Colgate Student Arrested on Numerous Charges

RFH 2010, Cover Stories, Colgate News

Tue, Jan 18, 2011

A Colgate student was sent to the Madison County Jail last week in connection with numerous charges.

Hamilton Village Police last week arrested a Colgate student from California on numerous charges. Michael J. Piznarski, 21, of Santa Barbara, CA -- who lives locally at 16 College St. -- was charged with four counts:

Criminal sexual act in the third degree, a class E felony;
Unlawful surveillance in the second degree, a class E felony;
Coercion, a class A misdemeanor;
and Unlawful imprisonment in the second degree, a class A misdemeanor.

The arrest was made in connection with an incident that occurred on Dec. 6. Hamilton PD Police Chief Rick Gifford said he could not offer many specifics about the case because the investigation continues. However, reading the definitions of each charge it appears the case involves the victim(s) being unknowingly video taped and threatened with exposure if they did not consent to have sex.

Gifford issued a statement that, in part, said, "It is our belief that there may be additional victims and we would ask that anyone with any information regarding the defendant Michael J. Piznarski contact the Hamilton Police Department at 315-824-3311."

Piznarksi was arraigned in Village Court and remanded to the Madison County Jail on $100,000 cash or $200,000 bond bail. Piznarksi was to return to court Wednesday, but Gifford said the pretrial hearing was waived. The case will go straight to the grand jury.

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