UTICA, N.Y. -- A homeowner who shot and killed two intruders who police said were burglarizing his home in May has been cleared of any crime, his lawyer said today.

Ronald Stolarczyk, 64, had been facing a charge of criminal possession of a firearm, a felony, after he shot and killed Patricia Talerico and Nicholas Talerico as they were breaking into his Deerfield home. The homeowner’s handgun wasn’t registered as required by state law, authorities said.

The charge against Stolarczyk was dropped in Deerfield town court Monday night after the Oneida County District Attorney’s office made a motion to dismiss the charge and the judge agreed, Mark Wolber, Stolarczyk’s lawyer, told Syracuse.com | The Post Standard today.

Wolber said he has asked from the outset that the charge be dropped “in the interest of justice” and had numerous conferences with the DA’s office on the subject.

Today, Stolarczyk is “very relieved,” Wolber said. “He’s not a very emotional person, but is very happy this is over with.”

Patricia Anne Talerico, 57, and Nicholas A. Talerico, 27, of Utica - an aunt and her nephew - were burglarizing the home at 6110 Walker Road in Deerfield when they were shot by the homeowner, according to New York State Police.

Oneida County District Attorney Scott McNamara has said it appeared the two intruders were unarmed, but Wolber said Stolarczyk didn’t have time to notice that they were not armed.

Stolarczyk had a cell phone that had no regular service but was able to call 911 after shooting the two people, his lawyer said. He then went down to the driveway to meet police, Wolber said.

The weapon used was a 38-caliber Rossi revolver, according to the court papers.

Wolber previously said his client didn’t know the two intruders, or know what they were after in his house, or if they thought it was abandoned.

Stolarczyk lived in the home with his parents, but they have both died, Wolber said. His dad owned the handgun, and Stolarczyk said he recently discovered it in the home and never registered it himself, he said.

Wolber said Stolarczyk is now living in an apartment, and probably won’t return to his Deerfield home. The home, which had no electricity or running water, was condemned due to its condition after the shooting.