GHENT — Columbia County Sheriff Donald J. Krapf reports the arrest of a Philmont man on multiple felony weapons charges following an incident on Aug. 27.
At approximately 12:29 a.m., deputies responded to the area of County Route 21C near the Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent after receiving a suspicious activity complaint involving a Ford pickup truck driving back and forth and a male subject yelling obscenities.
Upon arrival, deputies observed a vehicle matching the description from the caller in the parking lot of the Hawthorne Valley Farm.
Deputies observed an AR-15 style rifle in plain view inside the vehicle, but no driver was present.
The firearm was secured and later determined to be a “ghost gun,” as it lacked a serial number.
Deputies later located the driver, who was identified as Jeffrey Moran, 27, of Philmont.
Moran was subsequently interviewed by investigators and charged with one count each of Criminal Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds (Class E felony), Criminal Possession of a Loaded Weapon in the Second Degree (Class C felony), and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree – Large capacity ammunition feeding device (Class D felony).
Moran was arraigned before the Honorable Judge Brandon in Claverack Town Court on Aug. 28 and remanded to the Columbia County Jail on $2,500 cash bail or $5,000 bond.
He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 3.
Although this incident occurred on property owned by Hawthorne Valley Farm and near the school, it appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no evidence to substantiate any threat directly related to Hawthorne Valley Farm or the school.
The investigation remains ongoing.
