Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., announced the conviction of MARQUIS PHILLIPS, 36, for robbing a woman in an elevator before dragging her into stairwells throughout her East Harlem apartment building and sexually assaulting her. The defendant was convicted by a jury of five counts of Predatory Sexual Assault and one count each of Burglary in the First Degree as Sexually Motivated Felony, Robbery in the Second Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. PHILLIPS is scheduled to be sentenced on September 10, 2012.
District Attorney Vance also announced the conviction of LANCE STEWARTSON, 41, for robbery and burglary. As proven at trial, STEWARTSON preyed on the good will of his victim by pretending he had lost his keys to the West Village apartment building where she lived. When the victim allowed STEWARTSON into the Christopher Street building, he followed her up the stairs and violently pushed her into her apartment, choking her until she lost consciousness. Two neighbors heard the victim scream, one of whom ran around the building banging on doors in a successful effort to scare away the defendant. The other neighbor ran to help the victim and was able to positively identify the defendant to investigators hours later. STEWARTSON is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2012.
“Our homes should be safe havens, not crime scenes,” said District Attorney Vance. “These two defendants have now been convicted for committing violent crimes upon women in the very places where they should have been safe – where they live. I want to thank the victims for their bravery throughout the criminal process, and our office wants to send the message that this type of conduct will be vigorously investigated and appropriately punished.”
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorneys Rena Paul, Kristen Caruso and Erin Choi for prosecuting the PHILLIPS case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Nicole Blumberg, Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 40; Coleen Balbert and Michele Bayer, Deputy Chiefs of the Sex Crimes Bureau; and Martha Bashford, Chief of the Sex Crimes Bureau. Trial Preparation Assistants Heather Clark and Chloe Goodwin and former Trial Preparation Assistant Jamie Whittenberg assisted with the investigation.
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorneys Jeffrey Levinson and Melanee Smith for prosecuting the STEWARTSON case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Warren Murray, Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 50. Assistant District Attorneys Daniela Gallo and Kavita Bovell also prosecuted the case. Trial Preparation Assistants Lenora Harris and Victoria Done provided invaluable assistance.
Defendant Information:
MARQUIS PHILLIPS, D.O.B. 3/27/76
New York, NY
Convicted:
• Predatory Sexual Assault, a class A felony, 5 counts
• Burglary in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class B felony, 1 count
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony, 1 count
LANCE STEWARTSON, D.O.B. 1/25/71
Unknown
Convicted:
• Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, 1 count
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count
District Attorney Vance also announced the conviction of LANCE STEWARTSON, 41, for robbery and burglary. As proven at trial, STEWARTSON preyed on the good will of his victim by pretending he had lost his keys to the West Village apartment building where she lived. When the victim allowed STEWARTSON into the Christopher Street building, he followed her up the stairs and violently pushed her into her apartment, choking her until she lost consciousness. Two neighbors heard the victim scream, one of whom ran around the building banging on doors in a successful effort to scare away the defendant. The other neighbor ran to help the victim and was able to positively identify the defendant to investigators hours later. STEWARTSON is scheduled to be sentenced on October 5, 2012.
“Our homes should be safe havens, not crime scenes,” said District Attorney Vance. “These two defendants have now been convicted for committing violent crimes upon women in the very places where they should have been safe – where they live. I want to thank the victims for their bravery throughout the criminal process, and our office wants to send the message that this type of conduct will be vigorously investigated and appropriately punished.”
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorneys Rena Paul, Kristen Caruso and Erin Choi for prosecuting the PHILLIPS case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorneys Nicole Blumberg, Deputy Chief of Trial Bureau 40; Coleen Balbert and Michele Bayer, Deputy Chiefs of the Sex Crimes Bureau; and Martha Bashford, Chief of the Sex Crimes Bureau. Trial Preparation Assistants Heather Clark and Chloe Goodwin and former Trial Preparation Assistant Jamie Whittenberg assisted with the investigation.
District Attorney Vance thanked Assistant District Attorneys Jeffrey Levinson and Melanee Smith for prosecuting the STEWARTSON case, under the supervision of Assistant District Attorney Warren Murray, Bureau Chief of Trial Bureau 50. Assistant District Attorneys Daniela Gallo and Kavita Bovell also prosecuted the case. Trial Preparation Assistants Lenora Harris and Victoria Done provided invaluable assistance.
Defendant Information:
MARQUIS PHILLIPS, D.O.B. 3/27/76
New York, NY
Convicted:
• Predatory Sexual Assault, a class A felony, 5 counts
• Burglary in the First Degree as a Sexually Motivated Felony, a class B felony, 1 count
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, a class D felony, 1 count
LANCE STEWARTSON, D.O.B. 1/25/71
Unknown
Convicted:
• Burglary in the First Degree, a class B felony, 1 count
• Robbery in the Second Degree, a class C felony, 1 count
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony, 5 counts
• Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fifth Degree, a class A misdemeanor, 1 count
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