Defendant in Disturbing Domestic Violence Case Sentenced to 70 Years in Prison

Modified: July 24, 2020 11:22am

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7/24/2020

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 28-year-old Kaiden Haynes, also known as Kadien Haynes, of Buffalo has been sentenced by State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to a determinate sentence of 70 years in prison. He was sentenced virtually yesterday afternoon as a second violent felony offender.

The defendant was in a relationship with the female victim. In March 2018, Haynes moved into the victim’s apartment in the City of Buffalo where she resided with her 10-year-old son. The physical abuse began about two months later and continued until the defendant was arrested in January 2019.

Haynes, with the intent to seriously or permanently disfigure the victim, repeatedly whipped, burned, cut, strangled, and tortured the victim on multiple occasions over the course of 10 months. Haynes also strangled the victim on multiple occasions by wrapping a HDMI cable around her throat, which caused her physical injury and loss of consciousness.

Haynes caused injuries to the victim and her son using various objects in the household. He also forced the victim to hit her child and the child to hit his mother with various objects.

The defendant acted in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of the child by repeatedly assaulting and torturing both the juvenile victim and his mother.

On March 20, 2020, a jury found Haynes guilty, as charged, on all 14 counts in the indictment against him after six hours of deliberation following a two-week trial. He was convicted of the following charges:

  • One count of Assault in the First Degree, a Class “B” violent felony
  • Eight counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Class “D” violent felonies
  • Two counts of Strangulation in the Second Degree, Class “D” violent felonies
  • Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class “A” misdemeanors

In addition to his sentence, Judge Haendiges  issued a final no-contact order of protection on behalf of the victim and her son that remains in effect until January 23, 2097.

In court yesterday, Haynes pleaded guilty before Judge Haendiges to one count of Harassment in the Second Degree, a violation. He admitted that on April 7, 2020, at approximately 8:35 a.m., he threw a liquid substance at the face of a jail deputy while incarcerated at the Erie County Holding Center. The deputy was wearing a face mask at the time of the incident, and the mask tested positive for urine. Judge Haendiges sentenced the defendant to 15 days in jail, the maximum sentence for a violation.

“This is one of the most egregious cases of abuse that has been prosecuted by my office. The victim and her son suffered unspeakable violence at the hands of this defendant. I hope that they now feel safe knowing that their abuser is behind bars for a significant amount of time,” said Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn. 

DA Flynn commends the victim for her courage by reporting the abuse to authorities. DA Flynn also would like to recognize the victim and her son for having the strength to testify against the defendant at trial.

DA Flynn also commends Detective Julie Ledwin, Detective Keith Fitzner, Officer Zachary Burgess and Officer Jennifer Stutz of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation. DA Flynn also commends the victim’s work supervisor, Tina Pilkey of the BE-SAFE Victim Advocacy Program, and the Family Justice Center for their assistance.  

The case was prosecuted by Chief Holly Tucker and Assistant District Attorney Gina Gramaglia of the DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau.