Man accused of beating senior with cane outside Staten Island Ferry terminal pleads guilty

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A 40-year-old Brooklyn man accused of snapping a cane while striking a 78-year-old victim with the object outside the St. George Ferry Terminal has copped to a felony charge in the case, records show.

Vladimir Joseph, of the 1100 block of Washington Avenue, pleaded guilty Feb. 21 in state Supreme Court, St. George, to second-degree assault in connection with the July 13, 2022 attack.

In exchange for his plea, he’s scheduled to be sentenced March 14 before Justice Mario F. Mattei to three years incarceration, followed by three years of post-release supervision. The court also issued an order of protection for the male victim.

The defendant, who was represented in the case by Eric Nelson, was indicted by a grand jury in September 2022 on a top charge of first-degree robbery.

‘UNPROVOKED AND INDISCRIMINATE’

It was around 3:05 p.m. when the victim was walking up Bus Ramp B at the terminal, and the defendant approached from behind, according to court documents.

Jospeh punched the senior in the back of the head, then snatched the man’s cane, said police.

The defendant struck the victim on the left arm with the cane, which broke on impact, police said.

After his arrest, the defendant allegedly told cops in sum and substance: “He was following me.”

In a statement issued after the Feb. 21 hearing, District Attorney Michael E. McMahon described the defendant’s actions as “unprovoked and indiscriminate.” The kind of actions, said McMahon, that “will always be met with severe consequences in the courtroom.”

He went on to thank the NYPD and Assistant District Attorney Joshua Freeman for “honoring that commitment, and for their diligent efforts to secure justice on behalf of this innocent victim.”