Jury convicts man of 2010 shooting in Schenectady

PHOTOGRAPHER: Steven Cook

A city man faces up to 25 years in state prison after being convicted Tuesday evening in a 2010 shooting. Angel Valverde, 19, was accused of shooting another man in the leg after a fight Sept. 29, 2010, on Park Avenue, prosecutor Peter Willis said.

The fight took place between a group of Valverde’s friends and a group that included the victim, Thomas Ryan. Valverde ended up bleeding as a result of the fight, Willis said. The fight finally ended with Valverde pulling out a gun and shooting Ryan in the leg.

Valverde was convicted on all counts against him: one count of first-degree assault, two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of tampering with physical evidence. He is to be sentenced in December.

The trial was before acting Schenectady County Court Judge Polly Hoye. Valverde was defended by attorney Jennifer Sober, who could not be reached for comment late Tuesday.

Valverde was already awaiting sentencing in an unrelated weapons case when he shot Ryan, Willis said. In that case, Valverde was accused of possessing a loaded revolver in December 2009. Valverde pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon. In exchange for the plea, he was to receive 3.5 years in prison.

Acting Schenectady County Court Judge Richard Giardino had allowed Valverde to remain free pending sentencing in the earlier case. Defendants allowed to remain free pending sentence are routinely told that a new arrest would mean the judge was no longer bound by the plea deal.

Valverde’s arrest in the shooting resulted in Giardino upping the sentence in the weapons to five years, Willis said.