Buffalo Man Sentenced To 25-To-Life For Murder At Tonawanda Store

A Buffalo man has been given the maximum sentence for a fatal stabbing in Tonawanda. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that the 42-year-old man was sentenced on the morning of Wednesday, January 20, 2022, by Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi. Jevon A. Gaiter, also known as 'Animal,' received an indeterminate sentence of 25 years to life behind bars. On September 21, 2019, at 1 am, Gaiter stabbed 59-year-old Mark Bottita multiple times near Tonawanda and Vulcan Streets in the Town of Tonawanda. Bottita collapsed and died at a convenience store where he was pronounced dead. Gaiter was found guilty by a jury of one count of Murder in the Second Degree on December 6, 2021.

Buffalo Woman To Spend 10 Years In Prison For Murdering Boyfriend

A Buffalo woman has been sentenced to spend 10 years in prison for killing her boyfriend. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that the 25-year-old woman was sentenced on Friday, January 14, 2022, before State Supreme Court Justice M. William Boller. Nateonna J. Roland will serve a decade behind bars, followed by 5 years of supervised release. She pleaded guilty to one count of Manslaughter in the First Degree.

Erie County Sheriff's Office

At around 11:30 am on Wednesday, July 24, 2019, she and her boyfriend, 21-year-old Brendan T. Benjamin, got into an argument outside of their home on Eagle Street in Buffalo and she stabbed him. He was transported to Buffalo General Medical Center, where he died from the stab wound. Her attorney told the court that she was a victim of domestic violence and filed a Penal Law 60.12 motion, which offers special sentencing provisions for domestic violence victims who committed a crime. The judge denied her Penal Law 60.12 motion,

Prosecutors submitted written statements to the Court from numerous witnesses, stating that the defendant should not be granted a reduced sentence under Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act. The witnesses cited numerous incidents where the defendant was the abuser and the aggressor in her relationship with the deceased and other individuals.

Roland is also facing a separate charge for allegedly assaulting a deputy at the Erie County Holding Center.