Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the sentencing of ANDRE VELEZ, 25, to 18 years to life in state prison for the homicide of Glendalyz Pagan, 19, the mother of his child, in a vacant apartment at 570 West 204th Street. VELEZ pled guilty on September 9, 2011 to one count of Murder in the Second Degree.
“As a result of this senseless killing, a young woman lost her life and a child lost his mother,” said District Attorney Vance. “This horrific crime is the culmination of a brutal cycle of violence that spanned several years. The impact of domestic violence cannot be overstated—it is a public health crisis, threatening our most vulnerable family members, particularly women and children.”
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record, on June 3, 2009, VELEZ argued with Glendalyz Pagan in the hallway of VELEZ’s apartment building at 570 West 204 Street. As the argument became heated, VELEZ dragged her into a vacant apartment and began choking her. The defendant squeezed her neck repeatedly until she was no longer breathing. VELEZ wrapped Ms. Pagan’s body in plastic bags and placed her in a closet. Her body was discovered five days later.
Since 1981, October has been designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has planned several events to reach out to communities throughout the borough, including several presentations to educate the public on the consequences of domestic violence.
Upcoming domestic violence presentations include:
October 20, 2011, 6:30 p.m., 10 Stanton Street
October 25, 2011, 6 p.m., Campos Plaza Community Center
October 27, 2011, 2 p.m., Hamilton-Madison House
October 27, 2011, 6 p.m., Adam Clayton State Office building: We All Really Matter (W.A.R.M.) Domestic Violence Panel
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is also pushing for legislation to help victims of domestic violence. In 2011, the Office, along with elected officials, members of law enforcement, and advocates for victims of domestic violence, called for the passage of the bipartisan Aggravated Domestic Violence bill, which would create a class E felony charge for offenders who repeatedly engage in domestic violence offenses. Under current law, domestic violence offenders who commit misdemeanor offenses face the same sentence on their 10th or 100th conviction as they do on their first.
But under the proposed bill, which last year passed the State Assembly but not the State Senate, an offender who is convicted of two or more qualifying misdemeanor offenses within 5 years against a member of his or her family or household may be charged with a class-E felony. This includes abuse against intimate partners, non-traditional familial relationships, and adult children abusing parents. With an E felony conviction, the defendant would, at a minimum, be under probation supervision for 5 years, and in appropriate cases, could be sent to state prison. This law would also better protect families by extending the period of time for orders of protection because felony orders last almost twice as long as those from misdemeanor cases. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to push for this needed legislation in the belief that it will enable the criminal justice system to better protect victims and their families.
For more information on the District Attorney’s proposed legislation or to access resources for victims of domestic violence, including a schedule of upcoming events and informational sessions, please visit www.manhattanda.org. Those seeking immediate assistance can call the District Attorney’s domestic violence hotline at 212-335-4308 or dial 911.
DA Vance thanked Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg, Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 40, and Assistant District Attorney Lisa Zito for handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Armand Durastanti, Chief of Trial Bureau 40.
Defendant Information:
ANDRE VELEZ, D.O.B 3/7/1986
New York, N.Y.
Charge:
Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
“As a result of this senseless killing, a young woman lost her life and a child lost his mother,” said District Attorney Vance. “This horrific crime is the culmination of a brutal cycle of violence that spanned several years. The impact of domestic violence cannot be overstated—it is a public health crisis, threatening our most vulnerable family members, particularly women and children.”
According to documents filed in court and statements made on the record, on June 3, 2009, VELEZ argued with Glendalyz Pagan in the hallway of VELEZ’s apartment building at 570 West 204 Street. As the argument became heated, VELEZ dragged her into a vacant apartment and began choking her. The defendant squeezed her neck repeatedly until she was no longer breathing. VELEZ wrapped Ms. Pagan’s body in plastic bags and placed her in a closet. Her body was discovered five days later.
Since 1981, October has been designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has planned several events to reach out to communities throughout the borough, including several presentations to educate the public on the consequences of domestic violence.
Upcoming domestic violence presentations include:
October 20, 2011, 6:30 p.m., 10 Stanton Street
October 25, 2011, 6 p.m., Campos Plaza Community Center
October 27, 2011, 2 p.m., Hamilton-Madison House
October 27, 2011, 6 p.m., Adam Clayton State Office building: We All Really Matter (W.A.R.M.) Domestic Violence Panel
The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office is also pushing for legislation to help victims of domestic violence. In 2011, the Office, along with elected officials, members of law enforcement, and advocates for victims of domestic violence, called for the passage of the bipartisan Aggravated Domestic Violence bill, which would create a class E felony charge for offenders who repeatedly engage in domestic violence offenses. Under current law, domestic violence offenders who commit misdemeanor offenses face the same sentence on their 10th or 100th conviction as they do on their first.
But under the proposed bill, which last year passed the State Assembly but not the State Senate, an offender who is convicted of two or more qualifying misdemeanor offenses within 5 years against a member of his or her family or household may be charged with a class-E felony. This includes abuse against intimate partners, non-traditional familial relationships, and adult children abusing parents. With an E felony conviction, the defendant would, at a minimum, be under probation supervision for 5 years, and in appropriate cases, could be sent to state prison. This law would also better protect families by extending the period of time for orders of protection because felony orders last almost twice as long as those from misdemeanor cases. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to push for this needed legislation in the belief that it will enable the criminal justice system to better protect victims and their families.
For more information on the District Attorney’s proposed legislation or to access resources for victims of domestic violence, including a schedule of upcoming events and informational sessions, please visit www.manhattanda.org. Those seeking immediate assistance can call the District Attorney’s domestic violence hotline at 212-335-4308 or dial 911.
DA Vance thanked Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg, Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 40, and Assistant District Attorney Lisa Zito for handling the prosecution of this case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Armand Durastanti, Chief of Trial Bureau 40.
Defendant Information:
ANDRE VELEZ, D.O.B 3/7/1986
New York, N.Y.
Charge:
Murder in the Second Degree, a class A felony, one count
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