Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that a 17-year-old male from Buffalo was arraigned this morning before Family Court Judge Sharon LoVallo, acting as a Youth Part judge, on one count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), one count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (Class “C” violent felony), one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony) and one count of Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor).
It is alleged that on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at approximately 8:26 a.m., the adolescent offender, while acting in concert with a 13-year-old juvenile delinquent and another unidentified individual, displayed what appeared to be a gun and forcibly stole a purse and cell phone from the victim on 100 block of Mills Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim was with a child at the time of the crime.
It is further alleged that later the same morning, at approximately 8:50 a.m., the adolescent offender, while acting in concert with another unidentified individual, attempted to rob a second person by pointing what appeared to be a gun at the victim at a bus stop on Genesee Street and Roslyn Street in the City of Buffalo. The adolescent offender allegedly fled in a vehicle without the victim’s property after the incident.
The adolescent offender is also accused of being in possession of a stolen Kia during the commission of the two crimes. The vehicle had been reported stolen overnight from a location in the City of Buffalo. The adolescent offender and the juvenile delinquent allegedly ran from police before being arrested near Crossman Avenue. Police found the abandoned vehicle on Domedion Avenue, a short distance away from where they were taken into custody.
Due to the age of the juvenile delinquent, the case will be handled by the County Attorney’s Office in Family Court.
The adolescent offender was initially arraigned last night before Judge Patrick M. Carney, acting as a Youth Part judge. He was held on bail set at $100,000 cash or bail bond or $200,000 surety or partially secured surety bond.
Today, prosecutors requested the adolescent offender be remanded to the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center. Judge LoVallo lowered previously set bail to $10,000 cash, bail bond or surety bond. He is scheduled to return on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. for a felony hearing and six-day review before Youth Part Judge Brenda Freedman.
DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this ongoing investigation.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda L. Raimondi of the Raise the Age Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
