Lohnes Pleads Not Guilty; Case Will Go To Trial

by Bea Peterson
Michael Lohnes was arraigned before a Grand Jury on Thursday, July 23, on a four count indictment. The charges were burglary in the third degree, aggravated assault on an animal, cruelty to animals and criminal mischief. He pled not guilty. According to Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally, his case will now go to trial. The charges stem from a December 29, 2008, burglary at a Hill Road farm in Hoosick. A horse named Skye, boarded at the farm and owned by Dawn Feathers, was stabbed 20 times and killed the night of the burglary.
Charge Is A Criminal Sex Act
Thomas B. Farquharson, 54, of 1169 Route 2 was was arrested by NY State Police on Friday, July 25 and charged with criminal  sex act and endangering the welfare of a child. He is alleged to have had sexual contact with two girls under the age of 11. Farquharson was arraigned before Justice Siegfriend J. Krahforst in Petersburgh and remanded to the Rensselaer County jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or  $100,000 bond. Rensselaer County District Attorney Richard McNally said he has since waived his right to appear before a Grand Jury.
Burglary Update
Ronald Morelli of Stillwater was sentenced to three and a half to seven years in prison in connection with a string of burglaries in Rensselaer and Saratoga Counties. Tara Morelli and Gregory Frank of Hoosick face similar charges for those burglaries when they appear in court. Ronald Morelli pled guilty last month and has been cooperating with the District Attorney’s Office. Judge Andrew Ceresia sentenced Ronald Morelli as a repeat felon. He was convicted of a 1999 Saratoga County burglary and was sentenced to a two to six year term for that crime.