PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release on September 8, 2006

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

D.A. Donovan: Indictment Filed in Fatal Robbery of Mexican Immigrant, Investigation Continues

     STATEN ISLAND, NY - Richmond County District Attorney Daniel M. Donovan, Jr. today announced the indictment of three individuals accused in the robbery of 33 year old Mariner’s Harbor resident Ricardo Salinas. The indictment, voted by a Richmond County Grand Jury, charges John Messiha (DOB: 11/4/88), Daniel Betancourt (DOB: 3/21/87) and Travis King (DOB: 10/27/86) with one count of Robbery in the 1st Degree, a Class B felony.

     The defendants were served with a Certificate of Indictment during a proceeding this morning in Staten Island Criminal Court.

     The indictment alleges that on September 2, 2006, at approximately 9:05 pm, at 324 Van Pelt Avenue, the defendants did approach Mr. Salinas as he was walking from his home to a local store and did forcibly remove property from the victim consisting of a gold chain, pendant and cell phone, and did cause serious physical injury to Mr. Salinas. The victim was discovered deceased at the scene shortly after the robbery.

     District Attorney Donovan stated, “My office is continuing to investigate several elements of this case to determine if we will be asking a Grand Jury to return additional charges. Among those elements, we are awaiting the results of the investigation into Mr. Salinas’ death by the Office of the Medical Examiner. Additionally we are evaluating whether it would be appropriate to pursue this case under New York’s Hate Crime Statute, based on statements made by the defendants indicating that Mr. Salinas may have been targeted due to his Mexican ethnicity.

     The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment this Wednesday, September, 13th in State Supreme Court, St. George before Judge Leonard P. Rienzi. The defendants face a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison if convicted at trial.

     The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys David Frey and Alex Shapiro. Among the defendants: John Messiha is represented by Leo Duval, Esq, Travis King is represented by Mario Gallucci, Esq., and Daniel Betancourt is represented by Mark Fonte, Esq.

     The public is reminded that the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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