A local man accused of burning down his own home pleaded not guilty in Cayuga County Court Tuesday after he was indicted by a grand jury of five felony and four misdemeanor charges related to the fire.

Chad Towsley, 31, of 923 Poplar Ridge Road, Aurora, was indicted on Aug. 22 of third-degree arson, second-degree criminal mischief, first-degree reckless endangerment, aggravated cruelty to an animal and third-degree criminal mischief, all felonies. Towsley was also indicted on the misdemeanor charges of unlawful growth of marijuana, fourth-degree criminal mischief and two counts of making a false written statement.

Towsley is accused of using an accelerant to start a fire that destroyed his home, killing a household cat. Towsley was also accused of endangering the welfare of the responding firefighters by turning on the propane burners of a kitchen stove during the incident.

Bail remained at $25,000 cash or $50,000 bond.

Also in court:

• A local man pleaded guilty to felony burglary for his role in the theft of an 87-year-old woman's purse and car keys from her night stand as she slept.

Matthew Crawford, 18, of A-9 Brogan Manor, Auburn, admitted that he broke in through a bedroom window with the intent to rob the victim. Crawford also admitted that he stole the victim's car.

While sentencing was left at the judge's discretion, Crawford is expected to testify against his codefendant, Robert G. Miles, 19, of 67 Van Anden St., Auburn, if the case goes to trial.

Crawford will be sentenced Oct. 21.

• A North Carolina man was denied youthful offender status when he was sentenced to three years in prison with two years of post-release supervision for the felony criminal sale of a controlled substance.

Demetrius Graham, 16, of High Point, N.C., had pleaded guilty on July 22 to selling less than half an ounce of crack cocaine to an undercover officer on May 26.

Graham, who had been previously convicted of possessing a loaded gun in May 2006 and had a pending charge for possessing an illegal substance in New York City, was denied youthful offender status due to his prior criminal history.

• An Auburn man convicted of selling one to three grams of cocaine to an undercover informant in 2007 was sentenced to three years in prison with two years of post-release supervision.

Andre Murphy Jr., 21, of 70 Fitch Ave., Auburn, will also have to pay $150 in restitution and will receive a shock camp recommendation. The successful completion of the camp, which is similar to a military boot camp, will make Murphy eligible for an early release from prison.

Murphy has been convicted of three drug related crimes within the past two years, and was on probation when he was arrested for the current offense.

• An Auburn man was sentenced to six years in prison with two years post-release supervision for selling a controlled substance, a felony.

Louis McCartha, 32, of 65 Franklin St., Auburn, had previously been convicted of attempted sale of a controlled substance and robbery.

• A local man sentenced to two years in prison with two years post release supervision may not be able to enroll into shock camp despite the judge's recommendation.

Joshua Jones, 26, of 90 Cayuga St., Union Springs, was still suffering from a broken back and had recently suffered a pulmonary aneurysm, which had delayed his sentencing for more than three months.

Jones, who had pleaded guilty to the criminal sale of cocaine on April 1, will also have to pay $230 in restitution.

Cayuga County Judge Mark Fandrich said that while he would make the recommendation, Jones may not qualify for the program because of his medical conditions.

Staff writer Nate Robson can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or nathan.robson@lee.net