Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 18-year-old Abdikfi Saleh of Buffalo and 19-year-old Tyler G. Newman of Buffalo, formerly of Collins, were arraigned on Friday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Shannon M. Heneghan. Both defendants were charged with one count of Burglary in the Second Degree (Class “C” felony), one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony) and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor).
It is alleged that on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at approximately 11:20 p.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park for a reported burglary. Officers allegedly saw the defendants, who were walking on Oak Street near Genesee Street, in possession of a handgun. The defendants are accused of stealing two vintage pistols from the USS Little Rock.
Saleh and Newman are scheduled to return on Thursday, February 8, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. for a felony hearing. Prosecutors requested that the defendants be remanded. Both were released under supervision.
If convicted of the highest count, Saleh and Newman face a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The burglary case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Comfort of the Felony Trials Bureau.
Tyler G. Newman has a separate pending criminal case. On December 1, 2023, Newman was arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging him with one count of Robbery in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felony).
It is alleged that on June 30, 2023, at approximately 10:15 p.m., the defendant, while acting in concert with a co-defendant and juvenile offender, forcibly stole property from the victim on South Buffalo Street in the Village of Springville. The defendants are accused of hitting and kicking the victim in order to steal his backpack, which contained various personal property. The victim was treated for minor injuries at Bertrand Chaffee Hospital.
At the arraignment, prosecutors requested that the defendant be held on $50,000 bail. Judge Case continued his release under supervision. Newman is scheduled to return on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. for a pre-trial conference.
Our office will file a motion pursuant to CPL 510.10(4)(t) to request that the Court revoke his bail on the robbery charge and hold the defendant without bail for allegedly committing a felony involving harm to an identifiable person or property while he was released on a pending felony charge.
The robbery case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joelle M. Marino of the Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Denise A. Herman 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.
