Man who 'rescued' a puppy while on LSD pleads guilty

Michael Orchard, 43, of Halfmoon is charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both felonies. (State Police) Michael Orchard, 43, of Halfmoon is charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both felonies. (State Police) Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Man who 'rescued' a puppy while on LSD pleads guilty 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

HALFMOON — The 44-year-old man who was high on LSD and broke into a neighbor's home to save their dog because he thought house was on fire Oct. 13 pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief Wednesday.

Michael Orchard of Halfmoon drove his car through a neighbor's fence, smashed their back glass sliding door and took their dog during a hallucination that night, State Police spokesman Trooper Mark Cepiel said in October.

Orchard believed he was "rescuing the dog from the house," Cepiel said.

Orchard was standing in the road holding the unharmed dog when troopers arrived and he peacefully handed the large white pup over, Cepiel said.

"Well, he's not a cat burglar," the trooper quipped.

Orchard, a resident of the Inglewood Drive neighborhood, drove the car from his property, across yards and through the fence, Cepiel said.

"At no time was he on the roadway," the trooper said, explaining why the man was not charged with driving while ability impaired. Orchard told the State Police he had used acid, Cepiel said.

Orchard was charged with burglary and criminal mischief, both felonies.

On Wednesday, he pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor criminal mischief — as well as an unrelated felony criminal contempt charge — in Saratoga County Court, according to the district attorney's office.

He was placed on interim probation and sent to treatment court ahead of his 2 p.m. Sept. 6 sentencing, the district attorney's office said.