DA points to "frivolous appeals"

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Convictions of four admitted violent felons have  all upheld, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.  The DA’s Office says they are devoting substantial resources to fight appeals and uphold convictions.

Erie County District Attorney Frank Sedita III says, “While it is important that financially poor defendants have competent legal representation, it is troubling when costly and frivolous appeals are being repeatedly brought on behalf of admitted violent felons, especially when they are also being repeatedly financed by the law-abiding taxpayers of Erie County.”

The DA’s office is pointing to Tyler Morford’s second-degree burglary case,  Stanley McCarty Jr.’s first-degree assault case, Christopher Scott’s first-degree rape case and Kasiem William’s first-degree manslaughter case.

The DA’s Office says in all of the cases, the defendants had pleaded guilty to the violent crimes and had twice waived their rights to appeals.