JURY CONVICTS 32 YEAR-OLD BRONX MAN IN ABSENTIA, ON CHARGES OF ASSAULT

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 32 year-old Bronx man has been convicted in absentia, of assault, for the December 2002 stabbing of two Bronx auto-mechanics.

A jury found Robisson Santos, of 4030 Carpenter Avenue, guilty of 1 count of Assault in the 1st degree, a class “B” felony offense, punishable by a maximum term of up to 25 years imprisonment, and 1 count of Attempted Assault in the 1st degree, a class “C” felony offense, punishable by a maximum term of up to 15 years imprisonment. Santos, who was free on $10,000 bail, fled once he heard the jury had reached a verdict.

State Supreme Court Justice Harold Silverman issued a bench warrant and set sentencing for Wednesday, July 7, 2004 in Part T18.

The incident occurred during the early morning hours of December 14, 2002, when the defendant became enraged over not finding a parking spot in a garage located at 2355 Webster Avenue. Santos, still seated in his vehicle with a passenger, began arguing with Yumarbis Hernandez, 26 and Elvin Mirabel, 33, and attempted to hit Mirabel with his car. However, Mirabel jumped out of the path of the oncoming car. Santos jumped out of the vehicle with a knife in his hand and began to attack Mirabel, who had fallen to the ground. Mirabel tried to kick the knife out of the defendant’s hand and was stabbed six times in the legs. After stabbing Mirabel, Santos ran behind Hernandez, who was holding the unidentified passenger, and stabbed Hernandez in the back, perforating his colon. Hernandez suffered permanent injuries, requiring multiple surgeries and is currently disabled.

Santos and the unidentified passenger fled leaving behind the vehicle, which was impounded by the police. Santos was arrested a few hours later when he attempted to recover the vehicle.

Assistant District Attorney Troy A. Smith is prosecuting this case.