First conviction prosecuted under NY SAFE Act overturned



BUFFALO, N.Y. (NEWS10) - The first conviction prosecuted under the NY SAFE Act has been overturned by the NYS Supreme Court on Friday.

The New York Supreme Court ruled that then-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman did not have the legal authority to prosecute the SAFE ACT violations against Benjamin Wassell.

"Because the People failed to establish that the Attorney General had authority to secure the indictment and prosecute the case, we conclude that the judgment be reversed and the indictment dismissed."

Wassell was convicted on May 30, 2014 of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal sale of a firearm.