PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 15, 2006

Contact: William J. Smith (718) 556-7150
William.Smith@rcda.nyc.gov

D.A. Donovan: Guilty Plea Entered in ’03 Assault at Tottenville Firehouse

Former FDNY Firefighter Michael Silvestri, 43, Enters Guilty Plea to Assault of Fellow Firefighter

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. today announced a guilty plea has been entered in the New Year’s Eve 2003 assault in an FDNY firehouse located in the Tottenville section of the borough.

Michael Silvestri, 43, of the Rosebank section of the borough, entered a guilty plea to the charge of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony, in State Supreme Court before Judge Stephen J. Rooney. The defendant affirmed that with intent to cause serious physical injury to Robert Walsh, he did assault the victim in an unprovoked attack. Silvestri will be sentenced on April 26, 2006, to a period of one year in jail.

In March 2004, Silvestri was named in a three count indictment for the New Years’ Eve incident in which he was alleged to have seriously injured fellow firefighter Robert Walsh by striking him in the head with a metal chair.

District Attorney Donovan stated, “As a result of his actions that evening, Michael Silvestri has lost an unblemished 17-year career with the FDNY, as well as the lifelong pension and benefits accompanying that position. As a result of his guilty plea today, which was accepted in consultation with the victim, the defendant is now a convicted, predicate violent felon and will be serving a period of incarceration.”

Assistant District Attorney Mario Mattei, Chief of the Investigations Bureau is prosecuting the case. The defendant is represented by Mario Gallucci, Esq.

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