Second suspect in Batavia statue toppling turns himself in

Two of the three men charged with damaging a $35,000 statue in Batavia in late April have turned themselves in, but the last man has not, according to authorities.

The second suspect to turn himself in, Theodore Bittner, surrendered to Batavia police at 4:09 p.m. Monday.

Bittner, 45, who lives on the 500 block of North Batavia Avenue posted $2,500 bond.

Police said 43-year-old Steve Piron of the 800 block of Karen Road in Sandwich turned himself in Friday. He also posted bail and has a May 24 court date along with Theodore Bittner.

The two men and Thomas Bittner, who has not turned himself in yet, were charged with criminal damage to state-supported property

The men are accused of toppling the bronze “Self-Made Man” statue at River and State streets on April 24, according to police.

Private donors paid $35,000 for the 8-foot-tall, 750-pound statue in the 1990s and gave it to the city.

The charge the men face is a Class 3 felony punishable by up to five years in prison if convicted.