A Venezuelan illegal immigrant is set to serve 364 days in jail for kicking an NYPD officer during a brawl in Times Square on January 27, a sentence that the police union argues is too lenient, according to the New York Post.
Darwin Andres Gomez-Izquiel, 19, remained silent but smirked upon hearing his sentence after pleading guilty last month to second-degree assault for his role in a confrontation between police officers and a group of illegal immigrants. Currently, 75 percent of arrests in midtown Manhattan involve illegal immigrants.
The Police Benevolent Association criticized the sentence, arguing it fails to convey a strong enough message that assaults on police officers will not be tolerated. The union’s president, Patrick Hendry, expressed frustration that Gomez-Izquiel did not receive a harsher punishment.
“364 days is not enough. This individual should be behind bars a lot longer. If you attack a New York City police officer, you should stay behind bars,” Hendry said outside the courtroom. The judge hinted that Gomez-Izquiel could face a much longer sentence if he commits another crime.
“Mr. Gomez, if you get arrested again in New York State, you will be a predicate felon, and you will wind up