Rochester man pleads guilty for slashing convenience store clerk's tires during blizzard and stabbing two victims in separate incident

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced 23-year-old Saquan P. Young of Rochester pleaded guilty this afternoon before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of criminal mischief in the third degree (class “E” felony) and two counts of assault in the third degree (class “A” misdemeanors).

On Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, at approximately 12:50 a.m., the defendant approached the door of a store on the 600 block of Prospect Avenue in the City of Buffalo, which had closed due to the blizzard. The defendant yelled at the employees who were still inside of the store, then slashed all four tires of one of the victim’s vehicles in the parking lot.

The defendant was located a short time later by Buffalo police on Niagara Street, where he was found in possession of a knife. He was given an appearance ticket to be arraigned on Dec. 30, 2022. A bench warrant was issued after he failed to appear for arraignment.

On Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, at approximately 4:09 p.m., the defendant and two male victims were involved in an argument inside of a residence on Letchworth Street in the City of Buffalo. The defendant stabbed both victims with a pocket knife. Both victims suffered injuries to their hands. Young was arrested after the assault.

Young faces a maximum of four years in prison when he is sentenced on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at 2 p.m. He was released on his own recognizance.

Temporary orders of protection were issued on behalf of all three victims.

Young also has a third criminal case, which is pending in Buffalo City Court. He is charged with one count of obstruction of governmental administration in the second degree, one count of resisting arrest (class “A” misdemeanors) and one count of trespass (violation).

It is alleged that, on Friday, July 29, 2022, at approximately 7:46 p.m., the defendant prevented Transit Authority Police from performing their lawful duties by refusing multiple commands by police to leave the premises after remaining inside the NFTA Allen Medical Campus Station for no legitimate reason for a period of time. The defendant is accused of actively resisting police officers by refusing to remove his hands from his pockets and commands to place his hands behind his back. The defendant also allegedly refused to provide his date of birth to the police officers.

Young is scheduled to return before Buffalo City Court Judge Peter Savage III for motions on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. As are all persons accused of a crime, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

DA Flynn commends the Buffalo Police Department and the NFTA Transit Authority Police Department for their work in these investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney of the felony trials bureau.