OGDENSBURG — A Connecticut woman’s curiosity about the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center’s architecture has escaped a charge of third-degree criminal trespass in Ogdensburg City Court.

In court on Tuesday, Richelle Chamberland, 23, of Middletown, was granted by mail an adjournment of the charge in contemplation of its dismissal in six months.

Miss Chamberland and Jon P. Stevens, 41, of West Haven, Conn., were arrested May 16 at 8 p.m. by city police after they were found inside one of the state hospital’s old, vacant buildings that they entered through an unlocked window.

Miss Chamberland, who police identified as a student, explained their presence as for photographic research purposes.

“About a month ago,” she said in a statement to police, “I started to research the different designs of hospitals. And I saw that the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center was under the same designs that I was researching.”

The couple parked their car at the entrance to the hospital’s grounds and set out on foot in search of a building that was unlocked; they found one and climbed in.

“When we saw that it was safe enough to be in there, we took our cameras out of our bags and began to take pictures of the inside of the building” Miss Chamberland stated.

Mr. Stevens on July 16 was also granted an adjournment of the charge in contemplation of its dismissal in six months.

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