Wednesday, February 2, 2005

D.A. BROWN: QUEENS MAN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED MURDER FOR SHOOTING BUSINESSMAN IN REGO PARK; FACES UP TO 25 YEARS IN PRISON

Queens District Attorney Richard A. Brown today announced the conviction of a Forest Hills man for a shooting in December 2003 in Rego Park, Queens of a businessman. The defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.

District Attorney Brown said, “The defendant has been tried by a jury of his peers and convicted of a violent crime committed with an illegal handgun. A long prison sentence is warranted.”

The District Attorney identified the defendant as Simon Samandarov, 30, of 102-45 62nd Road in Forest Hills, Queens. The defendant was convicted late yesterday in Queens Criminal Court of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second and Third Degree.

District Attorney Brown said that a jury of six women and six men deliberated for about three hours following a week-long trial before returning a verdict of guilty before Queens Supreme Court Justice Richard L. Buchter who will sentence the defendant on February 28, 2005. The defendant faces up to 25 years in prison.

According to trial testimony, on December 17, 2003 at about 1:45 a.m. at 99th Street and 64th Road in Rego Park, the defendant shot the victim with a defaced, illegal .22 caliber pistol striking him twice in the back and buttocks as the victim was attempting to run away.

The District Attorney said that defendant Edward Davydov, 39, of 1254 42nd Street who also was charged in the case pled guilty to Assault in the Third Degree on February 9, 2004 and was sentenced to three years probation.

Assistant District Attorney Catherine C. Kane of the District Attorney's Organized Crime and Rackets Bureau is prosecuting the case under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Gerard A. Brave, Bureau Chief, and Marc P. Resnick, Deputy Bureau Chief, and the overall supervision of Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Peter A. Crusco and Deputy Executive Assistant District Attorney for Investigations Linda M. Cantoni.