Buffalo man faces 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to 13 charges

Acting Erie County Prosecutor Michael J. Keane announces that Michael T. Sawyer, 34, of Buffalo pleaded guilty yesterday morning before State Supreme Court Justice Deborah A. Haendiges to all 13 counts against him:

• One count of Assault in the First Degree (class “B” violent felony)
• One count of Attempted Robbery in the First Degree (Class “C” Violent Felony)
• One count of second-degree robbery (class “C” violent felony)
• One count of second-degree strangulation (class “D” felony)
• One count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree (Class “E” Felony)
• One count of Assault in the Third Degree (Class “A” Misdemeanor)
• Two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (Class “A” Misdemeanors)
• One count of Tampering with a Witness in the Fourth Degree (Class “A” Misdemeanor)
• Four counts of second-degree criminal contempt (class “A” misdemeanors)

On Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at approximately 5:15 p.m., the defendant attempted to forcibly steal an elderly victim’s purse outside of a grocery store on Harlem Road near Kensington Avenue in the City of Cheektowaga. The accused, while driving a stolen vehicle, grabbed the bag handles while the victim held her purse. The victim was then dragged by the moving vehicle and fell to the ground, causing serious bodily injury.

A stolen and unoccupied vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle was later found parked on Miller Avenue near Broadway in the City of Buffalo. When the accused was confronted by police as he walked towards the stolen vehicle, he attempted to run to escape arrest. He was taken into custody after a brief chase. The defendant was arraigned in Cheektowaga Municipal Court and held on $200,000 bail.

The victim, a Snyder woman who was 80 years old at the time of the incident, was taken to ECMC where she was hospitalized for several weeks with head trauma and other serious physical injuries.

In another incident, on Friday, April 1, 2022, at approximately 10:36 p.m., the defendant punched and slapped a woman several times during an argument inside a home in the City of Buffalo. The accused strangled the victim with his hands until she lost consciousness and threw her to the ground during the assault. The victim suffered a concussion and bruises to various parts of his body.

After the attack, the defendant took the victim’s cell phone, which prevented her from calling for help. The defendant also took the victim’s keys and stole his vehicle. The victim’s vehicle was used to commit the attempted robbery outside the grocery store. The defendant was charged in the domestic violence case and arraigned in Buffalo City Court on April 7, 2022.

Sawyer faces a maximum of 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a violent felony second offender on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 2 p.m. He remains held without bail.

A temporary protection order issued on behalf of the victim and her children remains in effect.

Acting DA Keane commends the Cheektowaga Police Department and the Buffalo Police Department for their work in these investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Meredith M. Mohun of the Special Victims/Domestic Violence Office and Assistant Prosecutor Kevin R. Brown of the Criminal Trial Office.

If you or someone you know is experiencing or at risk of experiencing domestic violence, help is available through the BE SAFE Domestic Violence Victim Advocacy Program. Although our staff specializes in trauma-informed support and victim advocacy after an offender’s arrest, you do not need to have a pending criminal case to speak with an attorney and access services . For more information about BE SAFE, call 716-858-4630 or visit www.erie.gov/besafe.