Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 54-year-old Andrew Amato of West Falls has been arraigned before State Supreme Court Justice Paul Wojtaszek on one count of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class “D” violent felony, one count of Attempted Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a Class “E” felony, and one count of Forcible Touching, a Class “A” misdemeanor.

It is alleged that during the late evening of November 14, 2014 and into the early morning hours of November 15, 2014, the defendant intentionally and forcibly touched a female victim in a sexual manner. It is further alleged that the defendant subjected the victim to sexual contact by forcible compulsion inside a hotel room in the Town of Cheektowaga. 

If convicted on all charges, Amato faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

A return court date has not been scheduled at this time.

DA Flynn commends Det. Terrence Giffin of the Cheektowaga Police Department for his work in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Stephen C. Earnhart of the DA’s Special Victims Bureau.

As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.