SALEM – A Malden couple charged with robbing a woman as she was withdrawing money from a bank drive-up machine in Saugus last summer have pleaded innocent to the crime.Joseph Correale, 37, of 57 Bellvale St. and Andrea Russo, 26, of 86 Winchester St., both of Malden, pleaded innocent to unarmed robbery, a crime that could net them a potential life sentence in state prison.Salem Superior Court Judge Timothy Q. Feeley ordered Russo to remain held at the Framingham State Prison for Women in lieu of $10,000 cash bail, but agreed that the defense may seek a bail hearing at another court date.Correale was released on $500 cash bail with the condition that he stays away from his accuser and report in person once a week to probation until his case is resolved.A 22-year-old woman from Gloucester told authorities she was withdrawing money from a Bank of America ATM at 1093 Broadway in Saugus on Aug. 4 when a woman, later identified as Russo, approached her asking for directions.As the victim was taking her cash from the machine, Russo began yelling at her saying she had AIDS and grabbed the $200 and fled in a green Honda Civic, reportedly driven by Correale.The incident was captured on bank surveillance.The suspects were arrested a few days later.The victim reportedly was able to identify Russo as her assailant.The pair is scheduled to be back in court on Dec. 22 for a pretrial conference.Assistant District Attorney John B. Brennan is assigned to prosecute the case for the state.
