Attorneys within the Delaware Department of Justice recently obtained significant criminal convictions and sentences:
Deputy Attorneys General Steve Wood and Allison Abessinio secured a guilty plea from 23-year-old RhiShawn McNeil of Wilmington, to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. In January 2015, 26-year-old Donnell Clark was working outside of his home in the 900 block of East 17th Street in Wilmington, when McNeil, an acquaintance, approached and shot him several times. Clark was taken to Christiana Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Sentencing is set for July 15.
Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale obtained a prison sentence for Bernard Bryant, 24, of Philadelphia, PA, following his conviction for Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, Possession of Ammunition by a Person Prohibited, Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon, and Resisting Arrest. In July 2015, Bryant took off running from a police officer who approached a group of people loitering in the 1700 block of North Locust Street in Wilmington. During the course of the pursuit, Bryant tripped and a loaded firearm fell from his waistband. Bryant picked up the gun and threw it in a nearby backyard before ultimately being taken into custody. Bryant was sentenced to five years Level V, followed by two years of Level III probation.
Deputy Attorney General Marc Petrucci obtained a prison sentence for Ulysses Dash, 48, of Wilmington. Dash pled guilty to three counts of Burglary 3rd earlier this year. In April 2015, Dash broke into three businesses, Books & Tobacco in the Lantana Square Shopping Center in Hockessin, Star Gas in the 3900 block of Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington, and Tulip Nail Salon in the 3700 block of Kirkwood Highway in Wilmington, and stole cash registers, computers, and other equipment. Dash was sentenced as an habitual offender on the count relating to the Books and Tobacco burglary, and was sentenced to four years at Level V. For the remaining two counts, Dash was sentenced to a total of 6 years Level V, suspended for 18 months at Level IV, suspended after 6 months for 12 months of Level III probation.
Deputy Attorney General Barzilai Axelrod obtained a prison sentence for Gene Fulton, 53, of Middletown, for Burglary Second Degree, and Theft from victim Over 62 Years of Age. In July 2015, a woman returned from a shopping trip to find Fulton running down the steps from the second floor of her home in the 200 block of Forsythia Lane in Newark. A friend who was with the homeowner took video of Fulton’s truck as he drove away, and police were able to locate him a short time later, and recovered jewelry stolen from the victim’s house. Fulton was sentenced to 15 Years at Level V as a habitual offender for the burglary, and two years in prison, suspended for 12 months at Level IV, suspended after 6 months for one year at Level III probation for the theft.
Deputy Attorney General Barzilai Axelrod obtained a sentence for Manuel Salaberrios, 42, of Dover, to eight Years at Level V as a habitual offender for Attempted Assault in a Detention Facility, followed by six months at Level IV. Salaberrios was serving a Level IV sentence at the Central Violation of Probation Center in Smyrna for Felony DUI in May 2014, when he was sitting at a table with another inmate, and suddenly began punching the other man multiple times in the head.
Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen secured a plea from Paul Brunhammer, 34, of Salem, New Jersey to Rape Third Degree in a case from 2010. Brunhammer raped the daughter of his ex-girlfriend while he was visiting the mother’s home in Newark. When the victim reported the assault, Brunhammer was incarcerated in New Jersey for an unrelated sexual assault. Brunhammer was returned to Delaware earlier this year to face the new charge. Brunhammer faces a sentence of 2-25 years.