Posted on 4/16/2010, 10:36:38 PM by Red in Blue PA
ROYALTON — A man who riddled an alleged burglar’s car with gunfire Jan. 21 is off the legal hook.
Niagara County prosecutors Thursday reduced felony charges against Dennis F. Cherry to misdemeanors.
Town Justice Gregory A. Bass then accepted their recommendation to adjourn the case in contemplation of dismissal. The charges will disappear in six months as long as Cherry isn’t involved in any more trouble.
The case provoked strong public reaction after Cherry asserted that he was defending his property against people whom he thought had entered his Akron Road home two days before and stole a .357 Magnum handgun.
It was different and less lethal than the March 28 shooting incident involving Albany teacher David A. Park, a party guest in an Amherst neighborhood, who mistakenly entered another residence in the wee hours and was killed when the homeowner, David D’Amico, fired a shotgun.
The Royalton case happened at 11 a. m., and Cherry was waiting for intruders in his garage, having been alerted by a series of hang-up phone calls.
“I’m just kind of glad it’s over,” said Cherry, 63.
(Excerpt) Read more at buffalonews.com ...
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