'Significant Prison Sentence' For Bay Shore Man With Illegal Weapons

BAY SHORE, NY — A former Bohemia resident whose altercation with a neighbor led to weapons charges was sentenced Wednesday to nine years in prison.

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Timothy Garcia, of Bay Shore, will also have five years of post-release supervision.

“Resisting arrest, particularly while armed with an illegal handgun and switchblade knife, is
extremely dangerous for law enforcement. Thankfully, no one was hurt due to the quick action by
the patrol officers,” Tierney said in the announcement. “This significant prison sentence should signal to those possessing illegal handguns that my office will seek significant prison sentences for those who disregard the law.”

On May 27, 2022, Garcia had a dispute with a neighbor at his former residence in Bohemia, prosecutors said. Suffolk police responded to a 911 call reporting a broken glass door and a man holding a firearm.

Police said when they attempted to arrest him, Garcia refused to comply with their commands and a struggle ensued. During that altercation, an officer noticed a handgun in the 32-year-old's waistband. The officer removed the gun, along with two additional illegal magazines. Police said they also recovered a switchblade from Garcia’s pants pocket.

The gun was unserialized. It contained 13 rounds of ammunition in the magazine, and one round in the chamber. The two additional magazines that were recovered contained 13 rounds of ammunition each, police said.

On Oct. 19, Garcia was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Timothy P. Mazzei, of the following charges:

• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony
• Three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, Class D violent felonies
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor
• One count of Resisting Arrest, a Class A misdemeanor.

Garcia represented himself during the trial and at sentencing on Wednesday, prosecutors said. His legal advisor was Christopher Brocato, Esq., prosecutors said.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kieran R. Rogers and Veronica McMahon of the Major Crime Bureau, with investigative assistance from Detective Robert Suppa of the Suffolk County Police Department, and Detective Investigator Reginald Sykes of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.