Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek has found 36-year-old Jessie Engles guilty of one count of Assault on a Peace Officer, Police Officer, Fireman or Emergency Services Professional (Class “C” violent felony) and one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” violent felony). Justice Wojtaszek rendered his decision yesterday morning following a two-day bench trial.

On June 25, 2017, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the defendant was receiving medical treatment at ECMC when he hit a correction officer in the head with a medical monitor. At the time of the incident, the defendant was a state inmate incarcerated at the Attica Correctional Facility for a prior offense.

The attack caused the victim to fall to the ground, resulting in serious physical injuries to his head, hip and right arm. He continues to undergo treatment for those injuries.

Engles faces a minimum sentence of 16 years to life in prison when he is sentenced as a persistent violent felony offender on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. He remains held without bail.

“I hope that the victim in this case feels that justice has been served by this defendant being convicted of felony charges for this crime. My office will continue to prosecute any inmate who attacks a corrections officer to the fullest extent of the law,” said Erie County DA John Flynn.

DA Flynn commends the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and Hospital Public Safety Officers at ECMC for their work in the investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Kranitz McPhee and Ryan M. Flaherty of the Felony Trials Bureau.