This three time loser may head back to prison for the fourth time.
A career criminal ex-convict from Albany has been charged with attempted murder following an assault on a bus on the New York State Thruway in the Town of Newburgh.
The Newburgh News, LLC first broke the story on the incident as it happened (story here) on Friday, August 26, 2022. At the time, numerous police agencies and emergency medical services responded onto the Thruway in the area of the Newburgh interchange for a reported stabbing on a bus.
The commercial bus was traveling from Albany to New York City with approximately 30 passengers on board. A physical altercation began between two male passengers. The bus pulled over onto the shoulder at mile marker 60.1 and the driver called for help. The New York State Police and the Town of Newburgh Police responded.
Both males sustained injuries as a result of the fight, one of which allegedly stabbed the other.
Yesterday, the State Police arrested Maleek U. Phillips, age 37 from Albany, as a result of their investigation. He was charged with Attempted Murder in the 2nd degree, Assault in the 1st degree, Assault in the 2nd degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 3rd degree, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Phillips was arraigned before Justice Anika Mohammed in the City of Newburgh Court and remanded to Orange County Jail. He was also indicted yesterday by a grand jury.
This is not Phillips’ first run-in with the law, nor is it even his second or third.
On October 30, 2007, Phillips went to the state penitentiary on felony weapons charges stemming from an incident in the Bronx, according to public records. He was sentenced to up to three years in prison. After serving two and a half years, he was granted parole.
While Phillips was on parole, he was sent back to the pen on new charges. According to news reports, he allegedly passed a note to a bank teller demanding money. He reportedly fought with a bank employee and wrestled on the floor before police arrived and busted him.
On March 7, 2011, Phillips was re-admitted to the slammer on burglary charges for this incident. He was sentenced to two to four years in prison. At some point, he was granted another early parole, but violated it and returned to the slammer in 2013. He won yet another parole on January 10, 2014.
While on parole once again, he was sent back to prison for more new charges. On June 17, 2014, he went back to prison yet again, this time for two new burglary charges out of the Bronx. He was sentenced to three to six years and won another parole on June 18, 2019.
