By Denise Richardson
ONEONTA _ Jason Corrigan, who placed third in last month's Oneonta mayoral election, has been arrested on harassment and forcible-touching charges.
Corrigan, a 21-year-old senior at the State University College at Oneonta, was charged Wednesday with aggravated harassment, a misdemeanor, in a case involving a complaint by former Mayor Kim Muller, Oneonta police said. And he was charged with harassment, a violation, and forcible touching, a misdemeanor, in a case involving a college student, police said.
Corrigan turned himself in at the police station in the Public Safety Building after 4 p.m. Wednesday, was booked at 5:25 p.m. and released on $500 bail, pending appearance in Oneonta City Court on Wednesday, police said.
The court issued orders of protection for the complainants.
Corrigan responded to a telephone request for comment with an e-mailed statement.
"Since I did not win the election, I have returned to being a student and private citizen, and have absolutely no impact or influence on the community or its direction,'' Corrigan said in his statement. "My personal life has nothing to do with Oneonta anymore, and I would appreciate respect and privacy on behalf of the local media outlets just as any other private citizen would.
"I am confident that all information will be considered and that we will reach on an overall truth.''
Reached by telephone at about 7:35 p.m. Thursday, Corrigan said he had no further comment and later sent an e-mail referring other questions to his attorney, Joseph Ermeti.
Oneonta police said the two cases were based on complaints described below:
Corrigan used "nasty'' language when leaving a voice-mail message for Muller between 12:01 a.m. Nov. 3 and 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4.
The complaint led to the charge of aggravated harassment.
Muller, director of grants development at SUNY Oneonta, declined to comment on the case because it is pending, other than to say the call prompted her to seek a court order of protection.
Corrigan is accused of harassing a 20-year-old SUNY Oneonta student between June 21 and Oct. 19, police said. He is accused of trying to put his hand up the back of her shirt and grabbing her buttocks, said police, who withhold names of alleged victims in sexual crimes.
The penalty for a conviction on a misdemeanor offense may include imprisonment of no more than a year, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice Services website.
Oneonta police said the temporary orders of protection were requested by the complainants and approved by the court. The order requires a person to stay away from complainants, from their home, school or place of employment and not contact them, police said.
SUNY Oneonta spokeswoman Carol Blazina said Thursday the college hadn't been notified by city authorities about the Corrigan's arrest. But his arrest and circumstances surrounding the incidents will be considered by Judicial Affairs Officer Amanda Kaikis in the first step of a review process for infractions or misdemeanor cases, Blazina said.
The disposition could range from requiring attendance in an educational or behavioral-modification program to dismissal, Blazina said.
Corrigan, a communications studies major, hasn't applied, as other seniors have, to graduate in May, Blazina said. Corrigan lives off-campus.
He declared his candidacy in the mayoral race April 23.
He lost a Democratic primary to Richard Miller, former president of Hartwick College, by a wide margin, but continued his campaign under the Unifying Oneonta party, which he founded.
In the general election, Richard Miller, an independent running on the Democratic line, took 50.2 percent of the vote while Erik Miller, a Republican, won 41.6 percent. Corrigan garnered 8.2 percent on his independent party line.
Richard Miller said he had no comment Thursday about Corrigan's arrest. By 8 p.m., Erik Miller hadn't returned a voice-mail message left at his home number at about 6:15 p.m.
Mayor John Nader said Thursday that as a matter of practice, police kept him informed about the complaints and Corrigan's arrest. City Judge Walter L. Terry III issued two orders of protection for the individuals who filed the complaints, said Nader, who added that further comment about ongoing police investigations wasn't appropriate.
Corrigan, originally from Clifton Park, previously attended the State University College at Plattsburgh, and college and university authorities investigated complaints involving him in 2007.
According to a report by the Plattsburgh Police Department, Corrigan was drunk and had a cut on his head when interviewed May 11, 2007, about a fight. Corrigan allegedly sprayed Mace into the face of a male "in self-defense,'' the report said, and the male was admitted to the hospital for treatment of the effects of the pepper spray and a complaint of pain in his left shoulder.
The incident appeared to be "mutual combat'' between Corrigan and the male, Plattsburgh police said, and they and other individuals involved didn't want further police assistance. A copy of the report was obtained through a Freedom of Information request this autumn by The Daily Star.
On Thursday, officials with the Plattsburgh City Police and state police at Ray Brook said there was no record of Corrigan being arrested.
Michelle Ouellette, spokeswoman for SUNY Plattsburgh, said there was no record that University Police arrested Corrigan, who was enrolled from fall 2006 to spring 2008.
However, Cardinal Points, the SUNY Plattsburgh student newspaper reported Feb. 26, 2008, in its police blotter for Oct. 18, 2007:
"11:36 p.m. _ Harrington Hall _ An off campus student reported to University Police that he had just been assaulted near the west side basement entrance to Harrington Hall. The victim knew one of the individuals involved. Officers checked the area and the dorm for the suspects with negative results. A crime incident report was filed. On Oct. 19 University Police arrested Jason Corrigan of deFredenburgh Hall and charged him with sixth-degree conspiracy.''
A case involving Corrigan was disposed of in November 2007 but was sealed and no other information could be released, a Plattsburgh City Court official said Thursday.
In Oneonta, the cases against Corrigan were handled by the patrol division, police said. Officer Eric Berger investigated the aggravated harassment complaint. Branden Collison, who recently was promoted to detective, handled the harassment and forcible-touching case.
Officers arresting Corrigan after he turned himself in Wednesday were Tara Gregory and Charles Whitmore.
Oneonta police said they investigated another complaint about Corrigan but the case didn't result in an arrest.
___
Denise Richardson can be reached at 432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 213, or at drichardson@thedailystar.com.
