BRONX MAN IS SENTENCED TO ELEVEN YEARS IMPRISONMENT FOR THE 2004 ATTEMPTED MURDER OF TWO VARIETY STORE OWNERS

Bronx District Attorney Robert T. Johnson announced today that a 20 year-old Bronx man has been sentenced to a term of eleven years imprisonment for the attempted murder of an elderly couple during a thwarted robbery attempt.

Julius Pena, of 1140 Clay Avenue, pled guilty last May to one count of Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree, for the 2004 slashing of Don and Young Sang. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Acting State Supreme Court Justice William Mogulescu sentenced Pena to a determinate term of eleven years imprisonment. Pena was also sentenced to a concurrent term of six years imprisonment for an unrelated case here in Bronx County for Robbery in the 1st degree. The People had asked for a term of twenty years imprisonment.

Co-defendant Alfa Reid, of 1140 Clay Avenue, pled guilty to one count of Attempted Robbery in the 3rd degree. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Reid, a predicate felon, will receive an indeterminate term of between two and four years imprisonment when he appears for sentencing on Tuesday, June 21, 2005 in Part A.

The incident occurred on January 12, 2004, when Pena and Reid entered the "Sangs Gift & Beauty Supply" store at 190 East 167th Street and announced a hold up. Pena took out a gun and immediately struck Young Sang about her head and face as she stood near the cash register. Don Sang pushed Reid out of the store and returned to help his wife. When Don Sang tried to take the gun from the defendant, Pena took out a box cutter and started slashing the Sangs.

A fellow merchant, Soo Shin, heard the commotion and was also slashed across his face by the defendant when he intervened. Both the Sangs and Mr. Shin held Pena until the police arrived. Don Sang and Soo Shin both sustained multiple facial lacerations and contusions. Young Sang required surgery to repair the lacerations to her face.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sara I. Jacobson of the General Crimes Division.