REPORT: Exford re-appears in Lewis County Court for bail hearing as new trial for double fatal fire is set for June

LOWVILLE- A new trial has been set for Shawn Exford, the man who was originally convicted in 2022 for being responsible for the deaths of two women in a fire, which occurred in the village on State Street during the fall of 2019.

On Tuesday, Exford was in Lewis County Court for a bail hearing, where Judge Daniel King set a bail for $500,000 cash, according to the latest updates from WWNY-TV.

While explaining the bail amount, Judge King reportedly cited that Exford is more likely not to return to court since he has already spent some time in prison.

He was originally convicted for the deaths of Saratina Kilbourne, 42, and Catherine Crego, 58.

In the late winter months of 2022, the jury first found Exford to be responsible for starting the blaze, which Exford maintained his innocence for.

Since his conviction, Exford has made a successful appeal, claiming that his conviction was based on circumstantial evidence and that the Judge failed to properly instruct the jury on that circumstantial evidence.

The new trial is slated to commence on June 9.

Image via Lewis County.gov.