Pemberwick Couple plead not guilty in Byram burglary spree

A former Byram property manager and his wife pleaded not guilty Monday in state Superior Court to charges stemming from a burglary spree that took place at the condominium complex where he once worked.

Michael Orr, 33, and his wife Elissa Temple-Orr, 32, both of 8 Susan St., East Longmeadow, Mass., appeared separately before a judge, one week after police charged the duo in a string of burglaries that occurred at the Greenwich Shore Apartments between January 2009 and September 2010.

Temple-Orr appeared first, wearing a black suit and blue-collared shirt. Her attorney, Wayne Keeney, entered a procedural not guilty plea on her behalf and asked for a new court date.

Michael Orr, who is being held on a $500,000 bond, appeared minutes later in a sweater vest and white-collared shirt. Orr stood silently as his not guilty pleas were entered. Temple-Orr had left the courtroom by the time her husband appeared.

Orr is charged with eight counts of third-degree burglary, five counts of first-degree larceny, one count of second-degree larceny, two counts of third-degree larceny and one count of fourth-degree larceny. His wife is charged with one count of first-degree larceny and one count of fourth-degree larceny.

Following the hearing, Orr's attorney, Sharon Friday, declined to comment on the case. When asked for comment, Keeney said his client had little to do with her husband's charges.

"Her participation in this matter is, at worst, peripheral," Keeney said.
Although Temple-Orr is not charged with burglary, police said they found her in possession of some of the stolen items.

Orr and his wife first came under scrutiny in late September 2010 when a traffic stop led to the discovery that the two were living in squalid conditions on Pemberwick Road, according to police. Their 6-year-old child was taken away at the time.

Police had stopped Orr's vehicle because they suspected him of dealing heroin. As police approached him, Orr attempted to toss away a wax bag containing heroin, which he had taken out of his pants pocket, according to police. After a search of his home, police found "numerous dirty, uncapped syringes" that were easily accessible to the child, they said.

Police also found men's jewelry worth about $16,000 that had been reported stolen in a residential break-in at Greenwich Shore Apartments, located on Ritch Avenue, earlier that day. Police said that arrest led to a more in-depth investigation into a string of similar thefts at the condo complex.

At the time, Orr was charged with risk of injury to a minor, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia, and second-degree larceny. Temple-Orr was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and second-degree larceny. Those charges are pending.

Consolidated Management Group Inc., the company that manages the property where Orr once worked, said they were shocked by the charges because Orr was well liked. Police said they do not anticipate any further charges.

Orr remains held on a $500,000 bond. Both Orr and his wife are scheduled to appear back in state Superior Court on March 2.