Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 28-year-old Rakeem Scott of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case on an indictment charging him with one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class “D” felony.

It is alleged that December 19, 2018, at approximately 2:45 p.m., the defendant was driving on Walden Avenue in the Town of Cheektowaga when he stopped his vehicle at an intersection to approach another driver. The defendant is accused of dragging the victim out of the vehicle and punching him in the face multiple times before fleeing the scene.

The victim was taken to ECMC where he underwent surgery for fractures to the left side of his face.

The investigation initially identified the defendant’s brother, Maurice Scott, 31, of Buffalo, as the perpetrator of the crime, and he was subsequently charged with Assault in the Second Degree shortly after the crime occurred. The charges against Maurice Scott were not indicted pending further investigation into the case by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office. The charges against Maurice Scott, who has been released on bail, are expected to be dismissed when he is scheduled to return to Cheektowaga Town Court on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 9 a.m.

Scott remains held on $50,000 bail. A return date has not been scheduled at this time.

If convicted on the charge, Scott faces a maximum of 7 years in prison.

DA Flynn commends the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation. 

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alicia M. Lilley of the DA’s Felony Trials Bureau.

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