Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 30-year-old Shaquille A. Chillis of Buffalo pleaded guilty this morning before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio to one count of Burglary in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony). The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest count in the indictment against him.
During the early morning hours of Monday, December 26, 2022, the defendant burglarized a business on the 3500 block of Main Street in the Town of Amherst. The defendant knowingly entered and remained unlawfully inside of the closed store by entering through a broken window with the intent to steal shoes. The defendant was taken into custody without incident when confronted by police officers in the rear stock room of the store. The store has been closed due to a blizzard.
Chillis faces a maximum of 7 years in prison when he is sentenced on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. He remains released on his own recognizance.
Earlier this month, his co-defendant, 27-year-old John E. Harber, Jr. of Cheektowaga, pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Petit Larceny (Class “B” misdemeanor). Harber drove to Chillis to the store with the intent to act as the getaway vehicle. Harber waited inside of his vehicle in the parking lot during the commission of the crime, but drove away as police entered the store to investigate. Harber was stopped by police a short time later.
Harber faces a maximum of 15 days in jail when he is sentenced on Monday, November 27, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. He continues to be released.
DA Flynn commends the Amherst Police Department for their work in this investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Comfort of the Felony Trials Bureau.