Brooklyn man in rehab program after pleading guilty to Sunset Park stabbing
A Brooklyn judge has taken a chance on a man who had previously pleaded guilty to felony assault charges for a Sunset Park stabbing.
In a stark contrast from his previous outfit of handcuffs and tan prison sweats, Erick Pastuizaca arrived at Brooklyn Supreme Court in a gray suit and tie for his program evaluation on Tuesday morning in front of Justice Matthew D’Emic. While he is in the program and attending court-ordered rehabilitation, he is free from jail.
Pastuizaca was released from Rikers Island after he pleaded guilty before D’Emic on Nov. 14 for the Oct. 16, 2015 stabbing. Conditions of the plea were a roughly 18-to-24-week mental health program followed by probation, dependent on his performance in the program, according to his attorney Paul Hirsch.