LOCKPORT – A North Tonawanda man who broke a victim’s jaw twice, three weeks apart, was sentenced Friday to eight years in prison and five years of post-release supervision by Niagara County Judge Matthew J. Murphy III.
Walter M. Edwards, 29, of Oliver Street, was convicted Oct. 25 of first-degree burglary, second-degree witness intimidation and two counts of third-degree assault in the beatings Nov. 21 and Dec. 10, 2012.
Co-defendant Joseph T. Fago, 19, of Sisson Drive, North Tonawanda, turned state’s evidence and was given five years’ probation for a guilty plea to attempted second-degree burglary in connection with the attacks on Daniel Benchik.
Murphy said, “Apparently this was a drug deal gone wrong or a dispute over money.” The second attack came after Benchik called the police about the first one, the judge said. Santiago Bermudez, another man who was present at the time of the second attack, was stabbed.
Walter M. Edwards, 29, of Oliver Street, was convicted Oct. 25 of first-degree burglary, second-degree witness intimidation and two counts of third-degree assault in the beatings Nov. 21 and Dec. 10, 2012.
Co-defendant Joseph T. Fago, 19, of Sisson Drive, North Tonawanda, turned state’s evidence and was given five years’ probation for a guilty plea to attempted second-degree burglary in connection with the attacks on Daniel Benchik.
Murphy said, “Apparently this was a drug deal gone wrong or a dispute over money.” The second attack came after Benchik called the police about the first one, the judge said. Santiago Bermudez, another man who was present at the time of the second attack, was stabbed.