Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced today that three defendants, in three separate cases, recently pleaded guilty as charged to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” violent felony, carrying a mandatory minimum sentence of 3½ years and a maximum sentence of 15 years in state prison.

On May 11, 2012, 20 year old Markel Milton pleaded guilty, as charged, to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree in connection with possessing a loaded and unlicensed .38 caliber revolver on January 30, 2011 in the city of Buffalo. Milton will be sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Christopher Burns on August 20, 2012.

On May 11, 2012, 20 year old Eric Mitchell pleaded guilty as charged to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree in connection with possessing a loaded and unlicensed .357 caliber magnum revolver on November 16, 2011 in the city of Buffalo. Mitchell will be sentenced by Acting Supreme Court Justice William Boller on August 24, 2012. 

On May 14, 2012, 28 year old Michael June pleaded guilty, as charged, to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree in connection with possessing a loaded and unlicensed .38 caliber revolver on December 21, 2010 in the city of Buffalo. June, who has a prior conviction for Robbery in the First Degree, is a Second Violent Felony Offender, and will be sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Michael Pietruszka on June 8, 2012.

During the first twenty weeks of 2012, the Office of the Erie County District Attorney has convicted 55 defendants of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (50 by plea of guilty as charged and 5 by trial verdict of guilty as charged). All 55 of these convicted felons have been or will be removed from our community and sentenced to mandatory terms of state imprisonment.

Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III stated: “We are all too familiar with the tragic results of senseless gun violence. That is why we have a no-plea policy when it comes to provable cases of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. Those who carry loaded and unlicensed handguns are a menace to society and will be vigorously prosecuted.”