January 22, 2026 - Assault on Corrections Officer

On January 22, 2026, at approximately 3:46 p.m., an assault occurred at the County Jail during a maximum-security recreation period.

A Corrections Officer was supervising the recreation area when two incarcerated individuals, including Matthew T. Skardinski, age 37, of Dryden, NY, became involved in a verbal altercation. The officer observed both individuals assume fighting stances while facing one another and issued direct verbal commands for them to stop. The officer then intervened to prevent further escalation.

During the intervention, Skardinski attempted to strike the other incarcerated individual with a closed fist. The strike missed its intended target and instead struck the Corrections Officer in the face. As a result, the officer sustained injuries but was able to successfully de-escalate the situation and restore order.

Skardinski was subsequently charged with Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D felony. He was arraigned on the new charge in the Tompkins County - Centralized Arraignment Part (CAP) Court and remanded back to jail.

The Sheriff’s Office takes assaults on staff seriously and remains committed to ensuring the safety of both employees and those in custody.