Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 62-year-old Scott A. Saracina of Town of Hamburg was arraigned this morning before Hamburg Town Court Justice Carl W. Morgan on the following offenses:

• One count of Rape in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony)
• One count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” violent felony)
• One count of Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree (Class “E” felony)
• One count of Assault in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• One count of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor)
• One count of Harassment in the second Degree (violation)

It is alleged that on August 23, 2022, at approximately 5:00 p.m., the victim was inside of the defendant’s vehicle when he forcibly grabbed her purse, which caused the strap to break. The defendant allegedly took the victim’s cell phone out of her purse and became verbally abusive. When the victim attempted to take her cell phone back, the defendant allegedly bit her finger. The defendant is accused of pulling the victim’s head backward by her hair during the incident while he continued to make threatening statements.

It is further alleged that the defendant drove the victim to her home in Chautauqua County then forced her back into his vehicle. The defendant allegedly abducted the victim, who was known to him, by driving her to his apartment on South Park Avenue in the Town of Hamburg. The defendant is accused of forcing the victim into his residence while in possession of her purse and cell phone, which prevented her from calling for help. The defendant is accused of forcibly raping the victim inside of his bedroom while preventing her from leaving the apartment. The defendant allegedly threatened the victim throughout the incident.

The victim was later permitted to leave the apartment with her belongings. The alleged crime was reported to police and the victim underwent a rape kit.

Saracina is scheduled to return on Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. for a felony hearing. He was held without bail.

If convicted of all charges, Saracina faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The defendant also has pending charges for allegedly stalking and harassing a second female victim and violating an order of protection issued by the Court.

It is alleged that on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at approximately 9:25 p.m., the defendant, with the intent to harass the victim, sent numerous unwanted text messages and multiple phone calls to his ex-girlfriend. The defendant also allegedly went to the victim’s home unannounced.

Saracina was arraigned the following day on one count of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor) and one count of Stalking in the Fourth Degree (Class “B” misdemeanor). He was released on his own recognizance. A temporary order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim.

It is also alleged that on Friday, March 4, 2022, at approximately 3:37 a.m., the defendant knowingly violated an existing order of protection by placing a phone call to the victim.  He was arraigned the following day before Judge Gorman on one count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor). He was released on his own recognizance.

It is further alleged that on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at approximately 3:51 p.m. the defendant again knowingly violated an existing order of protecting by attempting to video chat with the same victim through a social media application. The defendant was arraigned before Judge Gorman on one count of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor) and released on his own recognizance.

A trial has been scheduled for December 6, 2022 on the misdemeanor cases.

DA Flynn commends Detective Jon Wright and the Town of Hamburg Police Department their work in these investigations.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Noha A. Elnakib of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Caitlyn G. Burns of the Justice Court Bureau. The misdemeanor cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephen A. Papia of the Justice Courts Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.