LOCKPORT – Bail was set at $1 million dollars today in Lockport City Court for a Monroe Street man accused of attempting to strangle a 7-year-old girl in his home on New Year’s Eve day.
David L. Alfonso, 28, pleaded not guily to charges of attempted second-degree murder, second-degree strangulation and second-degree assault. The prosecution had asked for bail to be set at a minimum of $500,000 and Lockport City Court Judge William Watson doubled the request, remanding Alfonso to Niagara County Jail. A preliminary hearing is set for Monday.
The girl, who lived in the home with Alfonso and her mother Cassandra Castro, 27, who was Alfonso’s girlfriend, is now recovering in Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo after the incident at 2 p.m. Monday.
“She is able to get some nourishment through the mouth and swallow some. Children’s Hospital said she is doing remarkably well,” said Lockport Detective Lt. Scott Seekins.
Seekins said the girl had throat, jaw, palette and teeth injuries, losing at least one baby tooth in the attack.
Casto told police that Alfonso tried to kill her daughter, choking her until she turned blue and then placed his hand in her mouth, injuring her tongue and teeth, as he tried to rip her jaw off. The mother said she used a butcher knife to protect her daughter. The girl reportedly was able to escape to her grandparent’s house a few blocks away on Church Street.
Police found Alfonso at an intersection near the house, bleeding and non-compliant and said they used force to take him into custody. He was treated at Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport and then released into police custody.
Seekins said the motive for the attack is under investigation.
email: nfischer@buffnews.com
David L. Alfonso, 28, pleaded not guily to charges of attempted second-degree murder, second-degree strangulation and second-degree assault. The prosecution had asked for bail to be set at a minimum of $500,000 and Lockport City Court Judge William Watson doubled the request, remanding Alfonso to Niagara County Jail. A preliminary hearing is set for Monday.
The girl, who lived in the home with Alfonso and her mother Cassandra Castro, 27, who was Alfonso’s girlfriend, is now recovering in Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo after the incident at 2 p.m. Monday.
“She is able to get some nourishment through the mouth and swallow some. Children’s Hospital said she is doing remarkably well,” said Lockport Detective Lt. Scott Seekins.
Seekins said the girl had throat, jaw, palette and teeth injuries, losing at least one baby tooth in the attack.
Casto told police that Alfonso tried to kill her daughter, choking her until she turned blue and then placed his hand in her mouth, injuring her tongue and teeth, as he tried to rip her jaw off. The mother said she used a butcher knife to protect her daughter. The girl reportedly was able to escape to her grandparent’s house a few blocks away on Church Street.
Police found Alfonso at an intersection near the house, bleeding and non-compliant and said they used force to take him into custody. He was treated at Eastern Niagara Hospital in Lockport and then released into police custody.
Seekins said the motive for the attack is under investigation.
email: nfischer@buffnews.com