State police arrested a man after investigators uncovered a pattern of false emergency calls in Steuben County.
The New York State Police say the investigation found repeated false reports made to 911 and the state’s Child Abuse and Maltreatment Hotline over an extended period in 2025. Troopers say those calls triggered repeated responses from law enforcement and child protective services and were later ruled unfounded.
Thomas A. Margeson, 40, of Painted Post, was arrested January 1 following the investigation.
Investigators say Margeson knowingly made the false reports, misusing emergency services and child protection resources.
State police charged Margeson with 18 counts of falsely reporting a catastrophe or emergency to an official agency in the Town of Bath. Troopers also charged him with 12 counts of falsely reporting a child abuse incident to a mandated reporter in the Village of Bath.
Both charges are class A misdemeanors.
Margeson received two appearance tickets. He is scheduled to appear in Town of Bath Court on February 2 and in Village of Bath Court on February 4.
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