Father and Sons Arrested for Otsego County Burglaries

A father and his two sons were arrested yesterday afternoon at the Montgomery County Jail, accused of committing several burglaries in the Otsego County community of Cherry Valley last September.

Arrested were:
John Daniel Mickels, 56, of Sprakers, Montgomery County
Joshua Daniel Mickels, 33, of Fort Plain, Montgomery County
Jonathan Daniel Mickels, 29, of Middleburgh, Schoharie County

In September 2013, a Salt Springville resident reported that money and prescription medications were missing out of her residence. In October 2013, another property owner noticed that his log splitter valued at over $2,000 was missing and reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office. The property owner also provided surveillance photographs from his property with an unknown male in them. Joshua Mickels was developed as a suspect from these photographs.

Investigators from the Otsego and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Offices and State Police Fonda located and interviewed the Mickels last November. The stolen log splitter was recovered in Schoharie County. Officials say that the Mickels stole the medications and money out of the house and that they conspired and attempted to commit burglaries of a cabin, pole barn, and a shed, as well as stealing the log splitter from the other property.

The Mickels were arrested and have been in the Montgomery County Jail on $100,000 bail since then.

Yesterday the Mickels were arraigned in the Town of Cherry Valley Court with bail set at $10,000. They were returned to the Montgomery County Jail following their court appearance, and will reappear in court on June 16th.

They have been charged with: burglary, grand larceny, and attempted burglary, all felonies. If convicted of these crimes they face up to 22 years in state prison.

The arrests came as the result of a joint investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, NY State Police at Fonda, NY State Police at Cobleskill, and the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office.