PRESS RELEASE
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DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES INDICTMENT IN
NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREFIGHTER ASSAULT CASE

***Grand Jury returns 3-count indictment against Michael Silvestri ***

March 16, 2004 – Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. announced today the indictment of Michael Silvestri in connection with the alleged New Year’s Eve 2003 assault of fellow firefighter Robert Walsh.

Defendant Silvestri was named in a three-count indictment handed up by a Grand Jury last week. Mr. Silvestri is charged with one count of Assault in the First Degree, one count of Assault in the Second Degree, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree.

Silvestri will be arraigned on the indictment on Wednesday, March 24 in State Supreme Court. If convicted on the top count, the defendant faces 5 to 25 years in jail.

The case is being prosecuted by Richmond County Assistant District Attorneys Rick Pasacreta and Mario Mattei. Michael Silvestri is being represented by Michael Barone.

The public is reminded than an indictment is merely an accusation, and that a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.