A man who terrified residents of an upstate New York neighbourhood by walking the streets in a clown mask while brandishing a chainsaw has been convicted by a jury on serious felony charges.
The Frightening Afternoon Incident
The unsettling episode occurred on the afternoon of May 1 in the city of Cohoes. According to Albany County District Attorney Lee Kindlon, surveillance footage captured the 35-year-old defendant walking through the area wearing a distinctive clown mask and a football jersey. In his hands, he carried a red chainsaw. The situation escalated when a local resident confronted the masked individual.
In response to the confrontation, the man removed a plastic sheath from the chainsaw and raised the power tool in a clearly threatening manner. A physical struggle ensued, during which the brave resident managed to subdue the man and hold him until police officers arrived at the scene.
Evidence and Trial Proceedings
Prosecutors presented a compelling case during a two-day trial in Albany County Court. The jury was shown the crucial video clip of the defendant's menacing walk and heard testimony from four witnesses called by the prosecution. Further compounding the case, officers discovered the defendant was also in possession of a set of metal knuckles.
The defence chose not to call any witnesses, and the defendant himself did not take the stand to testify. After just two hours of deliberation following the trial, the jury returned with its verdicts on Wednesday.
Verdict and Impending Sentence
The jury found the 35-year-old man guilty on both counts he faced: first-degree menacing and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Sentencing has been scheduled for February 6, where he faces a potential prison term of two to seven years for his actions.
Following the announcement of the verdict, attempts to reach the convicted man and his public defender for comment on Wednesday evening were not immediately successful. The conviction brings a conclusion to a case that sparked fear and alarm in the Cohoes community, serving as a reminder of the serious consequences for such public acts of intimidation.
