Ellenburg Center man facing burglary charges

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May 4, 2009

<a href="mailto:draymo@pressrepublican.com">By DENISE RAYMO</a> The Press Republican Mon May 04, 2009, 05:57 PM EDT

MALONE — An Ellenburg Center man is being held in Franklin County Jail without bail for allegedly beating his estranged girlfriend, who police said jumped from a moving vehicle to get away from him.

Dolan J. LeClair, 36, of 146 Brandy Brook Road, was charged Monday with second-degree burglary for allegedly kicking in a door at the home of Jeffrey Russell. He then allegedly dragged out his estranged girlfriend, April Doughty, shoved her into his car and drove off.

Doughty and Russell are sister and brother.

While driving her to his home in Clinton County, LeClair allegedly continued to beat on Doughty, who police said jumped out of the moving vehicle on West Hill Road in Ellenburg Center.

He allegedly forced her back into the vehicle and continued on to his house where the beatings reportedly continued until she was able to escape out the back door and call police.

LeClair fled and was found a short time later holed up in a room at the Econo Lodge in Malone.

Doughty was taken to Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, where she was treated for a variety of bumps, bruises and scrapes then released.

In a statement to police, Russell said his sister’s left eye was swollen shut and was black and blue.

LeClair was arraigned in Town of Malone Court on one count of second-degree burglary and was sent to County Jail without bail.

He is to return to Town Court on Thursday.

According to statements given to State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation investigators, Doughty and LeClair had been dating off and on for 13 years. Statements said that on early Sunday morning, LeClair went to Doughty’s mother’s home in Burke, looking for her.

Her brother Alan Russell told police he was asleep in the living room between 1:30 and 2 a.m. when he was awakened by someone kicking his feet.

Alan said he saw LeClair was standing over him and that he smelled of alcohol and was staggering. LeClair reportedly had not knocked and knew from past experiences that he was not welcome there.

LeClair said he was looking for Doughty and was told she was with their brother Jeffrey in Chateaugay. After LeClair left, Alan reportedly called Jeffrey’s house to tell him LeClair was on the way.

Jeffrey told State Police that LeClair never showed up that night, so he went back to bed. Doughty called him at about 6 a.m. and said she was at LeClair’s parents’ house and needed a ride as soon as possible.

Jeffrey told investigators he could hear LeClair shouting in the background but couldn’t make out what he was saying.

State Police said the investigation is continuing, and additional charges are pending.

E-mail Denise A. Raymo at:

draymo@pressrepublican.com