A 26-year-old construction worker from Howard Beach was sentenced to 18 years in prison last week following a 2009 attack of an off-duty police officer during a traffic dispute.
The ruling against Joseph Meyer came at the chagrin of an online community that has sprung up to support him with a “Free Joseph Meyer” Facebook page boasting almost 900 supporters.
Meyer’s attorney, Anthony Lombardino, blasted the decision.
“In 52 years of practicing law, I’ve not seen a more excessive sentence,” he said. “We intend to vigorously pursue an appeal which I believe has a great deal of merit.”
Meyer, who lived at 153-37 78th Street in Lindenwood, was convicted of first-degree gang assault and first-degree assault.
The charges against Meyer said he and a group attacked an off-duty NYPD officer after a traffic dispute in Long Island City almost three years ago.
Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said that the prison sentence for Meyer was justified.
“The defendant viciously attacked and seriously injured an off duty police officer, his actions sparked by words uttered at a traffic incident,” Brown said. “The crimes for which he was justly convicted are serious ones, and, under the circumstances, the lengthy prison sentence imposed is warranted.”
After the sentence was handed down, commenters left messages on the Facebook page encouraging a fight against the charges to continue.
“… Hope this all gets corrected,” one said. “Too good of a man to be held down.”
According to a press release from the District Attorney, witnesses said Meyer was among a group of people that assaulted Officer Bartels in the early morning hours of August 30, 2009. Bartels was driving home from dinner with his girlfriend, Jennifer Menjivar, and his cousin, Richard Sacco, when an argument started.
Sacco and the group exchanged words after a traffic light turned green and none of the cars moved, which lead to a physical altercation.
Bartels was treated for a shattered nose, two broken eye sockets, a broken jaw and shifted teeth.
A fingerprint from Bartels’ car matched Meyer’s and he later admitted, in a written statement, to being in the August 2009 altercation.
Bartels has since returned to his NYPD duties.
Meyer’s family has also asked for donations to an appeal fund through freejosephmeyer.com
“We need everyone’s help and support for Joseph Meyer. We believe that justice WILL prevail!” A message at the bottom of the site says.
Meyer’s biography on the website states he grew up in Richmond Hill and Ozone Park before moving to Howard Beach.
Meyer married his now wife, Crissyann, in 2010, and the couple had their first daughter in April of 2011.
The biography calls her, “the light of [Meyer’s] life” and lists his volunteer work donations to local charities.
“In summary, Joey is simply a nice guy that has love pouring out of his heart for everyone he meets. He is the easiest-going guy that you could ever meet and does not have a bad or evil bone in his body,” it says.
The family held a fundraiser for Meyer last month at Villa Russo in South Richmond Hill.
By Jeremiah Dobruck and Luis Gronda
j.dobruck@theforumnewsgroup.com
Photo courtesy of Free Joseph Meyer on Facebook.com
