Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 30-year-old Styles Salter of Buffalo was virtually sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice Russell P. Buscaglia to a determinate sentence of 12 years in prison followed by 5 years post-release supervision. He was sentenced today as a second violent felony offender.

On January 31, 2020, the defendant pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a “D” violent felony. He was found in possession of an illegal gun during an arrest on March 17, 2019. After posting bail, the defendant did not show up for sentencing on August 5, 2020. A bench warrant was issued for his arrest. 

On August 8, 2020, Buffalo Police responded to a shots fired call in the vicinity of Zenner and Scajaquada Streets. A civilian directed police to the defendant. When the officers approached the defendant, they observed a gun in his waistband. After a struggle, the officers found a loaded handgun and a felony weight amount of cocaine in the defendant’s possession.

Salter pleaded guilty to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a “C” violent felony, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 4^th Degree, a “C” felony, and Resisting Arrest, an “A” misdemeanor, on November 20, 2020.

Justice Buscaglia sentenced the defendant to 5 years in prison in the first case and 7 years in prison for the second case. The sentences will be served consecutively.

DA Flynn commends Lt. Mark Goodspeed and Officer Mike McCarthy of the Buffalo Police Department for their work on this case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick B. Shanahan of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.