ONEIDA COUNTY, N.Y., October 23, 2026 — A 40-year-old Taberg man held at the Oneida County jail Correctional Facility has been charged with a felony following an alleged incident involving a corrections officer. Sheriff Robert Maciol’s office says Steven Centore is accused of throwing liquid from a toilet bowl at an officer supervising his housing unit.

What Investigators Say Happened

According to the sheriff’s release, road patrol deputies responded to the jail on October 18 after receiving an assault complaint. Investigators allege Centore filled a milk carton with liquid from the toilet in his cell and threw it at a corrections officer who was monitoring the unit.

The Criminal Investigation Unit took over the case because of the alleged nature of the incident. The department did not describe injuries to the officer in the release, so an injury claim cannot be independently confirmed from this account.

The Criminal Charge and Court Appearance

On October 21, deputies charged Centore with one count of aggravated harassment of an employee by an incarcerated individual, a Class E felony under New York law. The sheriff said Centore had already been held in the facility on felony domestic-related charges from the Town of Vienna following a separate New York State Police arrest.

Deputies took Centore to the Kurt B. Wyman Law Enforcement Building for processing and then returned him to corrections staff to await an appearance in centralized arraignment court. The sheriff’s office says he appeared later that evening and was remanded to the correctional facility without bail.

What the Charge Does and Does Not Establish

A criminal charge is an accusation, not proof of guilt. Centore is presumed innocent of the newly filed charge unless and until prosecutors prove it in court. The separate domestic-related allegations also remain distinct from the October 18 complaint.

The publicly available sheriff’s account gives the prosecution-side allegations. It does not include a statement from Centore or his attorney. Without court filings or an on-record defense response, their position cannot be verified here.

Correctional Staff Safety and Accountability

Correctional employees work in an environment where confrontations can occur quickly. Complaints of thrown substances raise concerns about sanitation, staff safety and the procedures used to document and investigate incidents. At the same time, incarcerated people remain entitled to due process and fair treatment.

Questions for follow-up include whether the officer sought medical evaluation, whether additional evidence was collected, when the next court appearance is scheduled and whether facility procedures will be reviewed. The sheriff’s statement does not answer all of those questions.

What Happens Next

The charge will proceed through the court system. Any further developments should be checked against court records and statements from both sides. Utica Phoenix will report additional verified information as it becomes available.

Source

Oneida County Sheriff’s Office: Release concerning October 18 incident and October 21 charge.