BRONX MAN FOUND GUILTY OF ROBBERY AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 22 year-old Bronx man has been convicted of robbery and other related charges for robbing three young men between January and February of 2003.

A jury found Alexander Screahben, of 2741 Bronxwood Avenue , guilty of 2 counts of Robbery in the 1st degree, and 2 counts of Criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree, for the knifepoint robberies of Peter Everette, 21, Chevel Walters, 23, and Leon Johnson, 20.

State Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Price set sentencing for Wednesday, October 27, 2004 in Part T16. Screahben, a persistent violent felony offender, faces a maximum term of up to 50 years to life imprisonment.

The first robbery occurred on January 11, 2003, when Screahben and two unidentified men approached Everette, as he waited on the IRT #2 platform of the 225th Street train station, held a knife to Everette’s face and demanded his coat, hat, CD player, metro card, and cell phone. Screahben and the two unidentified men acted in concert and snatched the items valued at $356, and fled. Everette sustained a small laceration to his nose.

The second incident happened on January 24, 2003 at the same location around 12:40 AM, when Screahben approached Walters, and demanded his gray hooded sweatshirt. When Walters fought back, he was punched in his face and knocked to the ground. Screahben and two unidentified men acted in concert and took the sweatshirt and $180 in cash before fleeing.

Detectives with the New York City Police Department’s Intelligence Division of Bronx Transit District 12, noticed and emerging pattern and set up an undercover operation to apprehend the suspects. On February 1, 2003, at approximately 12:40 AM, plain clothes Police Officers Lourdes Rivera, and Suzanne Silva of Bronx Transit District 12, observed Screahben and two other men later identified as Markemm Nesmith, 19, and Junior Perrier, 23, robbing a third victim, Johnson.

Co-defendant Nesmith, of 1203 Westchester Avenue, pled guilty to 1 count of Robbery in the 1st degree on November 6, 2003. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Nesmith was sentenced to a determinate term of 6 years imprisonment. The second co-defendant Perrier, of 680 East 225th Street, is currently awaiting trial on the following charges: 1 count of Robbery in the 1st degree, 2 counts of Robbery in the 2nd degree, 1 count of Robbery in the 3rd degree, and 1 count of Criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree. If convicted of the most serious charge, Perrier faces a maximum term of up to 25 years imprisonment.

Following a brief confrontation with Screahben, Nesmith and Perrier, Sergeant Henry Lopez and Detective Wilfredo Camacho, assisted in the arrest of the three defendants. Three knives were recovered at the scene.

Assistant District Attorney Derek Lynton of the Trial Division prosecuted this case.