An Armonk man who stabbed a police sergeant who was trying to arrest him on a warrant apologized before getting sentenced to 11 years in state prison.
“I want to apologize to the officer in question,” Joseph Spennato, 40, told Westchester Judge Anne Bianchi on Wednesday, May 20, referring to North Castle Sgt. William McClure. “It was improper of me to do what I did and place him in the line of fire. He was only trying to do his job to the best of his ability and he meant me no particular harm.”
The sentence Bianchi then imposed had been negotiated by Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Strongin and defense lawyer Jessica Hugel before Spennato pleaded guilty last month to attempted aggravated assault on a police officer. Strongin said Monday that the plea deal was offered after multiple discussions with North Castle police.
On May 20, 2024, two years to the day before the sentencing, McClure and Officer Chris Costa responded to Spennato’s Hallock Place home on a call to assist his elderly mother.
When they realized Spennato was home, and had outstanding arrest warrants, they began to take him into custody. Spennato brandished a folding knife and stabbed McClure in the back multiple times before Costa shot Spennato.
The sergeant was spared serious injury because the knife struck him in his ballistic vest.
Body worn camera captured Spennato asking the cops why they came to arrest him and telling them he wanted to die and feared being sent to jail for life.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Armonk man who stabbed cop sentenced
Reporting by Jonathan Bandler, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
