In a controversial turn of events, five of the seven Venezuelan migrants accused of assaulting two NYPD officers in Times Square have been offered plea deals, sparking public outrage. The incident, which occurred on January 27, involved a violent confrontation caught on video, leading to charges of second-degree assault and obstruction of a government administration.
The defendants, Ulises Bohorquez, Yohenry Brito, Edgarlis Vegas, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, Wilson Juarez, Yorman Reveron, and Kelvin Servita Arocha, were presented in front of Judge Laura Wood at the New York Supreme Criminal Court. During the altercation, Lieutenant Ben Kurian and Officer Zunxu Tian suffered injuries including lacerations, bruising, and substantial shoulder pain as they attempted to disperse a disorderly group outside 220 West 42nd Street.
Judge Wood expressed particular frustration with Yohenry Brito, who has been described as the ‘most culpable’ among the accused. Brito faced additional scrutiny for being rearrested on petty larceny charges while on bail. Judge Wood sternly warned him, stating, “I am furious that Mr. Brito was rearrested and charged with petty larceny while he was out on this case. If you jaywalk, if you jump a turnstile, if you do anything at all and I have to issue a warrant, you will not see the light of day until this case is over. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office proposed plea deals whereby Bohorquez, Brito, and Gomez-Izquiel would serve a year in prison for pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Meanwhile, Arocha and Juarez were offered six months for obstructing government administration. Vegas and Reveron have yet to receive any deal offers.
This legal development has drawn significant attention and criticism, particularly regarding the perceived leniency of the plea deals in relation to the severity of the charges. The defense attorneys have not accepted the offers, and Judge Wood has scheduled a return to court on June 18, where a trial date will be set if no agreement is reached.
The case has raised broader questions about the handling of violent crimes involving migrants and the appropriate level of judicial response, particularly in high-profile incidents involving law enforcement officers.
The defendants, Ulises Bohorquez, Yohenry Brito, Edgarlis Vegas, Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, Wilson Juarez, Yorman Reveron, and Kelvin Servita Arocha, were presented in front of Judge Laura Wood at the New York Supreme Criminal Court. During the altercation, Lieutenant Ben Kurian and Officer Zunxu Tian suffered injuries including lacerations, bruising, and substantial shoulder pain as they attempted to disperse a disorderly group outside 220 West 42nd Street.
Judge Wood expressed particular frustration with Yohenry Brito, who has been described as the ‘most culpable’ among the accused. Brito faced additional scrutiny for being rearrested on petty larceny charges while on bail. Judge Wood sternly warned him, stating, “I am furious that Mr. Brito was rearrested and charged with petty larceny while he was out on this case. If you jaywalk, if you jump a turnstile, if you do anything at all and I have to issue a warrant, you will not see the light of day until this case is over. Do I make myself perfectly clear?”
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office proposed plea deals whereby Bohorquez, Brito, and Gomez-Izquiel would serve a year in prison for pleading guilty to second-degree assault. Meanwhile, Arocha and Juarez were offered six months for obstructing government administration. Vegas and Reveron have yet to receive any deal offers.
This legal development has drawn significant attention and criticism, particularly regarding the perceived leniency of the plea deals in relation to the severity of the charges. The defense attorneys have not accepted the offers, and Judge Wood has scheduled a return to court on June 18, where a trial date will be set if no agreement is reached.
The case has raised broader questions about the handling of violent crimes involving migrants and the appropriate level of judicial response, particularly in high-profile incidents involving law enforcement officers.