Mohawk man indicted for excavating contaminated property

CANTON — A Mohawk man who was arrested Aug. 11 after being accused of taking matters into his own hands at the former General Motors plant in Massena was indicted by a St. Lawrence County grand jury Thursday.

Larry V. Thompson, 57, 693 Route 37, was accused of driving an excavator onto the property and removing contaminated soil in protest of the inaction of local government. He was also accused of using the excavator to dump the soil at the feet of five uniformed officers.

Mr. Thompson was indicted for second-degree criminal mischief, resisting arrest and reckless endangerment. He showed up at the grand jury room to testify on his behalf but refused to be represented by Stephen D. Button, St. Lawrence County public defender. He also objected to not being allowed to bring his cane, a symbol of his people’s constitution, into the grand jury room, but compromised the matter.

Mr. Thompson was then taken before Judge Jerome J. Richards in court, where he spoke an Indian language to the judge before repeating his statement in English. He told Judge Richards his constitution allows him to be represented by an attorney.

Mr. Thompson was not allowed to testify on his own behalf if he did not understand New York law. Without his testimony, the grand jury indicted him on the charges.

Also indicted Thursday were:

■ Matthew McGrath, 28, 6 N. Main St., Norfolk, who was indicted on a third-degree burglary charge. He is accused of entering the Super 8 Motel in Massena and demanding the cashier turn over cash in July.

■ Jon C. Petsche, 44, who was indicted on charges of aggravated driving while intoxicated and two counts of driving while intoxicated. He is accused having a blood-alcohol content of 0.22 percent Oct. 9 in Norfolk.

■ Dale S. Thompson, 42, 1962 County Route 49, Winthrop, who was indicted on two counts of driving while intoxicated. Mr. Thompson had a blood-alcohol content of 0.21 percent Oct. 30 in Winthrop.