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Suzanne Corona agrees to 'Walk of Shame' outside South Beach

By Howard B. Owens

This morning, Suzanne Corona met South Beach owner Ken Mistler at a downtown bank and signed a contract agreeing to carry a sign in front of his restaurant for four hours that reads, "I Stole from South Beach."

The contract, Mistler said, is an admission of guilt. In it, Mistler agrees to drop criminal charges against Corona and she holds harmless Mistler, South Beach and all employees from any possible damages.

On Sept. 30, Corona was reportedly caught stuffing food from South Beach's buffet into baggies. When confronted, Corona, according to Mistler, dumped the food back onto the buffet. All of the items on the buffet had to be trashed right at the height of lunch hour.

According to Mistler, the resulting damage was more than $1,000, so Corona was facing a possible felony charge.

The 41-year-old Corona was in City Court briefly this afternoon on her other notorious legal case -- the public lewdness charge she admitted to in August.

Corona, who was initially charged with adultery for having sexual contact with a man not her husband in Farrall Park in June, was scheduled to be sentenced today.

The sentencing was continued until Nov. 24.

Judge Michael Del Plato only said that the proposed sentence "is something not available to me." He also instructed the attorneys on both sides that "what is confidential remains confidential."

Gary Spencer

Just saw her on channel 10....

"I'm not this terrible person they are saying I am....I

just want my normal quiet life back"

"Whaa Whaa Whaa"

Oct 20, 2010, 7:26pm Permalink
Tim Howe

A really funny visual just popped in my head. :)

There are at least 2 other threads on the batavian about this subject and about the subject of how Ken can get his money back from that fateful day. Forget access hollywood, forget those other ideas, you guys are all thinking small....Think NASCAR.

You know how those drivers have tons of patches all over thier clothes and thier cars?

Advertising, advertising, advertising!!!!!!

Well.....When the day comes that Corona has to do her time on the catwalk with her sign, dress her up right!

Think about it...She could be wearing a thebatavian.com cap, and Ken could sell area on the board she's wearing to local business to put thier stickers on!!!! Kimberly and Beck from the Buzz have been covering the heck out of this story, I think a Kimberly and Beck bumper sticker would look good on the board.

Its already been insinuated that there will be tons of media here when this takes place right? Come on Ken depending on what or who the media is that shows up this could potentially be seen by thousands and thousands of people. Lets figure $500.00 per square foot of the sign perhaps?

Plus 10% to the publicity manager you didnt know you had :)

Oct 20, 2010, 7:58pm Permalink
tom king

Wonder if she has family that works for the Batavia Police. If She was a He, He would be on his way to the County jail. "I Stole From South Beach", give me a break. Guess there was no reason to call the police in the 1st place, wasted tax payer dollars

Oct 20, 2010, 8:35pm Permalink
George Richardson

She is earning $250 an hour. I don't feel sorry for her. After this is over Ken should let people sign up to carry boards that say: "I'm carrying this sign for one hour for a Free Buffet at South Beach. You can too, come on in and sign up today."

Oct 20, 2010, 9:21pm Permalink
Gary Spencer

I'm hopping she wears that HOT blue dress and not a hoodie like the dude did at PetMart!!

And I like Tim's idea about selling advertising!! Howard should give her a free batavian cap to wear, news media from all over will cover this nonsense.....

hopefully this will all blow over soon and her 15 minutes will be over and done with!!

But it is better than reading about shootings and muggings, at least we get a laugh from it all...

Oct 20, 2010, 10:20pm Permalink
JoAnne Rock

I certainly hope that Mr. Mistler has secured the required permit from the City of Batavia to conduct his pre-planned event downtown. An important part of the application process is to give City departments an opportunity to estimate additional costs (police, etc) that will be incured as a result of the event. Since this event only benefits Mr. Mistler, any additional costs to the City should be passed on to him and not the taxpayers. JMO!

Oct 20, 2010, 11:25pm Permalink
JoAnne Rock

John, you don't think there is going to be a media circus? You don't think crowds will gather to gawk? You don't think it will cause a traffic control problem? His event is almost word by word, the City's definition of a Special Event that requires a permit. At least, during the permit process, all of these things would be considered. If the City felt there would be no extra expense, then fine; but he should still have to apply for a permit.

Yes Anthony, I would!

Oct 21, 2010, 7:48am Permalink
Gary Spencer

Do we know when this "circus" will happen.....
I don't think it will be as bad as JoAnne is making it out to be......
Maybe a couple local (buff. & Roch) stations, but CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC probably won't be sending satellite trucks to Batavia, there won't be pavarazzi swarming all over.......
and I think most people in Batavia are sick of her and won't be bringing lawn chairs to the sidewalk to see her carry a sign.....

Oct 21, 2010, 8:11am Permalink
Bea McManis

I can see it now...
South Beach Walk of Shame, featuring local porn wannabe and resident klepto.
What a great way to 'boost Batavia'.

Oct 21, 2010, 8:32am Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

Sure JoAnne,

We can throw her in jail instead of Ken's creative punishment. The time in jail will cost the tax payers more than four hours worth of police presence. Or did you think the judicial process and jail were free?

Oct 21, 2010, 9:48am Permalink
John Roach

JoAnne,
If somebody stops in traffic, then let them get a ticket and pay the fine. If They are on the sidewalk, and want to look, so what? And unless the time and day is announced in advance, the media will be minimal. This is not as big a deal as her first arrest.

Oct 21, 2010, 10:21am Permalink
Lori Silvernail

So much talk about this, yet little (if anything) has been mentioned about the fact that Ken Mistler has done so much revitalization of downtown Batavia and that HE was the victim here!

I don't mind that he came up with this alternative punishment. I'm sure it was cleared with some authority or another and approved.

If he gets some advertising out of this whole thing, why does anyone care? It's quick justice, doesn't cost the taxpayers anything, and the picnic table princess gets out of paying damages.

Oct 21, 2010, 11:24am Permalink
JoAnne Rock

Jeremiah, You see it as a creative punishment, I see it as a creative publicity stunt. There are other creative ways to deal with this situation...mediation/arbitration maybe...that don't require a public spectacle.

(sarcasm on) The judicial process and jail aren't free? (sarcasm off). Do you think that city services that ensure safe and problem free events are free?

I sincerely hope that I'm totally wrong. I hope no media show up and no crowds gather. I hope that Ms. Corona can put a period on this and get herself and her family back to a state of normalcy. I look forward to being told I told you so!

But, if it does end up requiring any city services, I hope that Mr. Mistler will open up his checkbook and pay for it.

Oct 21, 2010, 11:37am Permalink
JoAnne Rock

Lori, are you suggesting that because of his good works, he should be allowed to operate under a different set of standards than anyone else?

No one is denying that he was the victim and that he is entitled to be made whole. I just don't think that profiting off of someone else's misery is raising the bar of justice, human decency or community spirit.

Oct 21, 2010, 11:46am Permalink
Lori Silvernail

I only mentioned Ken's contribution to downtown Batavia because I find it admirable that he has invested so much in this ghost town. Does this entitle him to make his own rules? Of course not. But since he hasn't commented on whether he got the go-ahead from the powers that be, I have made the assumption that he has. If it was illegal for him to make this arrangement, I'm sure he wouldn't be doing it.

I didn't say that anyone was denying that he was the victim, just that little has been said about that and he is (IMO) being made out to be some heartless and cruel person. Geesh, most people would give their eye teeth to have an option not to go to jail for a felony. For heaven's sake, it's all on videotape...she'd be going up the river instead of spending 4 measly hours walking the streets of beautiful downtown Batavia!

Oct 21, 2010, 11:59am Permalink
David Olivani

I just hope this embarrasses her enough to stop her madness?

I really think though, it will just entice her to do more "stupid" things....

If she does "stupid" things...she gets attention...its a never ending cycle...

just like a child that needs attention...they will do whatever they can to get it...good or bad! And whatever gets them the MOST attention they will continue to do...

Oct 21, 2010, 2:25pm Permalink
Frank Bartholomew

If the system that is in place was used in this case, the judge could order various evaluations, and then, Ms. Corona could get the attention needed. This little publicity stunt is just setting the process back, until
the next episode of bizarre behavior. She needs help now.
Everyone seems so sure that jail is the only alternative, have you forgotten, we have drug court, we have mental health court, we don't arbitrarily put sick people in jail if they have these problems, we give them an opportunity to help themselves, through the court and various agencies. This is the sickest,most twisted publicity stunt anyone with a heart could pull off.

Oct 21, 2010, 6:52pm Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

JoAnne,

City services are not free. They have already been paid for by you, me, and Mr Mistler. To ask anyone of us to pay double for those services already paid for is ridiculous. There is not need to have extra police presence in the area, nor to have the street blocked off, or any other special treatment. The police are paid a salary to patrol the city, keep the peace and enforce laws. Anything that happens as a result of Mrs. Coronas punishment falls under those duties performed by the police already. If anyone will need the permit it will be the media for the possibility of blocking traffic with their vans.
And just so you know, mediation and or arbitration is exactly what has taken place in this instance. The courts do not conduct mediation or arbitration. That is something that happens independent of the courts. Both parties agree to abide by the out come of the mediation or arbitration process. Your opinion or mine or anyone else's opinion has no bearing on the outcome of those processes. Her punishment is no different than if the judge had sentenced her to community service. Does anyone think the media would not bite on that?

Oct 21, 2010, 10:44pm Permalink
JoAnne Rock

Jeremiah,

Your information is incorrect. You need to read the local ordinance on City Events (Chapter 6, Article 3, Section 66-15):

http://www.ecode360.com/?custId=BA1824

It clearly spells out who is responsible (the person staging the event-not attendees)for obtaining the permit and that fees for the use of city services that may be incurred may be added to the permit fee.

Just so YOU know, I was a local mediator/arbitrator with the BBB Local Dispute Resolution Center, so I am well aware of what the process entails. If this was an agreement struck soley between Mr. Mistler and Ms. Corona, without benefit of an independent third party, it was NOT mediation. It is more akin to bartering.

I also have to take issue with your statement: "Her punishment is no different than if the judge had sentenced her to community service".

Really? When was the last time a local judge made a ruling for the sole purpose of personal publicity and financial gain? Or, alerted the media to draw attention to a particularly salicious case? Or, sold the rights to a taping of the proceedings? With a judge, she would have gotten a punishment; instead, they are both getting what they both crave. You may see it as a win-win, I do not.

It is just my opinion that this case was resolved poorly and I am disappointed at the outcome. I've stated my reasons why I believe it to be so. Isn't that what The Batavian is for?

Oct 22, 2010, 6:12am Permalink
Jeremiah Pedro

That's exactly what it is for JoAnne.
It is also for anyone, including me to present a different opinion.

I still stand next to my opinion that what occurred between Corona and Mistler does not meet the definition of a special event.

Oct 22, 2010, 3:53pm Permalink
JoAnne Rock

The "event" hasn't occurred yet, so I would agree with you that what happened between Corona and Mistler so far was not a special event...I referred to it as bartering.

I enjoy reading differing opinions...it would be rather boring if everyone agreed all the time.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

Oct 22, 2010, 7:53pm Permalink

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