Town man acquitted in Cantine trespass case

A town resident has been acquitted of trespassing at Cantine Field last summer, according to a Saugerties Town Court clerk.

David C. Moorhus was arrested on Aug. 3, 2017, by Saugerties police and charged with trespassing, a misdemeanor. At the time, Police Chief Joseph Sinagra said Moorhus had climbed a fence at the Cantine complex, scaled a building and removed security cameras he owned and had installed as a volunteer with the Saugerties Stallions collegiate baseball team.

Sinagra, who is also a member of the Stallions’ advisory board, said Moorhus had installed the cameras, which were used to livestream baseball games, in exchange for advertising and free baseball camp for his children. The chief said Moorhus had a disagreement with the team’s owner, Kevin Hinchey, and removed the cameras “during the early morning hours of July 4.”

In an email Thursday, Moorhus said he had declined an offer to have the case adjourned in contemplation of dismissal, choosing instead to go to trial.

A Town Court clerk who declined to give her name confirmed Thursday that Moorhus was acquitted.

A police department “narrative report” written by the arresting officer, Patrick Hastings, said Town Justice Claudia Andreassen “dismissed the charge.”

Moorhus’ lawyer, Bruce Blatchly, did not return a reporter’s call Thursday.