A three-time ex-convict who spent most of his adult life behind bars will head back to the penitentiary yet again following a stabbing in the Town of Newburgh.
The maniac who threatened passengers on a bus before stabbing one pled guilty in court today and is now facing another stay in the slammer. The bus was traveling on the Thruway in the Town of Newburgh when the chaotic incident unfolded.
The Newburgh News first broke the story here after intercepting radio reports as the attack unfolded in August of 2022.
At approximately 7:00pm on Friday, August 26, 2022, a commercial bus was heading southbound on the Thruway traveling from Albany to New York City. As the bus reached Newburgh, Maleek Phillips, age 38 of Albany, reportedly became unruly.
The career criminal first began threatening passengers on the bus, according to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. Phillips then began arguing with the victim of his crime. During the argument, Phillips pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim in the neck and chest, causing a collapsed lung.
Phillips then fled the bus. Police located him nearby with the knife still in his hand. He had cut his own throat, Hoovler explained.
This wasn’t Phillips’ first run-in with the law, or his second, or his third.
In 2007, at the age of 22, Phillips was sent to the penitentiary on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon, according to public records. He was sentenced to three years, but won a parole after serving two years and five months.
One year after being paroled, in 2011, Phillips went back to enjoy another round in the slammer, public records indicate. This time, at the age of 27, he was sentenced to 2 to 4 years for Burglary in the 2nd degree. Two years later, he was rewarded with another parole, public records show, but violated it and was sent back to the can. He was finally released in January of 2014.
Just six months later, Phillips went back to the big house, this time at 30 years old. Public records show he was sentenced to 3 to 6 years on two counts of Burglary in the 3rd degree. Records indicate he won another parole, but violated it again and returned to the pen. He was last released in 2019 at the age of the age of 34.
In an appearance at Orange County Court today, Phillips pled guilty to Attempted Assault in the 1st degree. Under the plea agreement, he is expected to be sentenced to ten years in the state penitentiary when sentenced next month, Hoovler stated.
“No one expects a peaceful bus trip to turn into the violent nightmare this defendant created,” said Hoovler. “Miraculously, the victim in this case survived the serious injuries caused by the defendant. However, violence like this will not be tolerated and my Office will continue to dedicate all available resources to holding violent offenders accountable for their actions. I commend the actions of those on the bus that day, as well as the police for taking the defendant into custody without issue.”
Hoovler thanked the New York State Police and the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation and arrest of Harris. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mangold.
