by Bea Peterson
On January 5, according to NYS Trooper Maureen Tuffey, the New York State Police at Brunswick arrested Michael J. Lohnes, age 25, of Hoosick Falls, and Alyna A. O’Donovan, age 17, at a residence located at 610 19th Street Watervliet, NY. The arrests were the result of a criminal investigation that began on December 22, 2008. At that time the owner of a farm located on Hill Road in Hoosick reported that several out buildings had been burglarized and a horse boarded on the property had been slaughtered.
Lohnes, who was the subject of several active arrest warrants at the time, was determined to be a suspect in the crimes from physical evidence left at the scene. On December 23, a search warrant was executed at 31 Third St. within the Village of Hoosick Falls, Lohnes’ primary residence. At that time several personal items believed to link Lohnes to the crimes were seized.
O’Donovan who at the time was on probation with Rensselaer County Probation Department was believed to be traveling with Lohnes. On December 29, O’Donovan contacted Rensselaer County Probation and advised them she had cut off her monitoring bracelet as she was traveling with her boyfriend who was wanted by police.
“During the course of the investigation, countless interviews were conducted from Vermont to Virginia and numerous residences searched in an effort to locate Lohnes,” Trooper Tuffey said.
Lohnes and O’Donovan were arraigned before Hoosick Town Justice Thomas Restino. Lohnes was charged with burglary, criminal mischief and cruelty to animals. O’Donovan was charged with criminal mischief, criminal impersonation and hindering prosecution. Both subjects were committed to Rensselaer County Jail without bail.
A Heart Wrenching Loss
“I can only imagine her pain and terror,” said Dawn Feathers. Her horse, Skye, was killed on December 22. The 17 year old bay had a stall in a barn on Hill Road. She could wander the barn freely with another horse and a donkey. She was found dead in her stall. Feathers said Skye received at least 18 stab wounds. Many of them through her two blankets. There was a big wound on her back and three on her throat.
Since then Feathers said, “I’ve cried all my tears. I miss her.” When Feathers met Skye four and a half years ago the horse “had a lot of issues.” If Feathers had not taken her in, it is possible she would have been euthanized. Because of lameness the horse was not rideable, she said. Dawn worked with a farrier and over a long period of time the lameness went away. She was so fit that Feathers entered her in some show halter classes. “It was obvious that somewhere in her life she had been well trained,” said Feathers. “Skye was good with either adults or kids on her.” She handled well, both with English and Western styles of riding.
According to District Attorney Rich McNally, Buster’s Law applies to companion animals such as dogs and cats. It does not apply to horses. “This is something many horse people would like to see changed,” said Feathers. Cruelty to animals is a misdemeanor. Buster’s Law often carries a jail sentence of up to two years.