GUILDERLAND — Joe Calabro, known by many in town as the long-time owner of Joe’s Service Station on Western Avenue, was acquitted last week of sexual-harassment.

After a two-day trial before Judge John Bailey in Guilderland Town Court, a jury found Calabro innocent.
"We’re very happy. He’s very relieved," Joseph Gardner, Calabro’s attorney, told The Enterprise.

The complainant’s name is being withheld by police.

The elderly Calabro was arrested in March of 2004, at the business he’s run for over half a century. He was charged by State Police with forcible touching, a misdemeanor.

New York State Trooper Steve Koveleskie told The Enterprise then that a woman called police and reported that Calabro had harassed her. The complaint resulted in Calabro’s arrest, Koveleskie said.

William Conboy III, an assistant district attorney for Albany County who could not be reached for comment, called three witnesses in the trial — the arresting officer, the complainant, and her mother, Gardner said.

The complainant told her story and the officer reported what she told him a year-and-a-half ago, Gardner said. The complainant’s mother testified that her daughter was upset on the day of the alleged incident, Gardner said.
"Our defense was: He didn’t do it," Gardner said; the complainant had no witnesses.
Asked why this woman would accuse Calabro of something he didn’t do, Gardner said, "The complainant has a civil lawsuit pending against him, so that may be part of the reason."

The civil suit is for payment relating to the sexual-harassment charge, Gardner said. It is in the discovery phase now, he said, and he anticipates a trial later.

In 2003 and 2004, The Enterprise received several letters to the editor complaining about Calabro’s towing fees, contending that Calabro had charged higher than the other towing businesses in town. Guilderland uses a rotational towing list for accidents or arrests that call for a tow.

Several Enterprise stories and an editorial led the town to form a towing contract with its companies. Now businesses can charge a maximum of $125 for towing, unless there are special circumstances.