A Far Rockaway man was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted burglary in September.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced on Jan. 30 that Marquis Silvers, 21, of Far Rockaway pleaded guilty to attempted burglary in the second degree before Queens Supreme Court Justice Toni Cimino.
The defendant was due to be sentenced last year to six months in jail to be followed by five years of probation but following a new, unrelated arrest — and a failure to appear for his sentencing date — Silvers was sentenced on Jan. 17 to two years in prison to be followed by 1 1/2 years’ post-release supervision.
According to the charges, Silvers was observed by a witness entering a home on Brunswick Avenue in Far Rockaway in the pre-dawn hours of Aug. 31, 2021, and exiting the location shortly afterward. The homeowner, who was in his bedroom when Silvers entered, heard a noise in his living room and went downstairs. Upon entering the living room, the victim saw that the cash he had in his wallet was gone.
Four months later, Silvers was observed in an aisle of the Food Universe Marketplace, located at 32-11 Beach Channel Dr. near Bayswater Park. Silver’s legs were later seen hanging from the ceiling inside an enclosed back room of the supermarket. Silvers did not have permission or authority to enter or remain inside the back room, prosecutors said.
After the sentence was handed down, Katz thanked the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol (RNSP) for assisting the 101st Precinct during the investigation. Also known as Rockaway Shomrim, the Far Rockaway-based nonprofit organization is comprised of more than 50 volunteers that have worked with NYPD precincts and FDNY firehouses in the Rockaways and the Five Towns section of Nassau County since 2011, with crime-fighting patrols and search and rescue efforts along the Atlantic coastline.
“I want to thank the Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol for their help and relentless efforts in getting this defendant off the streets,” Katz said. “My priority will always be to keep our communities strong, vibrant and safe. Together with the help of committed partners, we can make sure the Queens continues to be a special place to live and raise a family.”
The Rockaway Nassau Safety Patrol encounters a wide array of crimes on its patrols, which can range from burglaries to public lewdness. They report what they see to the police, who can then follow up and make arrests if necessary. The RNSP headquarters is located at 7-16 Beach Ninth St. in Far Rockaway and they can be reached at 917-727-7306.
