Area News Roundup: Welfare fraud alleged

March 09, 2009 04:00 am

NORWICH _ Two Norwich residents were arrested Feb. 24 for allegedly filing paperwork with the Department of Social Services with false information, Chenango County deputies said.

Stefanie L. Butchko, 40, and Myron K. Frasier, 42, were charged with fourth-degree welfare fraud, a felony, and second-degree offering a false instrument for filing, a misdemeanor, deputies said. Their filings allowed them to obtain benefits they were not entitled to, deputies said.

They were issued appearance tickets to appear in Norwich City Court on March 5, deputies said.

{"headline18"/}Sex offender arrested

PLAINFIELD _ A registered Level 3 sex offender was arrested Thursday for failing to properly notify authorities when he moved from his Plainfield residence, Otsego deputies said.

Benjamin Guy Gardner, 34, of Oriskany Falls, was charged with failure to report an address change as required, deputies said.

Deputies received a tip last month that Gardner had moved. An investigation showed that he did not notify the Department of Criminal Justice Services within 10 calendar days, deputies said.

He was sent to Otsego County jail on $500 bail and faces up to four years' imprisonment if convicted, deputies said.

{"headline18"/}Man faces felony charge

NEW BERLIN _ A New Berlin man was arrested Friday on several charges after a home visit Feb. 27 by county probation department, Otsego deputies said.

Russell J. Kanser, 22, was charged with violations of probation, a felony; seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminally possessing a hypodermic instrument, both misdemeanors; and unlawfully dealing with fireworks, a violation.

He was sent to Otsego County jail without bail to appear March 13 in county court on the felony charge, deputies said. On the other charges, they said, Kanser was issued an appearance ticket returnable March 23 in Pittsfield Town Court.

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