NORWICH – A man accused of burning down a Town of Afton home after burglarizing it asked to be released of his $50,000 bail in Supreme Court Friday, citing his drug addiction, lack of employment and prior criminal history.

The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office arrested Eric A. Nelson, 25, and Felix J. Hartman, 21, both of Afton, and charged them with second degree burglary and third degree arson, both class C felonies.

According to police, Nelson and Hartman entered the home at 331 State Highway 41, in the midnight hours of May 30 to steal an air conditioner, food and other assorted items of smaller value.

Police said a $300 air conditioning unit was the most expensive item taken and accounted for more than half of the value of all the stolen property.

Undersheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. alleges that after the defendants had taken the items, they decided to set the two story home, valued at $240,000, on fire so they could “cover their tracks.”

Crews responded a fire that completely destroyed the home at 3:45 a.m. May 31.

Nelson and Hartman were arrested and remanded to the Chenango County Correctional Facility on $50,000 following their arraignments in Town of Afton Court.

Nelson appeared before Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dowd Friday with his defense attorney Peter McBride to request that he be released without bail. His motion was denied.