By Britney Milazzo
Niagara Gazette
LOCKPORT —
The parolee arrested after invading a Porter family’s home and holding them hostage with a knife earlier this month pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday afternoon in Niagara County Court.
Shawn M. Zimmerman, 30, 198 West Ave., Apt. 5, was charged with four counts each of second-degree kidnapping and first-degree burglary, and one count each of attempted murder, second-degree attempted assault, first-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
“He was caught in the home — he attacked,” District Attorney Mike Violante said. “This is a violent young man.”
With a lengthy criminal past.
Violante said Zimmerman has three prior felony convictions and violated his probation 11 days after he was released from state prison in 2008 after serving 10 years of a 14-year prison sentence for arson and robbery in Lockport. Zimmerman had been released from prison on a burglary conviction three months prior to the Aug. 4 home invasion.
Zimmerman is currently being held at Niagara County Jail without bail.
Officials from the New York State Police, Sheriff's Office and Town of Lewiston Police Department responded to the Porter home on the 1000 block of Youngstown-Lockport Road after Sheriff’s deputies received a 911 call at 6:06 a.m. Aug. 4 about a man with a gun who entered a home.
Upon arrival, officers said they were able to make telephone contact with Zimmerman, who threatened to kill the occupants — a husband, wife and their two 17-year-old daughters — if police didn’t leave.
The husband was taken to Erie County Medical Center by ambulance and was treated for two stab wounds he got after a struggle with Zimmerman, giving police an opportunity to enter the residence and apprehend Zimmerman. The injured man sustained one stab wound to the chest and another to the stomach.
The wife also went to ECMC and was treated for lacerations to her hand.
The two 17-year-olds were not injured.
No gun was found on the premises or in Zimmerman’s possession, but police said they found a butchers knife he used to take the family hostage.
The family was in court Wednesday afternoon but Deputy District Attorney Doreen Hoffmann said they would not comment about the incident.
