BRONX MAN IS SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR ROBBING TWO YOUNG MEN IN 2003

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 22 year-old Bronx man has been sentenced to a term of 25 years imprisonment for a series of knifepoint robberies of two young men between January and February 2003.

A jury found Alexander Screahben, of 2741 Bronxwood Avenue, guilty last October, of two counts of Robbery in the 1st degree, and Criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree.. State Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Price, sentenced Screahben, a predicate felony offender, to two consecutive terms of 12 ½ years imprisonment for the knifepoint robberies of Peter Everette, 21, and Chevel Walters, 23. Screahben was also sentenced to a concurrent term of one year imprisonment on the weapons charge. Screahben must serve a minimum of 25 years imprisonment before being considered for parole.

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

The second incident occurred on January 24, 2003 at the same location around 12:40 AM, when Screahben approached Walters and demanded his gray hooded sweatshirt. When Walters resisted, he was punched in his face and knocked to the ground. Screahben and two unidentified accomplices 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 an 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.

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, pled guilty to Criminal possession of a weapon in the 4th degree, a class "A" misdemeanor, and was sentenced to a conditional discharge.

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