3 charged with vandalizing Batavia statue

Three men have been accused of toppling a Batavia statue April 24.

Batavia police Wednesday announced charges of criminal damage to state-supported property against Steve Piron of Sandwich and Theodore Bittner and Thomas Bittner, both of Batavia.

They are accused of damaging the bronze “Self-Made Man” statue at River and State streets. The statue, about 8 feet tall, weighed about 750 pounds.

The statue was given to the city in the 1990s after private donors paid $35,000 for it.

Arrangements are being made for the Bittners and Piron to turn themselves in, according to a prepared statement from Deputy Chief James Dixon.

Bail has been set at $25,000 apiece. Once arrested, they will need to post at least $2,500 apiece to stay out of jail.

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

The statement did not detail why and how the statue was knocked down. City Administrator Bill McGrath said the city will likely send it to the artist’s studio in Colorado to have a broken piece reattached and scratches and dents ground out, at a cost of up to $5,000.

Piron, 43, lives in the 800 block of Karen Road, Sandwich, according to Kane County court records. Theodore Bittner, 45, and Thomas Bittner, 43, live at the same address in the 500 block of North Batavia Avenue, Batavia.