Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 24-year-old Abel Gebrehawaria of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to one count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree (Class “B” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment.
During the early morning of Saturday, March 2, 2024, the defendant attacked the victim as she exited her vehicle in the driveway of a residence in the Town of Cheektowaga. The defendant abducted the victim by dragging her into his vehicle, which was parked on the street. The defendant, who was not known to the victim, pushed her into the rear seat and drove away. During the kidnapping, the victim grabbed the steering wheel, which caused the defendant to drive his SUV onto the curb of George Urban Boulevard. The victim was able to escape and report the incident to police.
Gebrehawaria faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced on Friday, August 23, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. He remains released on a previously posted $250,000 bond.
Acting DA Keane commends Chief Brian Coons, Lt. Justin Haag, Detective Eric Derby and members of the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniel J. Mattle of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Mitchell C. Boughton of the Justice Courts Bureau.