Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that a jury has found 42-year-old Netza Medina of Buffalo guilty of one count of Burglary in the First Degree (Class “B” violent felony), one count of Aggravated Criminal Contempt (Class “D” felony), one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” misdemeanor). Jurors found the defendant guilty of the highest sustainable charges in the indictment against him after two hours of deliberation following a five-day trial. The jury rendered their decision yesterday afternoon.

Shortly after midnight on December 29, 2020, the defendant went to the female victim’s home, located in the City of Buffalo, knowingly in violation of an existing no-contact order of protection issued by the Court on November 5, 2020. As the victim called a friend and 911 for help, the defendant unlawfully entered the victim’s residence with the intent to commit a crime. The defendant broke two windows and kicked in a door to gain entry.

Once inside of the home, the defendant assaulted the female victim by pushing her to the floor and choking her with his hands. A child, who was a witness to the crime, grabbed a knife in an attempt to intervene in the attack, but was subsequently hit in the face by the defendant’s elbow. The defendant held the knife to the child as the female victim attempted to pull the defendant off of the child victim.

The defendant then continued to assault the female victim by pushing her into the kitchen while holding the knife to her neck. The defendant punched the victim in the head, which caused her to fall onto the floor. The defendant also kicked the victim in the head as she laid injured on the kitchen floor.

The defendant ran upstairs to look for the child victim who was hiding inside of a closet, but returned downstairs when he heard the female victim scream for help outside. The defendant, while armed with the knife, followed the female victim outside and chased after her. As police and the victim’s friend arrived to the scene, the defendant attempted to walk away from the female victim. The victim’s friend hit the defendant with his vehicle. The defendant was taken to ECMC to be treated for minor injuries then arrested for the domestic violence incident.

The victim suffered pain, bruising and swelling to her mouth, nose and eyes. The child victim was treated for a broken jaw and a stab wound to his hand.

Medina was initially arraigned on charges in Buffalo City Court later that morning. He was held on $50,000 cash or $100,000 bond/partially secured bond. On January 4, 2021, a felony hearing was conducted and the matter was held for action of the Grand Jury. He was arraigned on the indictment on June 24, 2021 and remanded without bail.  

Prosecutors were able to successfully obtain a conviction without the cooperation of the complaining witness. Evidence from body camera footage from the responding police officers was instrumental in proving the charges against the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt.

Medina faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges on Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. as a second felony offender. He continues to remain held without bail.

A no-contact order of protection remains in effect on behalf of the victim and her children.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department for their work in the investigation as well as the BE SAFE Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Program.

The BE SAFE Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Program specializes in advocacy within the criminal courts. While staff work within the Erie County District Attorney’s Office, it is a separate and distinct program with six victim advocates available to provide trauma-informed support and resources to anyone impacted by domestic violence. While the program primarily works with victims who are navigating the criminal justice process and rebuilding their lives following the arrest of the offender, you do not need to have a pending criminal case to speak with an advocate and access services.

For more information on the BE SAFE Domestic Violence Advocacy Program, call 716-858-4630 or visit www.erie.gov/besafe.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Gina M. Gramaglia of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Denise A. Herman of the Felony Trials Bureau.