A 25 YEAR-OLD MAN IS CONVICTED OF ASSAULT AND ROBBERY

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 25 year-old man has been convicted of stabbing a 25 year-old Bronx man and robbing another 43 year-old Bronx man at knife point.

After 6 hours of deliberation a jury found Joel Velez, of 611 West 131st Street, Manhattan, guilty of Assault in the 1st degree, in the stabbing of Charles Terry, 25, and Robbery in the 2nd degree in which the defendant held a knife to the throat of Apostolos Danias, 43, and took his vehicle. Velez is facing a maximum term of up to 40 years imprisonment when he appears before Acting State Supreme Court Justice Barbara Newman for sentencing on Thursday, May 2, 2002 in Part T15.

The crimes took place on the afternoon of February 23, 2001. Eyewitnesses testified that they observed Velez and Terry engaged in an argument that escalated to a fight at the intersection of West 233rd Street and Albany Crescent. When the two began fighting Velez pulled out a knife and attempted to stab Terry. As Terry fled he fell and when he tried to get up, Velez stabbed him three times, in the chest and both arms.

Velez fled on foot with Scott Diaz, the victim’s brother, in pursuit. When Velez approached the intersection of West 234th Street and Albany Crescent, he confronted his second victim Danias, who was driving a van and had stopped for a red light. Velez held the knife to Danias’ throat and ordered him to get out of the vehicle. Danias complied and Velez drove off. Police stopped Velez a short time later at the intersection of West 234th Street and Kingsbridge Road for a traffic infraction. Diaz who was still following the defendant identified Velez as the person who just stabbed his brother. Velez was taken into custody.

Assistant District Attorney Marijo Adimey prosecuted this case.