Clayton murder suspect pleads not guilty in arraignment
jmurray@stargazette.com | @SGJeffMurray
One of two men charged in connection with the Sept. 29 death of a Town of Caton woman was arraigned Monday afternoon in Steuben County Court and pleaded not guilty.
Michael Beard, 44, of Elmira, was returned to jail following the arraignment and is being held without bail. Defense attorney William Kelley, of the Steuben County Public Defender's Office, entered a not-guilty plea on Beard's behalf during the arraignment.
Kelley reserved the right to make an application for bail at a later date.
Beard was indicted last week by a grand jury on a charge of first-degree murder — specifically, murder for hire — in the Sept. 29 slaying of Kelley Clayton in her Caton home.
Beard also was indicted on two counts of second-degree murder and other charges. Beard is accused of killing Clayton in return for something of value and faces a possible sentence of life without parole if convicted of first-degree murder, according to Chemung County District Attorney Weeden Wetmore, who was appointed special prosecutor in the case.
Wetmore wouldn't comment on the status of Kelley Clayton's husband, Thomas Clayton, 37, who also was charged in her death and remains free on bond.
Wetmore said he will aggressively prosecute Beard on all of the charges. .
The Steuben County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call at 12:39 a.m. Sept. 29 to 2181 Ginnan Road in the Town of Caton, where they found Kelley Clayton, 35, unresponsive on the floor of her home, the sheriff's office said. Steuben County District Attorney Brooks Baker said at the time that there was blunt force trauma involved in her death.
Beard was a known acquaintance of Thomas Clayton, who was charged with second-degree murder in Kelley Clayton's death.
Beard remains in the Steuben County Jail, where he has been since his Oct. 3 arrest.
County Judge Peter Bradstreet set Jan. 25 as the deadline for attorneys to file motions.
Follow Jeff Murray on Twitter @SGJeffMurray.