A Seneca Falls man was arrested Wednesday after allegedly offering a police officer compensation in exchange for dismissing his charges, according to the Town of Seneca Falls Police Department.
Marquise T. Hatten, 24, was charged with bribery in the third degree, a Class D felony. The arrest followed an investigation into an incident that occurred on October 31, 2024.
Authorities say Hatten contacted an officer regarding a previous arrest and attempted to bribe the officer by offering compensation in return for their influence in getting the charges dropped. The officer rejected the bribe and immediately reported the incident, leading to an investigation.
Following the investigation, Hatten was taken into custody at 10:17 a.m. on December 11. He was issued an appearance ticket for Seneca Falls Town Court and subsequently released. He is expected to appear in court at a later date.
Bribery in the third degree involves offering a benefit to a public servant to influence their actions, a serious offense under New York State law.
The police department did not disclose details about the prior arrest or the specific charges Hatten faced at that time.
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