Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Scott A. Sinwell, 44, of Buffalo, pleaded guilty yesterday before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to one count of Arson in the Second Degree (Class B violent felony). The defendant entered a guilty plea to the sole count of the indictment on the morning jury selection was scheduled to begin in his trial.
On Friday, June 2, 2023, at approximately 2:27 a.m., the defendant intentionally damaged a residence in Buffalo’s Seneca Babcock neighborhood by starting a fire on the rear exterior of the building with the use of accelerant. The defendant caused approximately $60,000 in damage to the building and its contents. No injuries were reported, but the residents were temporarily displaced. The defendant was arrested and arraigned in Buffalo City Court the following morning. He has been held without bail since his arrest.
The defendant also pleaded guilty to all counts in a separate indictment for prior crimes involving the same victim. Yesterday, Sinwell entered a guilty plea before Justice Haendiges to one count of Burglary in the Second Degree (Class C violent felony), one count of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, one count of Aggravated Family Offense (Class E felonies), one count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, one count of Obstruction of Governmental Administration in the Second Degree and one count of Resisting Arrest (Class A misdemeanors).
On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, at approximately 10:55 p.m., the defendant repeatedly made phone calls and contacted the victim through text messages and social media messages while knowingly in violation of the existing order of protection. The next day, the victim reported the incident to police and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
On Monday, November 14, 2022, at approximately 10:00 p.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a residence for a domestic incident. The defendant unlawfully entered the victim’s home while knowingly in violation of an existing order of protection. Responding officers found the defendant hiding underneath a bed. The defendant refused multiple commands by police and attempted to flee by breaking a bedroom window before he was placed under arrest.
The next morning, Tuesday, November 15, 2022, the defendant was arraigned in Buffalo City Court for both crimes. Our prosecutor requested that the defendant be remanded. He was held on bail set at $100,000 cash or bond.
The defendant committed those two crimes while pending prosecution for another incident involving the same victim. On Wednesday, September 4, 2022, at approximately 9:30 a.m., the defendant followed the victim, while knowingly in violation of an order of protection, as she drove down Seneca Street in the City of Buffalo. The victim drove to a police station and reported the incident. After pleading guilty to one count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree (Class A misdemeanor), the defendant was held in custody pending a pre-sentence investigation. After the pre-sentence investigation was complete, our prosecutors argued that the defendant should be held without bail pending sentence, but he was released on his recognizance on October 24, 2022. In December 2022, he was sentenced to 364 days of incarceration. He was released from custody for time served on May 25, 2023. A felony hearing was not conducted on the two pending cases while the defendant served his sentence. Therefore, he was released on $1 bail on each file.
Sinwell faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison when he is sentenced on Monday, February 9, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. He continues to be held without bail. Orders of protection, issued on behalf of the victim and other individuals, remain in effect.
DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department and the Buffalo Fire Department for their work in these investigations as well as victim advocate Alyssa Hewitt.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Meredith A. Mohun of the Special Victims Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Kevin L. Southern of the Felony Trials Bureau.
If you or someone you know is a victim or may be at-risk of domestic violence, help is available through the BE SAFE Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Program. While our staff specialize in trauma-informed support and victim advocacy following the arrest of an offender, you do not need to have a pending criminal case to speak with an advocate and access services. For more information on BE SAFE, call 716-858-4630 or visit www.erie.gov/besafe.
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