Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that 88-year-old Martin Turkiewicz of Cheektowaga has pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth F. Case to Assault in the Second Degree. 

On September 9, 2017, at the Garden Gate Health Care Facility on Union Road, the defendant struck his wife in the head with a hammer several times, causing serious injuries. 

The victim, 87-year-old Rita Turkiewicz is still recovering from her injuries. 

The defendant faces a maximum of 7 years in state prison when he is sentenced by Judge Case on February 8, 2018 at 2 p.m. 

The defendant also signed an order of protection barring him from having any contact with his wife, except for supervised visits on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with a third-party, nonfamily member present. 

DA Flynn commends the Cheektowaga Police Department for its investigative work, including Lt. Kenneth Rusin and Detectives Terence Griffin and James Jenson. 

Assistant District Attorney Danielle D’Abate prosecuted the case.