Releases by month May 2021
In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Already Charged with Attempted Murder of a Former Partner, Mount Vernon Woman Faces Assault and Other Charges in Incident Involving Another Ex-Partner
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A 54-year-old Mount Vernon woman who is already charged with the 2019 attempted murder of a former intimate partner was charged this week with assault, menacing and other charges stemming from a second incident earlier this year involving another former intimate partner.
Shaun Rhames was indicted in County Court on June 1 on two counts of Assault in the Second Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree and Menacing in the Second Degree. Bail was set at $50,000 bond, $25,000 cash or $150,000 partially secured bond.
“This case is a disturbing reminder that violence in intimate relationships can take many forms and that the victims can be both men and women,” said Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah. “We are committed to holding Shaun Rhames accountable for her actions in both of these cases and to getting justice for her victims.”
The latest charges stem from a Feb. 21 incident at Rhames’ home in Mount Vernon involving a former intimate partner who was also a long-time friend. As the 65-year-old victim sat at Rhames’ kitchen table, she came up behind him with two knives in hand, held one knife to his neck and threatened to kill him.
The two struggled, and Rhames got on top of the victim and tried to cut off one of his fingers. She also beat him on his head and face with the handle of one of the knives. The victim sustained head and hand injuries that required stitches.
Rhames then ordered the victim to empty his pockets of his belongings and to disrobe except for a coat and shoes, and forced him outside of the residence. Rhames herself called the police, and was subsequently taken into custody. She has been held at the Westchester County Jail since the February incident.
The 2019 attempted murder with which Rhames is charged also took place in Mount Vernon. Bail in that case was set by Mount Vernon City Court at $50,000 cash or bond, and Rhames had been released from custody after meeting bail requirements.
The case is before Judge Susan Capeci, and is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Janelle Armentano.
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Media contact:
Dan Weiller, Director of Communications
(914) 995-3586
dweiller@westchesterda.net
Guilty Plea in 2020 Peekskill Stabbing Death of Omarion McKenzie
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May 26, 2021 -- Jahliv Niles of Peekskill, pleaded guilty on May 11, to Manslaughter in the First Degree for the stabbing death of 17-year old Omarion McKenzie. He is expected to be sentenced on August 19 to 18 years in prison plus five years post-release supervision.
Niles also pleaded guilty to Assault in the Second Degree, stemming from a May 2020 attack on a fellow detainee at the Westchester County Jail, where Niles has been held since his arrest following the Peekskill incident. He is expected to be sentenced to two years in prison plus three years post-release supervision on the assault charge, to be served concurrently with his sentence on the manslaughter charge.
On March 27, 2020, Niles, then 18, approached McKenzie, a senior at Peekskill High School, and stabbed him in the chest, stomach and back. McKenzie was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Niles was apprehended by police shortly thereafter.
“This senseless crime was terrible tragedy for Omarion McKenzie’s family, friends and community, and our hearts go out to them,” said Westchester DA Miriam E. Rocah. “At the sentencing later this year, they will have the opportunity to tell the court about how this loss has impacted them and we will work to ensure Jahliv Niles is held accountable for his actions.”
Peekskill Police investigated the case and made the arrest.
The case is before Judge Barry Warhit, and was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brian Bendish and Laura Murphy.
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Media contact:
Dan Weiller, Director of Communications
(914) 995-3586
dweiller@westchesterda.net
Sister of Mount Vernon Stabbing Murder Victim Says Her Brother ‘Never Got A Chance To Live And Reach His Goals In Life’
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May 24, 2021 – A Mount Vernon man convicted of murder last month was sentenced today in Westchester County Court to 18-years-to-life in prison.
Savion Kirton, 27, was convicted on April 21 of Murder in the Second Degree for the June, 2019 stabbing death of Jermial Rose. Kirton’s trial was the first jury trial to take place in Westchester County Court since last fall, when jury trials were suspended for a second time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The jury deliberated for 90 minutes before rendering a verdict.
A number of Rose’s family members were present at the sentencing. Rose’s sister spoke, saying that her brother “never got a chance to live and reach all his goals in life.” She said that “family is all we have and there is not much of my family left. My mom misses her son. I miss my big brother, my protector. My grandmother misses her only grandson, my aunt misses her only nephew, my six-year-old daughter misses her uncle.”
“Our hearts go out to Jermial Rose’s family, and we extend to them our deepest condolences,” said Westchester District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah. “While we know we can never bring their loved one back, we hope that the conviction and sentence of the perpetrator of this crime brings them some measure of peace.”
A short time before the murder, Kirton’s girlfriend was in a local store in Mount Vernon when Rose brushed up against her. She returned to her apartment and told Kirton what happened. Kirton, armed with a folding knife, immediately went to the store and confronted Rose on the sidewalk outside the establishment.
Security camera video captured Kirton at the scene, where he stabbed Rose in the left side of the neck with enough force that the knife crossed his throat and severed his right carotid artery, resulting in his death. The knife, with Rose’s DNA present, was later located in Kirton’s girlfriend’s apartment.
The case was before Judge George Fufidio.
Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Strongin, Deputy Bureau Chief of the Major Case Bureau, prosecuted the case.
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Media contact:
Dan Weiller, Director of Communications
(914) 995-3586
dweiller@westchesterda.net
DA Rocah Names Kathy Kaufman, PhD. First-Ever Chief Data Officer
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May 25, 2021 -- Since taking office in January, Westchester DA Miriam E. Rocah has stressed the importance of data collection and analysis to fight crime, create safer communities and identify racial and gender bias in the criminal justice system.
Today, DA Rocah announced that Kathy Kaufman, PhD has joined the DA’s Office as Chief Data Officer, a newly-created position.
“The people of Westchester need to have confidence that our justice system is as effective, fair and equitable as it can be,” Rocah said. “Comprehensive, sophisticated data collection and management and in-depth analysis will help us to identify where our criminal justice system needs to do better, and shape our work to address these issues and provide greater transparency to the public.”
“We are excited to have Dr. Kaufman on board to lead this new effort in the DA’s Office,” Rocah added.
Dr. Kaufman’s work will focus on developing more fully integrated data management systems. It will encompass a number of areas in which better access to data and information can facilitate the work of the DA’s Office, improve public accountability, reduce racial and gender disparities in prosecutions and generally help ensure that the criminal justice system treats everyone as equitably as possible.
She will work on creating reporting systems for measuring and monitoring outcomes; improving real-time access to records related to witness integrity; and designing data dashboards and tools for monitoring the origins and dispositions of complaints and referrals.
Dr. Kaufman, who joined the office on May 17, is a sociologist and data analyst who has led a number of initiatives related to policing in Westchester County over the past five years. Her recent projects include authoring a research report on low-level marijuana possession arrests, developing data dashboards on a variety of policing-related topics, and leading a Westchester County criminal justice voter guide project.
She also serves on the Westchester County Criminal Justice Advisory Board. In addition, Dr. Kaufman has held teaching positions at Vassar College and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.
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Media contact:
Dan Weiller, Director of Communications
(914) 995-3586
dweiller@westchesterda.net
DA Miriam E. Rocah and County Executive George Latimer Announce County Funding to Local Police for Interpreter Services
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May 19, 2021 -- Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah and Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced today that the County will provide funding for local Westchester County police departments to access real-time interpreter services through Language Line. The move will allow law enforcement agencies to better serve residents, witnesses and crime victims in their native languages.
Language Line provides on-demand interpreting in more than 240 languages via mobile, video, and phone through a team of more than 14,000 professional interpreters. The DA’s Office currently has access to services similar to those offered through Language Line.
According to statistics, language barrier can be a strong disincentive for crime victims or witnesses to approach law enforcement for assistance. Non-English-speakers commonly rely on friends of family members to provide translation, but this informal process can be unwieldy and impractical, especially when reporting a crime.
You may also go to YouTube to watch the full briefing.
Rocah said: “Effective law enforcement is important to maintaining safe and secure communities across Westchester and part of that is ensuring that our police departments and prosecutors are able to fully engage and communicate with all residents of all background. This generous support from the County will enable police to build better trust with immigrants and others with limited English skills, which will in turn help prevent crime and make our communities stronger and safer.”
Latimer said: “We have a duty to protect our residents, and if that means better communicating with them in their native language we want to do that. It is difficult for police departments to have officers who speak each language spoken in Westchester County. Access to Language Line will enable the officers and the residents to communicate in their native language when interacting with the local police departments. The Westchester County Department of Public Safety has long used Language Line and it has proven to be very successful.”
Under this initiative, the DA’s Office and any local police department in need of translation services in any language will contact the Westchester County Department of Public Safety Communications Unit which will connect the department with a translator. This will enable all residents to receive immediate translation services and be able to communicate with the police in the language in which they are most comfortable.
Westchester County Public Safety Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said: “The County Police is fortunate to have multiple officers who speak a second language and we make them available often to assist municipal police departments in Westchester with incidents and investigations.
Language Line is also an invaluable service that we utilize to communicate promptly and effectively with persons who have been a victim of a crime or have a need for police assistance. A language barrier should never prevent anyone from getting the help or service they need.”
President of the Westchester County Chiefs of Police Association & Scarsdale Chief of Police Andy Matturro said: “The goal of every Westchester County police officer is to meet the needs of the communities we serve and to make continuing improvements to the services we provide. Enhancing access to all of our officers with translation services through Language Line in real-time will help us get details from crime victims and witnesses that much faster, which can allow us to solve cases and help victims.”
Asian American Advisory Board Co-Chair Marjorie Hsu said: “I applaud Westchester County providing on-demand interpreters through Language Line to our local police departments. Asian Americans are the fastest growing demographic in New York and the U.S.; and language access has long been a significant challenge for new immigrants. There are 2300 living languages in Asia, and seven major dialects of the Chinese language. Providing our public safety staff with language assistance will greatly improve Asian American new immigrants' sense of security and assimilation in Westchester."
Islamic Center of New Rochelle Imam Mohammed Shaffieq Chace said: “Being able to speak in your native language, whether it’s Hindi, Urdu, Arabic or another, will greatly help people that need to interact with the police. An interpreter in real-time takes the burden off of the victim seeking support from authorities, and instead helps them to share their experience in a more direct way with less pressure and stress.”
Community Resource Center Executive Director Jirandy Martinez, MPA, said: “This is a wonderful and much needed addition to our police departments. Non-English speakers will have an easier time expressing themselves and their concerns to law enforcement. It will not only improve communications between the groups, but can also have a positive impact on relationships within the community.”
Thomas H. Slater Center Haitian Resource Center Director Myrlene Chauvette said: “The priority for the victim of a crime should be to get to the police and report the situation as soon as possible, and not to waste time finding a relative or friend who can accompany them to translate the circumstances because they are not fluent English speakers. This is a great enhancement to all Westchester residents.”
OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates Vice President of the Hudson Valley Chapter Bob Chao said: “This is a major improvement to the way that law enforcement works with non-English speaking residents. It can help cases to come together more quickly, better supporting victims and moving the process closer to justice.”
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Dan Weiller, Director of Communications
(914) 995-3586
dweiller@westchesterda.net
