Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that two 15-year-old males from Buffalo pleaded guilty yesterday afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan, a designated Youth Part Judge, to one count of Burglary in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony) and one count of Grand Larceny in the Third Degree (Class “D” felony). Both juvenile offenders pleaded guilty to all charges in the indictment against them.

On July 16, 2021, at approximately 11:36 a.m., the juvenile offenders unlawfully entered a home on Penhurst Park in the City of Buffalo with the intent to commit a burglary. After unlawfully entering through a mudroom door, the juvenile offenders used a tennis racket, considered a dangerous instrument, to attempt to gain further entry into the house by breaking a window on an interior door.

The juvenile offenders, both 14-years-old at the time of the crime, ran after being confronted by a resident of the home who called 911. The juvenile offenders also stole a vehicle on Bird Avenue a short time later. The juvenile offenders, who were identified through surveillance video evidence, were arrested on July 29, 2021. 

If not adjudicated as youthful offenders, the juvenile offenders face a maximum sentence of 3 to 10 years of incarceration when they are sentenced on Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Both remain held without bail in the custody of the Erie County Youth Services Center. 

DA Flynn commends Detective Jennifer Zanghi and Detective Michael Maritato of the Buffalo Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Noha A. Elnakib of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Nicholas C. Bussi of the Felony Trials Bureau.