WHITE PLAINS, NY – A Dobbs Ferry resident, Vincent Pappas, 63, was sentenced to six years in state prison on Thursday for the September 2022 assault of two teenagers. Additionally, in a separate case, Pappas received a one-year sentence for a hate crime involving harassment and threats towards a 13-year-old Hispanic boy. Westchester County District Attorney Miriam E. Rocah emphasized the gravity of the offenses, highlighting the ongoing trauma experienced by the victims due to these acts.
Details of the Assault Case
Pappas pleaded guilty on September 14, 2023, to first-degree assault, a felony, and third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, before State Supreme Court Justice James McCarty in Westchester County Court. He has been in custody at Westchester County Jail since his arrest on the day of the assault in 2022.
The incident occurred on September 29, 2022, around 5:35 p.m., when Pappas followed two 15-year-olds into a Dobbs Ferry restaurant on Main Street. He began yelling and punched one teen in the face, causing him to fall and then punched him repeatedly. The second teen tried to intervene and was pushed through a glass storefront window by Pappas. Surveillance video captured part of the altercation.
Consequences of the Assault
One victim was hospitalized at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, suffering from a collapsed lung, a cervical spine fracture, and multiple lacerations. The other was treated at St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers for various injuries including swelling and pain. The mother of one victim shared in court the lasting mental trauma her son will endure.
DA Rocah’s office has been instrumental in bringing Pappas to justice, reflecting a commitment to addressing violent crimes and hate-based offenses within the community. Pappas will also undergo five years of post-release supervision following his prison term.
