Two indicted on rape charges in Delaware Court

Christopher J. Roe, 35, of Davenport entered a plea of innocent to a first-degree rape charge for an incident that occurred in the town of Meredith on Aug. 15.

Delaware County Judge Robert Estes said the grand jury indictment indicated the incident involved forcible compulsion.

Lawyer Andrew VanBuren appeared in court with Roe, saying he was there in a pro bono capacity. After Roe requested a court-appointed attorney, Estes adjourned the case to Nov. 25 to give Roe time to fill out the required application. Roe is free on $2,000 bail.

Burnett A. Burnside Jr., 20, of Bloomville pleaded innocent to a charge of second-degree rape for having sexual intercourse with a girl less than 15 years old in Hamden in mid-August. He is also charged with second-degree sodomy, stemming from the same incident.

Burnside is free on $2,000 bail. His trial is scheduled to begin on March 25.

In other court business:

• Gordon A. Rider Jr., 38, of Hamden was arraigned on a seven-count indictment stemming from an incident on May 26 in the town of Colchester.

Rider pleaded innocent to two felony counts of driving while intoxicated, having a suspended registration, failure to keep right, having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, unlicensed operation, no insurance, refusal of a breath alcohol test and no plate lamp. Rider's trial is scheduled for March 25.

• Richard Hennessey, 23, of Walton appeared on a probation violation charge.

Among the long list of probation conditions Hennessey allegedly violated were numerous positive drug tests and writing checks on someone else's checking account. Hennessey requested a court-appointed attorney.

Delaware County District Attorney Richard Northrup said Hennessey has a case pending in grand jury this week, in which he is represented by Linden D. Summers III. Estes appointed Summers to represent Hennessey in the probation violation case.

• Guy Gray, 36, of Walton had been arraigned Oct. 7 on two charges of driving while intoxicated, first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation and having an unsafe tire. The charges stem from an incident on March 29 in the town of Colchester.

In a plea bargain agreement, Gray agreed to plead guilty to driving while intoxicated and a reduced charge of second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation in full satisfaction of the charges.

Northrup recommended a sentence of five years probation and whatever fines the court wished to impose.

Michael Mendelson, Gray's attorney, said he commended his client for making progress in dealing with his alcoholism.

Estes sentenced Gray to five years' probation on the driving while intoxicated charge, three years' probation on the second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation charge — to run concurrently — and fined him $1,500, plus the $210 crime victims assistance fee.

• Christopher Lloyd, 23, of Halcottsville was arraigned on charges of third-degree burglary, criminal possession of the controlled substance oxycontin and third-degree assault.

The charges stem from an incident in the town of Roxbury on Nov. 3, when Lloyd allegedly entered the home of Michelle Burroughs with the intent to commit a crime.

Estes assigned Mendelson to represent Lloyd, whose bail was reduced from $10,000 to $2,500. He remains jailed, with his trial scheduled for March 25.

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Patricia Breakey can be reached at (607) 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com.