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Melissa Castner indicted on additional felony charges

Melissa Castner (Photo provided — New York State Police)

MALONE — A Duane woman accused of assault in connection with a 2017 killing was indicted Tuesday on two additional felony charges.

Melissa L. Castner, 37, was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury on one count each of first-degree hindering prosecution and third-degree intimidating a witness, both felonies, according to information provided by the Franklin County District Attorney’s office.

The details for the first charge allege that Castner “rendered criminal assistance” to her father, John J. Castner, “on or about March 15 to April 4” earlier this year in the town of Bangor. The alleged criminal assistance was meant to “prevent, hinder or delay” the filing of criminal charges against the elder Castner by law enforcement.

John Castner is currently charged with one count each of second-degree murder, tampering with evidence and concealing a human corpse, as well as three counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon — all felony charges. He was first charged in April, when New York State Police discovered the body of Duane resident David Carpin on John Castner’s property.

State police said John Castner had previously admitted to shooting Carpin and burying him on the property last year; however, at a recent court appearance, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Melissa Castner had previously been charged with one count of second-degree assault, a felony, for allegedly attacking Carpin with a knife prior to the shooting.

In the second charge coming from the grand jury on Tuesday, Melissa Castner was alleged to have “wrongfully compelled or attempted to compel” another person with information relating to a “criminal transaction” to refrain from sharing that information with a grand jury, prosecutor, law enforcement officer or court. The crux of this alleged action was “by means of instilling in him a fear that the Defendant (Melissa Castner) would cause physical injury to such a person.”

Castner has pleaded not guilty to both charges; she was then remanded to Franklin County Jail in lieu of $15,000 cash bail or $30,000 bond.

Castner was previously incarcerated at St. Lawrence Correctional Facility, when she was facing a number of felony and misdemeanor charges unrelated to the 2017 Duane killing — including second-degree assault for an alleged stabbing and fourth-degree witness tampering in relation to incidents in St. Lawrence County. During her stay there, she was additionally charged with second-degree criminal mischief in connection with an alleged vandalism incident at a seasonal residence in Duane in February.

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