I will f***ing shooting you,'" the employee told police.

The employee never saw a gun but decided not to take any chances. He gave the man all of the money that was in the register — roughly $800.

Maricle left the store and walked through several backyards in an attempt to evade police. Along the way, he dropped his large white trash bag. Police found him a short time later on East Court Street and charged him in connection with the robbery.

In his statement to police, Maricle recalls being high on the drug Molly and "just walking around" the city of Cortland.

"At one point I walked into the gas station on Port Watson Street. I'm not sure why but I decided to rob the gas station," Maricle said in his police statement.

Maricle is being represented by Cortland-based attorney Edward Goehler. A future court date has not been scheduled.