Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announces that a jury has found 28-year-old Jonathon E. White of City of Tonawanda guilty, as charged, of one count of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree, both Class “B” felonies. The jury rendered their verdict after 5 hours of deliberations following a one-week jury trial.
On December 17, 2018, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the defendant lured his former girlfriend to a secluded area outside of a Tim Hortons restaurant on Niagara Street in the City of Tonawanda. The defendant doused the victim with gasoline and set her on fire.
The victim suffered extensive burns to her face, head, and hands. She was hospitalized at ECMC in the Burn Unit for four months where she underwent a dozen surgeries. She continues to receive treatment for her injuries.
White faces a maximum of 25 years in prison when he is sentenced by Supreme Court Justice Christopher J. Burns on Friday, January 3, 2020 at 9:30 a.m. He remains held without bail.
DA Flynn commends the City of Tonawanda Police and Fire Departments for their rapid response to the attack and for preserving critical evidence at the scene as well as the Erie County Sheriff’s Fire Investigation Unit for their assistance in the investigation.
The was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Schnirel of the DA’s Domestic Violence Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Ryan Haggerty of the DA’s Tactical Prosecution Unit.
