Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 39-year-old Gus D. Oldham of Buffalo has been arraigned before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan on an indictment charging him with one count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class “A” felony, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class “C” felony.

The defendant is accused of fatally shooting his mother, 57-year-old Cheneta Oldham, at their home on Vernon Place in the City of Buffalo on or about December 23, 2018.

The matter is scheduled to return on June 5 at 9:30 AM. He remains in custody with the Erie County Sheriff’s Office and is committed to a psychiatric facility in Rochester because the Erie County Department of Mental Health determined he is currently incompetent to understand the nature of the criminal proceedings.

If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 25 years to life in prison.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christine M. Garvey of the DA’s Homicide Bureau.

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