Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that Dorian D. Jones, 19, of Buffalo, was arraigned on Saturday morning before Buffalo City Court Judge Tiffany R. Perry on two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree (Class “C” violent felonies) and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor).
It is alleged that on Thursday, January 9, 2025, at approximately 6:00 p.m., the defendant allegedly displayed what appeared to be a handgun and forcibly stole a vehicle from the adult victim and his two children. The alleged crime occurred on Cheltenham Drive in the City of Buffalo. The victim, a police officer with the Niagara Falls Police Department who was off duty at the time of the incident, allegedly fired shots at the defendant during the carjacking. The defendant allegedly fled while one juvenile victim was inside of the stolen vehicle. The defendant was located by police a short distance away on Delaware Avenue. He was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The child was found unharmed in the same area by police.
Jones is scheduled to return on Thursday, January 16, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. for a felony hearing. Prosecutors requested that the defendant be remanded. Bail was set at $80,000 cash or bond.
If convicted of the highest charge, Jones faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this ongoing investigation.
Jones is currently pending sentence after pleading guilty to charges in three separate incidents involving stolen vehicles. On October 30, 2024, the defendant pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” felony) and two counts of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class “A” misdemeanors). Jones, who was released under supervision, is currently scheduled to be sentenced on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 9:30 a.m.
Our office filed a motion pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law 510.10(4)(t) to request that the Court revoke his bail on the stolen vehicle cases and hold the defendant without bail for allegedly committing a felony involving harm to an identifiable person or property while he was released pending sentence on a felony charge. Yesterday morning, Judge Case revoked his release under supervision and the defendant was held without bail.
The robbery case is being prosecuted by Chief Ashley M. Morgan of the Major Crimes Bureau. The stolen vehicle cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Milton D. Gordon of the Raise the Age/Motor Vehicle Theft Insurance Fraud Unit.
As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.