Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 40-year-old Londarr S. Ward of Buffalo pleaded guilty this afternoon before Acting Erie County Court Judge Carrie Phillips to one count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class “D” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the sole count in the indictment ahead of his jury trial, which was scheduled to occur in August.
On Tuesday, September 27, 2022, at approximately 10:03 a.m., the defendant assaulted his defense attorney during a meeting inside of the Erie County Correctional Facility on Walden Avenue in the Town of Alden. The defendant punched the victim multiple times with a closed fist, which caused injuries to the victim’s face, left shoulder and chest.
The defendant committed the assault while in pre-trial custody following his arrest for committing a series of robberies targeting convenience stores. In January 2024, a jury found Ward guilty of four counts of Robbery in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felonies) and one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree (Class “A” misdemeanor). Jurors rendered their decision after approximately one hour of deliberations, convicting the defendant of all counts in the indictment against him. In April 2024, Ward was sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller to 46 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision as a second violent felony offender in April 2024.
Ward faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when he is sentenced on the assault case on Monday, September 23, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. He remains held without bail.
Acting DA Keane also commends the Erie County Sheriff’s Office for their work in this case as well as the many detectives of the Amherst Police Department, Cheektowaga Police Department and the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the robbery investigations.
The assault case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Briana R. D. Kalman of the Narcotics/Intelligence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Joelle M. Marino of the Felony Trials Bureau. The robbery case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Hilarie L. Henry of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Bethany A. Solek of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.