Two Transit Assault Cases Tried on Same Day; Union Calls on DA to Up Charges

THURSDAY, MARCH 7 – Local 100 President Richard Davis and Stations VP Robert Kelley faced off against  Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg at Manhattan Criminal Court this morning.

News reporters converged on Manhattan Criminal Court for the trials of two men accused of assaulting transit workers. The hearings in adjacent courtrooms underscored the newly dangerous climate affecting our members.

Mohammed Abdellahi is facing charges of assault in the second degree for attacking Station Agent Noreen Mallory on February 20th, resulting in the fracturing of her eye socket. In his case, the District Attorney’s office is asking for two years in prison. In the other case, Rashon Eagle is facing charges of attacking Bus Operator Moses Adams with a knife on February 10th while he was operating an M15 bus. The DA is asking for five years’ prison time and five years’ supervised release in that case.

“Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg should at least give the full penalty of 7 years,” President Davis said. “To classify an attempted murder as Assault in the 2nd degree with a penalty of five years is wrong. For a man to bludgeon the face of a Station Agent – how could they offer only two years?”

“The DA is taking our lives for granted. The court has to support our membership. The law says seven years – but that’s not enough. This is attempted murder!”

Stations VP Robert Kelley said: “Ms. Mallory is not here because she is fearful of coming into the subway system. Now it’s time for the court to support us. This guy [Abdellahi] is an immigrant. Now you’re going to give him two years? The recommended full penalty is seven years.

“With a difference of three seconds [when a train was entering the station and Station Agent Mallory was thrown against it] we would be at a funeral, not the courthouse. We are telling the DA: we mean business. Our members bring you to work. Fight for the MTA workers. Stand by us.”

Davis noted that no MTA official attended the court hearings today. “Judges and prosecutors have to support us,” he added. “MTA CEO Janno Lieber does not support us. Our members’ lives are valuable.”

New hearing dates in the two cases have been scheduled, May 23rd for Eagle and May 30th for Abdellahi.