NORWICH – A North Norwich resident facing numerous felony charges was arrested yesterday on an active bench warrant issued by the Town of North Norwich Court for failure to appear in court on a charge of unlawful growing of cannabis.
A sheriff’s deputy observed Henry W. Hemsley, age 73 – who authorities said was aware of the existing warrant – outside of his North Norwich home and attempted to take him into custody. It’s alleged that Hemsley then attempted to run into his residence and fought with the deputy prior to his arrest. He was taken into custody and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail to re-appear in the Town of Norwich Court at a later date.
Editor’s Note: The following information was published in the August 20, 2013 edition of The Evening Sun:
• On Sept. 7 of 2012, the Chenango County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Hemsley’s county Road 32 residence in the Town of Norwich. During their search, authorities allegedly found 45 marijuana plants as well as two pounds of processed marijuana and more than 200 long guns including some high profile weapons. Among the weapons seized were two fully automatic AK-47 assault rifles; a fully automatic M16 assault rifle; a .44 Vietnam Commemorative Revolver; a .45 caliber Colt M1911 handgun; a .41 caliber Smith & Wesson Revolver; a semi-automatic 9mm Taurus handgun; a .22 Dan Wesson revolver; a .22 caliber Ruger Mark II revolver; and a .22 caliber Marlin Handgun.
The lawful search of Hemsley’s property in September resulted in the following charges being filed against him: second degree criminal possession of marijuana, a class D felony; six counts of third degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class D felony; and seven counts of fourth degree criminal possession of a weapon, a class A misdemeanor. He was indicted on those charges in December. A hearing on the matter has been scheduled for later this year.
• On March 3, 2013, Hemsley was arrested again and charged with petit larceny and trespassing following an incident at the Norwich Wal-Mart. Those charges are still pending in the Town of Norwich Court.
• On August 7, 2013, a warrant for violating the conditions of his release for the possession of weapons charges was issued by Chenango County Court after a sheriff’s deputy allegedly observed a marijuana plant growing on his lawn on July 31 of this year.
• In an unrelated matter, Hemsley was charged in 2008 with third degree criminal possession of marijuana, a class E felony, and unlawful growing of marijuana, following a tip which led to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office collecting approximately 500 marijuana plants which had allegedly been growing behind Hemsley’s house.