Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 22-year-old Charles Fonville (aka “Crazy Boy”) of Buffalo was sentenced by Erie County Court Judge Michael Pietruszka to 10 years in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision.

On August 30, 2017, at approximately 10 p.m., the victim was talking on his cell phone with his ex-wife while walking home from his birthday party, which he celebrated at a friend’s home on Lisbon Avenue in the City of Buffalo. The defendant yelled at the victim to stay away from his mother’s house to which the defendant replied “I’m not doing anything, I’m on the phone.”

The defendant continued to become irate and grabbed a nearby cement brick. The defendant smashed the victim in the face and head with the brick, causing the victim to become unconscious.

The victim was taken by ambulance to ECMC where he remained in critical condition in an induced coma for approximately one month. The victim needed weeks of rehabilitation to help him breathe, walk and eat on his own before being released. The victim suffered short-term memory loss, personality changes, facial pain and numbness as well as weight gain. He continues to receive medical treatment for injuries.

The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest charge, Assault in the First Degree, on March 26, 2018.

Assistant District Attorney Sara N. Dee of the DA’s Training and Special Projects prosecuted the case.