AMHERST, NY – An Amherst man has been sentenced to six years in prison for poisoning his co-worker after he spiked his drink with cleaning agent.
41-year-old Jason M. Keenan was sentenced before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to a determinate sentence of 6 years in prison followed by 4 years of post-release supervision.
According to Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn, on December 19, 2021, the defendant attempted to cause serious physical injuries to a co-worker by pouring a liquid cleaning agent into the victim’s drink. The victim unknowingly consumed the contaminated beverage and became ill. The incident occurred while the defendant and the victim were working inside of a restaurant on Niagara Falls Boulevard in the Town of Amherst.
“The victim went WNY Immediate Care before he was transported to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital for emergency treatment. The victim was later transferred to Buffalo General Hospital where he remained in the intensive care unit for several days for caustic injury to his throat. The victim has since recovered from the injury,” Flynn said. “Keenan pleaded guilty to one count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree (Class “C” violent felony) on April 5, 2022. The defendant pleaded guilty to the highest sustainable charge.”