Buffalo Teen Faces 32 Years In Prison After Guilty Plea

Modified: March 31, 2016 9:12am

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3/30/2016

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty, Jr. announces that 16-year-old Drequan Vernon of 31 Janet Street in the City of Buffalo pleaded guilty before State Supreme Court Justice Russell Buscaglia to an array of charges that have him facing a potential 32 years in state prison.

Vernon pleaded guilty to Assault in the 1st Degree for shooting Rasheen Wilson of Langfield Drive in the City of Buffalo on April 21, 2015.  Wilson was returning home from his brother’s house when Vernon saw him walking down the street.  Vernon had a dispute with Wilson’s brother and decided to shoot Wilson as revenge.  As Wilson walked down the street, he saw Vernon standing across the street holding a .32 caliber revolver.  As Vernon pointed the gun at Wilson, Wilson began to run away.  Vernon shot Wilson in the back as he ran away.  Wilson was rushed to ECMC where he underwent emergency surgery to save his life. Due to the fact that Vernon was only 15 years old at the time of the crime, he faces a potential maximum sentence of 3 1/3 years to 10 years in state prison.

Vernon also pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2nd Degree for possession of a .32 caliber revolver on September 9, 2015.  Buffalo Police Officer Paul Fitzpatrick stopped Vernon in the vicinity of Edison Street and Weston Street because Vernon matched a description of a man with a gun.  Before Fitzpatrick could question Vernon, he began to run.  Fitzpatrick chased Vernon and found him in possession of the gun.  Vernon then bragged to the police that he is a gang member known as “Lil Edison” and that he was responsible for multiple shootings in the Langfield Projects.  Vernon faces a maximum of 15 years in state prison for the weapons charge.

In addition to the above charges, Vernon pleaded guilty to Attempted Burglary in the 2nd Degree for his role in a break-in at 56 Tudor Road in the Town of Cheektowaga.  Vernon served as a look-out while 18 year-old Dysean Peterson of 369 Langfield Drive, Buffalo threw a brick through a picture window of the residence and entered through the broken window.  After the house alarm activated, a neighbor saw the two men leaving the residence and walking down the street.  Cheektowaga Police apprehended the two men one block away. Peterson and Vernon both pleaded guilty to Attempted Burglary in the 2nd Degree and face a maximum of 7 years in state prison. 

Finally, Vernon pleaded guilty to Forcible Touching for unwanted sexual contact with a Buffalo woman.  

“Despite his young age, Drequan Vernon is an extremely violent person.  The citizens of the Langfield Homes are safer with him off the streets,” says Acting District Attorney Michael J. Flaherty.      

The cases were successfully prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney John P. Gerken, Jr., who is assigned to Acting DA Flaherty’s Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit.  Vernon is scheduled to be sentenced on May 11, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. before Justice Buscaglia.