MALONE — A Fort Covington man pleaded not guilty in Franklin County Court to eight charges, including four counts of rape.
Martin Lonkey, 50, remained in County Jail in lieu of $30,000 cash bail or $60,000 insurance bond following his recent arraignment on three counts of first-degree rape, one count of third-degree rape and four counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
He is accused of having sexual intercourse twice in 2007 with a child under 13, once in the summer of 2008 when she was still under 13 and again in June 2011 when the girl was under 17, said District Attorney Derek Champagne.
Lonkey is one of five men who recently appeared on County Court on sex-related charges.
CLAYTON SHENANDOAH
Clayton A. Shenandoah, 28, of Nedrow, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal sexual act, stemming from an incident Nov. 20, 2010.
Champagne said a woman had argued with her date during a night of "significant alcohol consumption," and Shenandoah offered to give her a ride home.
The woman told investigators she woke up in an abandoned building with no pants or underpants on.
Shenandoah was indicted by a grand jury in March 2011 for first-degree criminal sex act, first-degree rape, second-degree burglary and second-degree unlawful imprisonment.
Sentencing is set for April 2.
Christopher CHENAILLE
Christopher Chenaille, 26, of Brushton, pleaded guilty to second-degree course of sexual conduct against a child, stemming from incidents occurring between August 2006 and August 2009, beginning when the girl was 6 years old.
He offered an Alford plea where he did not fully recount his actions in court but agreed — after consulting with his attorney and receiving special instructions from Judge Robert G. Main Jr. — that there could be sufficient evidence to convict him if the case went to trial.
An Alford plea means that Chenaille did not admit to the act.
Chenaille was indicted by a grand jury in September for first-degree course of sexual conduct against a child and endangering the welfare of a child.
Sentencing is April 2.
CHARLES BURDASH
Charles J. Burdash, 27, of Malone, pleaded guilty to second-degree rape, stemming from an incident March 27, 2010.
He admitted having sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl.
Burdash was indicted by a grand jury for second-degree rape, second-degree criminal sexual act and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Sentencing will be April 2.
SHAWN NOREAULT
Shawn F. Noreault, 42, of Brushton, was sentenced to six months in County Jail after pleading guilty to promotion of a sexual performance by a child under 17, stemming from an incident May 18, 2010.
Champagne said he was detected by State Police Computer Crime Unit investigators who trace computer users who visit Internet sites with images of children involved in sex acts.
Noreault was ordered to serve 10 years of felony probation, pay a $1,000 sex-offender fee and a $2,500 fine.
"Sexual assault is horrific in of itself, but when it involves a deviant sex act with our children, it is the most horrific crime we have to deal with," Champagne said.
He said his office weighs each case and meets with the adult victims and the young victims' families about the outcome.
Email Denise A. Raymo at: draymo@pressrepublican.com
