Nassau County District Attorney Madeline Singas announced that a Staten Island man and three other individuals were arraigned on a grand jury indictment for their alleged connection to a fatal shooting and robbery in Haypath Park in Old Bethpage.
Brandon Torres, 22, of Staten Island was arraigned before Judge Christopher Quinn and charged with Murder in the Second Degree (an A-1 felony), Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony), two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (a C violent felony), and Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendant was remanded and is due back in court September 6. If convicted of the top count, he faces 25 years to life in prison.
Kion Carter, 25, of Middle Island was arraigned today before Judge Christopher Quinn and charged with Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendant’s bail was continued, and he is due back in court September 6. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum 25 years in prison.
Patricia Quilliam, 19, of Greenlawn was arraigned July 30 before Judge Christopher Quinn and charged with Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendant’s bail was continued, and she is due back in court August 21. If convicted of the top count, she faces a maximum 25 years in prison.
Charles Spinella, 17, of Kings Park was arraigned July 31 before Judge Christopher Quinn and charged with Robbery in the First Degree (a B violent felony) and Robbery in the Second Degree (a C violent felony). The defendant’s bail was continued, and he is due back in court August 21. If convicted of the top count, he faces a maximum 25 years in prison.
“Senseless gun violence during an armed robbery cost a young man his life,” DA Singas said. “This type of violence will never be tolerated in Nassau County and my office will vigorously prosecute this case.”
DA Singas said on July 6 at approximately 10:45 pm, defendants Torres, Carter, Quilliam and Spinella allegedly gathered in Haypath Park in Old Bethpage to rob a man who came to the park under the impression he was going to sell marijuana to Carter.
When that man arrived at the scene, Torres, using a gun, and with Carter, were allegedly waiting for him and robbed him of approximately one pound of marijuana, cell phone and keys.
During the robbery, 23-year-old Stefon Pierre, who was on lookout for the group, walked up to the three and was shot once, fatally, in the stomach, allegedly by Torres. During the robbery, Quilliam and Spinella allegedly acted as lookouts.
Quilliam, with all the other defendants in the vehicle, allegedly drove Pierre to Plainview Hospital where he died from his injuries the following morning.
Following an investigation, Torres was arrested on July 8 while Carter, Quilliam and Spinella were arrested on July 7 by members of the Nassau County Police Department.
Michelle Lewisohn of DA Singas’ Major Offense Bureau is prosecuting this case. Defendant Carter is represented by Glenn Hardy, Esq. Defendant Torres is represented by Jeff Groder, Esq., Defendant Quilliam is represented by Joseph Indusi, Esq., Defendant Spinella is represented by Joseph Lo Piccolo, Esq.
A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.