Buffalo man sentenced for kidnapping woman in Town of Cheektowaga

Submitted by the Erie County District Attorney’s Office

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announced Abel Gebrehawaria, 24, of Buffalo, was sentenced this morning before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller. He received a determinate sentence of five years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision.

During the early morning of Saturday, March 2, 2024, the defendant attacked the victim as she exited her vehicle in the driveway of a residence in the Town of Cheektowaga. The defendant abducted the victim by dragging her into his vehicle, which was parked on the street. The defendant, who was not known to the victim, pushed her into the rear seat and drove away. During the kidnapping, the victim grabbed the steering wheel, which caused the defendant to drive his SUV onto the curb of George Urban Boulevard. The victim was able to escape and report the incident to police.

Gebrehawaria pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping in the second degree (class “B” felony), the highest sustainable charge and sole count in the indictment, on June 3.

Today, a final order of protection was issued on behalf of the victim, which remains in effect until September 2037.

“While no person should ever be subjected to this kind of attack, I applaud the victim for her courage to take action, which allowed her to escape her abductor,” Keane said. “Her strength to report the incident to police and her confidence to confront the defendant in court ensured his conviction for this crime. I commend her for sharing her traumatic experience to inform the public and organizing self-defense classes in our community in an effort to keep other women safe.”

Keane commends Chief Brian Coons, Lt. Justin Haag, Det. Eric Derby, and members of the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation. Keane also commends advocate Nicole Haffa for her work with the victim in this case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniel J. Mattle of the special victims/domestic violence bureau and Assistant District Attorney Mitchell C. Boughton of the justice courts bureau.