Sloan Man Pleads Guilty to Indictment Ahead of Opening Statements in Jury Trial

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 34-year-old Timothy A. Murek, Jr. of Sloan pleaded guilty before Erie County Court Judge Kenneth Case to one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class "C" violent felony). The defendant pleaded guilty, as charged, to the sole count in the indictment against him prior to opening statements, which were scheduled to begin this morning in his jury trial.

On Sunday, December 26, 2021, at approximately 8:34 p.m., Cheektowaga Police officers responded to the 2700 block of Harlem Road after receiving a report of a person with an illegal gun. The defendant, who matched the description provided by the witness, was uncooperative with responding police officers and refused orders to remove his hands from his pockets. After being detained by police, a handgun was recovered from the defendant's waist, which was submitted into evidence and found to be operable.

Murek faces up to 15 years in prison when he is sentenced as a second felony offender on Monday, June 3, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. He was held without bail.

Today, Murek also pleaded guilty to one count of Driving While Intoxicated, Two Previous Convictions of Designated Offenses Within 10 Years (Class "D" felony), the highest count in a separate indictment.

On Friday, September 2, 2022, at approximately 11:36 p.m., Cheektowaga Police responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash in the area of Towers Boulevard and French Road in the Town of Cheektowaga. The investigation determined that the defendant was driving while under the influence of alcohol, which contributed to the collision with another vehicle.

Murek faces up to 7 years in prison when he is sentenced on the DWI charge in June.

Acting DA Keane commends Officer Jill Bryant, Detective Eric Derby, Detective Kurt Spieler, and Officer Chris Wierzbowski of the Cheektowaga Police Department for their work in this investigation.

The cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Megan E. Mahoney of the Felony Trials Bureau and Assistant District Attorney Christopher M. McCarthy of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau.