FIFTEEN YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR HAVERSTRAW MAN CONVICTED IN VIOLENT BEATING OF NEIGHBOR

FROM DA’S OFFICE

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas P. Zugibe Wednesday announced that William Lewis (DOB 04/23/83) of 47 New Main Street, Haverstraw, New York was sentenced to 15 years in state prison and five years post release supervision after being convicted following a jury trial of:

One count of attempted murder in the second degree, a class “B” violent felony

One count of assault in the first degree, a class “B” violent felony

On December 5, 2012, Lewis violently attacked a fellow resident of the New Main Street Hotel in the Village of Haverstraw with the intent of robbing him. During the vicious assault, the defendant struck the victim with a guitar, stabbed him with a jagged edge of a broken light bulb and strangled him with a cord.

The victim sustained a skull fracture, a fracture of right eye orbit, two fractured ribs and numerous lacerations during the attack. As a result, he spent two weeks in a coma and a month recovering at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla. Additionally, the victim suffered permanent vision damage.

The December, 2012 attack occurred nine months following Lewis’ release from state prison. He had served nine years for a robbery in New York City.

Executive Assistant District Attorney Stephen Moore prosecuted the case.