Buffalo Man Sentenced After Conviction for Assaulting Probation Officer!

A Buffalo man has been convicted of third-degree assault following an altercation with a probation officer last year. The verdict was delivered by State Supreme Court Justice Debra Givens, finding 24-year-old Justin L. Davis guilty of attacking a probation supervisor during a February 2023 incident.

The incident occurred on February 16, 2023, at the Erie County Probation Department office in Buffalo. Davis, who was in custody at the time due to a warrant issued for a probation violation, became combative when officers attempted to escort him out of the building.

According to court records, Davis resisted the officers’ attempts, leading to a physical altercation in a secure hallway and extending onto Pearl Street.

The struggle resulted in injuries to a probation supervisor, with the entire encounter captured on surveillance footage presented as evidence in the trial.

After a three-day non-jury trial held in mid-September, Davis was found guilty of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor charge.

He now faces up to one year in jail for the offense. Assistant District Attorney Mitchell T. Schoellkopf of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau, alongside former Assistant District Attorney Andrew S. Criado, prosecuted the case.

Davis remains in custody and is awaiting sentencing, scheduled for December 17, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. He is also facing additional charges related to a separate probation violation.

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane commended the swift actions of the Erie County Probation Department in handling the situation, noting their professionalism during the investigation and trial proceedings.

This case highlights the ongoing challenges probation officers face in ensuring public safety while dealing with individuals who may resist law enforcement measures. Davis’ sentencing will be closely monitored as the community awaits the final outcome of the legal proceedings.

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