John Castner (Photo provided — New York State Police)

MALONE — A Duane man accused of killing a man and hiding the body has pleaded not guilty to all six related felony charges.

John J. Castner, 61, appeared in Franklin County Court on Monday to enter his not-guilty plea. Castner was represented by Public Defender Thomas Soucia, while District Attorney Craig Carriero led the prosecution. The arraignment was overseen by Judge Derek Champagne.

Castner is being 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.

Caster had previously confessed to the murder of a 61-year-old man in April; a New York State Police press release stated that Castner told state troopers that he shot and buried the man at his Old Meacham Road property in 2017.

A body was subsequently recovered from the property following the issuance of a search warrant by Franklin County Judge Robert G. Main. A firearm believed to have been used in the homicide has also been recovered.

The autopsy by Dr. Michael Sikirica confirmed that the victim was 61-year-old David Carpin of Duane and determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the chest. The death was then ruled a homicide.

A second suspect, 37-year-old Melissa L. Castner of North Bangor, John’s daughter, has also been arrested in connection with the investigation. She is charged with one count of second-degree assault, a felony.

New bail was also set for Castner during the hearing; he had previously been committed with $30,000 cash bail or $60,000 bond when he was taken into custody in April.

Carriero argued for no bail, citing that Castner was facing life in prison if convicted and thus had motive to flee; Carriero also cited Castner’s family ties to New Jersey.

Soucia, meanwhile, argued for “reasonable bail,” citing Castner’s local connections — including a mother living in an Elizabethtown nursing home — and 18 years of residence in Franklin County.

Judge Champagne ultimately committed Castner to Franklin County Jail on $500,000 cash bail or $1 million bond.

Champagne also scheduled a pretrial conference between the DA’s office and Castner for 9:15 a.m. Oct. 2.