JOHNSTOWN - A Brooklyn man accused a year ago in a Gloversville stabbing pleaded guilty Monday morning in Fulton County Court to one felony count of second-degree assault, as his retrial was about to begin.
Irving D. McNeil, 24, of 1101 Putnam Ave., faced retrial for a felony count of first-degree assault before Judge Richard C. Giardino at the County Courthouse. His previous trial last spring ended with a hung jury.
But prior to jury selection, he pleaded guilty before Giardino to second-degree assault.
"We were happy because he pleaded to a violent felony," county First Assistant District Attorney Chad Brown said Monday.
Sentencing was adjourned until Oct. 12. But McNeil is expected to receive 4 1/2 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision as part of a plea agreement.
Brown, who prosecuted the case, said McNeil's conviction was not possible without the assistance of the Gloversville Police Department and state police Forensic Investigation Unit.
Attorney Mark Gaylord represented McNeil.
McNeil was convicted of stabbing 27-year-old Laterence Wilson of Eighth Avenue, Gloversville, on Aug. 3, 2011, in Gloversville. The victim was stabbed in the chest and groin.
After the stabbing, Wilson was taken to Nathan Littauer Hospital in Gloversville and airlifted to Albany Medical Center Hospital, where he had emergency surgery and spent more than two weeks recovering.
Gloversville police identified McNeil as the suspect shortly after the stabbing, which occurred during an altercation on Hamilton Street shortly after midnight Aug. 3, 2011. But he was being held in New York City on an attempted-murder charge that later was dismissed. About a week after his release, he was arrested by U.S. marshals in September and turned over to city officials.
Jurors in McNeil's first County Court trial - from April 30 to May 8 before Judge Polly A. Hoye - indicated to the judge they were deadlocked. She read an Allen charge - instructions that can help jurors resolve stalemates - and they returned to deliberate May 7 and 9 before telling her they were still unable to resolve differences.
During the trial, Wilson took the stand but couldn't point to McNeil as his assailant.
Other prosecution witnesses identified McNeil. But McNeil's defense attorney for the first trial, Ronald Schur of Mayfield, contended those witnesses were given deals by the district attorney's office in exchange for their testimony.
Michael Anich can be contacted by email at johnstown@leaderherald.com.