PRESS RELEASE
FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE: DECEMBER 28, 2017
The Appellate Division, Third Department has unanimously affirmed the April, 2015 conviction of Edward Evans upon his plea of guilty of the crimes of assault in the second degree, a class D violent felony, and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree, a class D felony.
Defendant’s conviction stems from an incident which occurred on December 22, 2013 in Kingston, New York. That afternoon, the defendant became enraged when he discovered his girlfriend’s 14 year old daughter kissing her 15 year old boyfriend. During the argument which ensued, defendant attacked the victim with a hunting knife with a nine inch blade, slashing his wrist and causing him significant physical injury.
Following his plea of guilty to these crimes, defendant was sentenced by County Court Judge Donald A. Williams to a determinate eight year State prison sentence to be followed by five years of postrelease supervision.
On appeal, defendant maintained that his plea was not knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently entered due to his attorney’s ineffectiveness, that the sentence imposed by County Court was unduly harsh and excessive and that he was denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial. The Appellate Division, Third Department, however, found each of these claims to either be without merit or unpreserved for the Court’s review.
On appeal, the defendant is represented by Michael C. Ross, Esq. of Bloomingburg, New York. Assistant District Attorney Joey Drillings, Esq. handled the appeal for the District Attorney’s Office.