BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Both of Canton’s town justices have recused themselves from a case in which Ogdensburg Mayor Jeff Skelly is alleged to have knocked Gerald Mack down on the steps of city hall.

At the time Mack was a city firefighter, but he has since retired.

Skelly has not been formally charged and maintains the incident was a setup.

However state police have filed paperwork in Ogdensburg City Court, which includes three sworn statements alleging second-degree harassment charges.

Due to potential conflicts of interest, two city judges recused themselves so the paperwork was moved to Canton Town Court. Now both justices there have also recused themselves.

Canton Court Clerk Marc Armstrong said the case has now been sent to St. Lawrence County Court Judge Greg Storie, who will give instructions on how to proceed.

In an interview Thursday Mack said state police informed him that the charges were filed after investigators reviewed a video of the incident captured on state-owned cameras.

He said the video vindicates his version of the story, as he and Skelly had presented different versions of the events.

Both men agree that Mack ended up on the ground, but while Mack says it was due to physical contact from the mayor, Skelly says Mack took a dive.

Although the state police have filed the charges against Skelly with the court, he will not be formally charged until a judge takes the case at which point a summons would be issued.

The three statements filed with the courts are from Allen Rickett, Gerald Mack and Joe Sovie.

In the legal document state police accuse the mayor of committing second-degree harassment.

“On Dec. 9, 2020 at about 6:55 p.m. while outside of 330 Ford St. (Ogdensburg City Hall) in the City of Ogdensburg, County of St. Lawrence, State of New York, the defendant, Jeffrey M. Skelly did intentionally, knowingly commit the offense of harassment in the second degree when he caused unwanted physical contact to the victim, Gerald H. Mack causing him to fall to the ground and become alarmed and annoyed,” the document says.