On August 30, 2021, Anthony Nesbitt was sentenced to 2-4 years in state prison on the conviction for Criminal Contempt in the First Degree as well as 2-4 years prison on the conviction for Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, which will run consecutively to the Contempt sentence. Nesbitt also received 364 days in jail on a charge of Menacing in the Second Degree, which will merge with the sentence on the other two counts. Hon. Mark J. Caruso presided and sentenced the defendant.
Mr. Nesbitt faced an eleven-count indictment involving crimes from multiple incident dates. The Criminal Contempt in the First-Degree charge stemmed from an incident on September 12, 2020, when Mr. Nesbitt displayed what appeared to be a pistol while making threats to a person, in violation of an order of protection previously issued out of Schenectady City Court. Mr. Nesbitt also intentionally backed his car into the victim’s car, causing extensive damage to the victim’s vehicle. On that day, members of the Schenectady Police Department and New York State Police, including the Aviation Unit, responded to the area to find Mr. Nesbitt. One Schenectady Police Officer found Mr. Nesbitt in the backyard of a house. At that point, Mr. Nesbitt reached for what appeared to be a pistol in his waistband. The officer drew his weapon while giving Mr. Nesbitt verbal commands directing him not to grab what appeared to be a pistol. The officer did not fire his weapon. Mr. Nesbitt then ran through the backyard and over fences. While the officer chased Mr. Nesbitt, the officer injured his knee. Mr. Nesbitt was not
apprehended that day. Mr. Nesbitt pled guilty to Attempted Assault in the Second Degree relating to the injury the officer suffered.
On September 25, 2020, the United States Marshals Task Force located Mr. Nesbitt at his mother’s house. At that time, they found him hiding under a sink. The Menacing in the Second-Degree charge stems from this incident where he displayed what appeared to be a pistol at the members of that task force. Mr. Nesbitt was taken into custody after a standoff that lasted several hours. Upon his arrest it was determined that Mr. Nesbitt possessed a bb gun that looked like a pistol.
The People were represented by Assistant District Attorney Maria Apruzzese. Mr. Nesbitt was represented by the Schenectady County Public Defender’s Office. For further information contact Assistant District Attorney Maria Apruzzese 518-388-4725.