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Law and Order: Man accused of installing illegal water line

By Howard B. Owens

Robert Augustus Hilchey, 60, of North Pearl Street, Oakfield, is charged with theft of services. Hilchey is accused of installing a water supply line at the Oakfield Fire Department at a location prior to the Village of Oakfield water meter, allowing himself and others to use water before it could be measured.

Lisa Sue Metcalf, 33, of Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield, is charged with criminal possession of stolen property. Metcalf was arrested at her residence on a warrant out of Town of Oakfield Court. She was arraigned and released under supervision of Genesee Justice.

Bryan S. Harris, 30, of 50 Montclair Ave., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Harris is accused of pushing another person against a vehicle.

Michael L. Titus, 28, of 71 S. Main St., Batavia, is charged with strangulation, 2nd, and harassment, 2nd. Titus is accused of choking and punching a victim during an argument. Titus was jailed without bail.

John L. Taggert, 31, of 16 N. Lyon St., Batavia, is charged with harassment, 2nd. Taggert is accused of shoving a family member against a wall. Taggert was jailed on $1,500 bail.

bob hilchey

THIS IS ROBERT HILCHEY AND I DID NOT MAKE A CHANGE TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT TO STEAL WATER. WE HAD A VALVE THAT WAS LEAKING AND I PUT A NEW ONE IN ABOVE IT. TO STOP THE CONSTANT DRIP. THE FIRE DEPT.HAS HAD THE ABILITY TO WASH THE FIRE TRUCKS FROM THIS FOR YEARS.. THIS WAS BROUGHT UP AT OUR MEETING AND EVERYONE PRESENT WAS AWARE OF THE FIX !! THIS IS HOW OUR VILLAGE BOARD THANKS ME FOR MY 42 YEARS OF SERVICE.

Mar 1, 2013, 11:17am Permalink
Irene Will

Maybe some of the people on the Village Board need to VOLUNTEER to be FIREMEN. Then they will accomplish TWO things - - they'll be doing something to HELP by volunteering, AND they'll know what's going ON. Of course, someone will have to EXPLAIN to them that VOLUNTEER = UNPAID.

Mar 1, 2013, 11:25am Permalink
Fred GUNDELL

Are you serious? Why is this even in print? The whole economy is sinking and we here in Genesee County are worried about a water valve. Then posting the stupid thing in the Law and Order column. Last I knew, God provided the water. If somebody was selling it or using it for personal use(and it would have to be a lot of personal use, then forget the whole thing, and replace the valve to where is should be>> Thats All!!

Mar 1, 2013, 2:37pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

It's in print because the Sheriff's Office sent out a press release.

We have a very simple policy: If we receive a press release on an arrest, we publish it. No exceptions. It's not my place to pass judgement on the validity of the arrest.

We've published arrest reports of people who buy advertising, of good personal friends and even after people have called with compelling stories about why their son's or daughter's arrest should be the exception.

There are no exceptions. The minute I start playing favorites over arrest reports is the minute we lose credibility.

Mar 1, 2013, 3:35pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Ive recently noticed that many posters on this site tend to speak of the accused as if they had already been convicted.
It strikes me as being peculiar, given how so many on the site scream about losing their rights. Just saying.....
again, Gary.

Mar 1, 2013, 9:46pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Thing is most preface their opinions with statements like..." If this guy did this", though Frank so your characterization is a little generalized. Then there are also some cases that are witnesses to incidents like Jacquetta Simmons who may be speaking from being right there when something happens or a victim. Either way though, opinions arent facts. Even if you want to credit them as such for the sake of argument.

Mar 2, 2013, 4:47am Permalink
kevin kretschmer

Thank goodness this vast criminal enterprise has been nipped in the bud. Who knows what other devious schemes were in the works at the Oakfield VFD; Fire Police using non UL approved traffic wands or the Bingo Committee selling faulty daubers. The NYSP should set up a white collar crime task force to investigate fully. After they're done with the fire dept. they can look into the local church bake sale to be sure they're not selling pies made w/ canned pie filling. Oh, the horror of it all!

Mar 2, 2013, 10:08am Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Kyle, I would agree had I not taken a trip down "old news lane "
I'm probably just as guilty in some cases.
My point was/is, innocent until proven guilty, regardless of witness statements, any and all evidence, and even a confession by the accused.
A suspect is only a suspect until his/her day in court, that is a gaurenteed right.
Gary's comment infers the guy is stealing, doesn't look like an opinion to me.

Mar 2, 2013, 10:34am Permalink
Jason Post

So, if I understand you correctly, theft should go unpunished so long as it is small. So, if I steal a quarter from someone every day for a year ($.25x365=$91.25 per year). I should just be told "stop stealing" slapped on the wrist and that's it?
I don't know what the Oakfield Fire Department water-bill looks like, but I know it would take my family less than 6 months to rack up $100 of water not paid for if I bypassed the meter. Maybe it's not a huge amount of money, but it adds up.

Mar 2, 2013, 11:19am Permalink
Kyle Couchman

Frank I understand your point but its not a black and white world. Look a rape victim in the eyes and tell her that her rapist is innocent til a court tells her he's guilty. Especially since just one minor insignificant error on the side of the police can negate a person's guilt. at least in a court of law. We all know that justice isnt always served by the law. It is however what we have to keep order. Til we have something better its what it is. But a little naieve, thinking that because the law says so everyone is truly innocent until that guilty verdict comes down. Because that just isnt truth.

Mar 2, 2013, 3:08pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Kyle, probably looks the same as putting the wrong person in prison, each side has its own weakness, there is nothing naive about that.
Would it be naive to think that every citizen in this country has the right to bear arms?, because that is just not the truth either.
It is what it is???, no, its not, it is what we've let it become.
In my opinion, that cute little message," it is what it is" is an excuse for not having the courage, the strength, or the fortitude to change something.

Mar 3, 2013, 10:09am Permalink
carol grasso

Just want to thank all that came to the 1st Euchre Tournament for the Friends of the Batavia Peace Garden at Daphine's today. It was a great success!! We had 8 tables and everyone had a good time. Hopefully we can do it again. Tell others if you enjoyed it so we can make it even bigger next time. Thanks again, The Friends of the Batavia Garden!!

Mar 2, 2013, 10:19pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

Carol, sorry I did a votedown, but you're either off topic, or on the wrong page. I do however love to play euchre!! ,lol :)=

Mar 3, 2013, 2:37pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

I really cant argue that Frank... People really want everthing done for them. I could see the truth when I was before the council complaining about snow removal and the city's refusal to enforce the ordinance because they felt uncomfortable. I referenced someones comments from here where a council member told him if he wanted sidewalks shoveled he should go and tell them himself. I called it a very arrogant response, of course when it was their turn to comment he owned up to it and spun it saying it was a neighborly thing to do. Then they discussed the issue and still decided not to enforce the ordinance. What does our code enforcement officer do then all winter? Is he still recieving a paycheck for ignoring the ordinance?

The council as of late is very confused about more people standing up and speaking their minds. I think more are gonna start doing it soon. Maybe it'll catch on in the County and we can reign in the moneypit called GCEDC as well.

Mar 4, 2013, 7:23am Permalink

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