New York Woman Suzanne M. Corona Charged With Adultery After Public Tryst

(June 8) -- A woman allegedly caught in a tryst at a public park in western New York state is now facing a rare charge of adultery.

Police say they found 41-year-old Suzanne M. Corona and 29-year-old Justin Amend having sex on a picnic table in Farrall Park in Batavia, N.Y., around 5:15 p.m. Friday, according to WHAM, an ABC News affiliate in Rochester, N.Y. Both were charged with public lewdness.

But Corona, who is married, was also charged with adultery, becoming the 13th person in the state's history to face the charge.

"It's a charge that all of our officers are aware of, but we don't come across it very often," Officer Eric Hill, a Batavia police spokesman, told the Democrat and Chronicle. "It's not very often you have people engaging in sexual activity in a park in broad daylight. This particular circumstance met all the criteria for the charge."

Corona, who appeared in court today but did not enter a plea, said she planned to fight the charge.

"I think the adultery charge is extremely unfair and uncalled for," Corona told reporters. "My husband is standing beside me. He called the DA himself this morning and wants it dropped."

Corona's husband, Joseph, said he had forgiven his wife. "I wish that the charges were dropped so that we could resolve this as a man and wife, more of a private matter," he said, according to a local website, The Batavian.

New York outlawed adultery in the early 1900s. Only 12 other people have been charged with the crime in nearly 40 years, according to reports.

Adultery and public lewdness are both misdemeanors, punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $500 fine.

Some residents of Batavia said they agree with the decision to charge Corona with adultery.

"I think she should, I mean if she's married," Danny Bastedo, who lives near the park, told WHAM. "Why do this if you're married?"

Bastedo added, "I think it's disgusting. I mean, that's totally wrong. I mean 5 o'clock in the afternoon, come on -- that's crazy."

Corona said her behavior in the park was inappropriate, but insisted, "If you were a passer-by, you would not see anything was going on."