Erie County District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announced that 44 year-old Harold E. Howard was convicted, as charged, after a jury trial of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree before County Court Judge Michael D’Amico.

Howard’s conviction stems from the November 28, 2009 incident in which he was stopped by New York State Troopers on Delaware Avenue in Buffalo and a loaded semi-automatic pistol and crack cocaine were recovered from the rental vehicle that Howard was driving.  Howard was previously convicted of Attempted Assault in the First Degree and is thus a predicate felon.  Accordingly, Howard faces a maximum prison term of 15 years when he is sentenced before the Hon. Michael D’Amico on October 30, 2012 at 9:30 a.m.  The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Paul E. Bonanno and Paul J. Williams, III.