{"headline18"/}Pair charged in blaze
AFTON _ Two Chenango County men were arrested last Sunday for allegedly burglarizing an Afton residence and then torching it.
Eric A. Nelson, 25, and Felix J. Hartman, 21, both of Afton, were charged late last week with second-degree burglary and third-degree arson in connection with the break-in and fire at the $240,000 home on state Route 41 on May 31, Chenango deputies said in a media release.
No one was at the home at the time of blaze, deputies.
The men entered the home during the previous night and stole property before starting a fire on a living-room couch, deputies said.
The Afton, Coventry, Bainbridge and Harpursville fire departments battle the blaze for about an hour, but the home was destroyed, deputies said.
Nelson and Hartman were arraigned in Afton Town Court and sent to Chenango County jail on $50,000 bail. They are to reappear at a later date for further court action.
{"headline18"/}Police: Man had meth
ONEONTA _ A headlight violation led to a felony methamphetamines arrest Sunday night, according to Oneonta state police
Gordon E. Sawyer, 66, of Greenville, was charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony.
A headlight violation was spotted by state police on Interstate 88 and Sawyer was stopped by police in the NBT Bank parking lot on Wall Street. A subsequent investigation revealed the drugs, troopers said.
Troopers did not immediately release the quantity of methamphetamines allegedly possessed by Sawyer.
Sawyer told police he was headed to singles night at the Elk's Club on Chestnut Street, troopers said.
He was still being arraigned late Sunday night.
{"headline18"/}Woman nabbed in theft
DELHI _ A Margaretville woman was arrested recently and charged with allegedly stealing more than $20,000 from an elderly victim in her care.
Barbara B. Ackerley, 58, was charged with third-degree grand larceny, a felony, for taking the money from the victim between Feb. 1, 2006, and June 9, 2008, Delaware County deputies said in a media release.
Ackerley was arraigned in Delhi Town Court and was released on her own recognizance pending. She is to appear at a later date with her attorney, deputies said.
The date of the arrest and additional information were unavailable from deputies Sunday night.
An order of protection was issued to the alleged victim and a witness, they added.
