District Attorney Frank A. Sedita, III announces that an Erie County trial jury has returned a guilty verdict against 24 year old Ronald Hough, Jr., of Monroe Street in the City of Buffalo, in connection with an armed robbery and near-fatal shooting.

After three hours of deliberations, the jury returned a guilty verdict on all counts, which included Robbery in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. These are the highest charges for which the defendant could have been convicted. In other words, Hough was prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

On October 21, 2013, Hough participated in the armed robbery of a man servicing an ATM machine outside of Dinny’s Bar, a notorious and frequent crime scene in the City of Buffalo. Apparently unsatisfied with the $17,000 he stole, Hough gratuitously shot the victim with an illegal handgun, nearly causing the victim’s death.

For those who ignorantly opine that the District Attorney’s Office does not prosecute a case unless it is a so-called “slam dunk,” it should be noted that three witnesses either could not testify or refused to truthfully testify when called to the witness stand. One witness became the unfortunate victim of a homicide. Another witness claimed Hough had nothing to do with the robbery, directly contradicting a prior sworn statement and his prior grand jury testimony. Another witness, after being advised by the court that she could not invoke the 5^th Amendment and must answer questions, had a sudden and catastrophic attack of amnesia.

DA Sedita lauded the Buffalo Police Department “B” District detectives who investigated the case, Timothy J. Rooney and Brian F. Mahoney.  “These tenacious detectives began working this case while the victim was en route to ECMC and they never quit working until they caught all of the perpetrators. The detectives worked collaboratively with the District Attorney’s Office Tactical Prosecution Unit, along with the staff at the Erie Crime Analysis Center and Buffalo Police Camera room to solve the case.”

DA Sedita also complimented his prosecution team, Assistant District Attorney and Felony Trial Bureau Chief Michael P. Felicetta, and Assistant District Attorney Eugene T. Partridge III, who is assigned the Tactical Prosecution Unit. Regarding their performance, DA Sedita remarked: “Observing how their dedication, skill, and professionalism overcame significant obstacles would be especially enlightening for those who consider themselves knowledgeable about criminal prosecution, but who have never actually tried a criminal case.”

No stranger to the criminal justice system, Hough is a prior violent felon who was previously convicted for Attempted Robbery in the First Degree in connection with, shockingly, shooting someone during the course of an armed robbery. Hough faces up to 25 years-to-life in state prison when sentenced by Judge DiTullio on April 1, 2015 at 9:30am.