A local man accused of burning down his own house after getting into a fight with his girlfriend has filed motions in Cayuga County Court claiming he has been held in the Cayuga County Jail for more than 45 days without being indicted for a crime.
According to state law, a defendant must be released after 45 days if they are not officially indicted.
Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich adjourned a decision on the motion made by Chad Towsley, 31, of 923 Poplar Ridge Road, until Thursday on the grounds that there was insufficient information in the paperwork to show how long Towsley had been in custody.
Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Towsley's case would be going to a grand jury on Wednesday, which could make the motion a moot point if he is indicted for third-degree arson, first degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal mischief, all felonies, and fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.
Towsley was accused of burning down his Aurora home on May 30 after an investigation by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office ruled out all accidental causes for the fire that gutted the house.
Towsley is currently being held in the county jail with bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.
Within the past seven years, Towsley has been charged with animal abuse, criminal possession of stolen property and driving while intoxicated.
Also in court:
* A local man pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property after he sold a stolen New Holland skid steer to a friend.
In exchange for his plea deal, Wright K. Hampton, 36, of 2612 E. Main St., Cato, will pay his friend back $6,000 in restitution for the equipment which was confiscated by the police as evidence.
Hampton may also receive community service in addition to five years probation when he is sentenced on Sept. 30.
* An Auburn man who is already serving a one-year burglary sentence in the county jail pleaded not guilty in a separate incident to felony burglary, felony grand larceny and misdemeanor petit larceny.
Charles Allen, 20, of 2465 Dublin Road, Auburn, was previously convicted of burglarizing the Combat Zone on Gates Road in November 2007, and has a third-burglary charged pending in Auburn City Court.
* A local man pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanors of sex abuse and forcible touching.
Michael Sherman, 21, of 402 Mary St., apartment B, Clayton, is accused of touching a 13-year-old girl at his previous residence on Fitch Street in Auburn.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich adjourned a decision on the motion made by Chad Towsley, 31, of 923 Poplar Ridge Road, until Thursday on the grounds that there was insufficient information in the paperwork to show how long Towsley had been in custody.
Cayuga County District Attorney Jon Budelmann said Towsley's case would be going to a grand jury on Wednesday, which could make the motion a moot point if he is indicted for third-degree arson, first degree reckless endangerment and second-degree criminal mischief, all felonies, and fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.
Towsley was accused of burning down his Aurora home on May 30 after an investigation by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office ruled out all accidental causes for the fire that gutted the house.
Towsley is currently being held in the county jail with bail set at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.
Within the past seven years, Towsley has been charged with animal abuse, criminal possession of stolen property and driving while intoxicated.
Also in court:
* A local man pleaded guilty to possessing stolen property after he sold a stolen New Holland skid steer to a friend.
In exchange for his plea deal, Wright K. Hampton, 36, of 2612 E. Main St., Cato, will pay his friend back $6,000 in restitution for the equipment which was confiscated by the police as evidence.
Hampton may also receive community service in addition to five years probation when he is sentenced on Sept. 30.
* An Auburn man who is already serving a one-year burglary sentence in the county jail pleaded not guilty in a separate incident to felony burglary, felony grand larceny and misdemeanor petit larceny.
Charles Allen, 20, of 2465 Dublin Road, Auburn, was previously convicted of burglarizing the Combat Zone on Gates Road in November 2007, and has a third-burglary charged pending in Auburn City Court.
* A local man pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanors of sex abuse and forcible touching.
Michael Sherman, 21, of 402 Mary St., apartment B, Clayton, is accused of touching a 13-year-old girl at his previous residence on Fitch Street in Auburn.
Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net
