Schenectady County District Attorney Robert Carney announced that Zai John Vanhoesen., 25, was convicted on Friday, November 22, 2024, after an eight-day jury trial. After about five hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Vanhoesen of Burglary in the First Degree, Attempted Robbery in the First Degree, and Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree.
On January 31, 2023, at around 12:15 p.m., Vanhoesen and another male forcibly entered an apartment in Hillcrest Village in Niskayuna. Vanhoesen and his accomplice tricked the occupants into opening the door by announcing a package for delivery. When the occupants opened their door, Vanhoesen and the other male rushed into the apartment displaying what appeared to be handgun, hitting the head of one victim, pointing it at the heads of all the victims while demanding money. Both males disguised themselves with black masks. Once fully inside the apartment, Vanhoesen and the other male realized they had invaded the wrong apartment. The two men then ran out of the apartment leaving the occupants-- a mother and her two adult children-- in fear for their lives. Extensive video footage from local businesses and the Schenectady County public surveillance camera system exposed Vanhoesen’s path of travel and documented his attempts to disguise himself. Vanhoesen and his accomplice purchased black face masks and zip ties approximately a half an hour before the home invasion.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 31, 2025 in Schenectady County Court. As a predicate violent felon, Vanhoesen faces a maximum of 25 years in prison coupled with 5 years of post-release supervision. Vanhoesen has a prior 2018 conviction in Albany for Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree where he received a five-year sentence for shooting a woman in the leg with a loaded firearm. That woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries during the attack.
The case was investigated by the Niskayuna Police Department. Acting Schenectady County Court Judge Mark J. Caruso presided over the case. Schenectady County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Lorusso and Assistant District Attorney Emma Moskowitz prosecuted the case. Attorney Kyle Davis, as assigned counsel, represented Vanhoesen at trial.