A Miller Place man with a prior felony conviction was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and other charges in April.
On September 9, 2022, the Suffolk Police Department responded to the report of a shooting at the Bellport train station. Two officers assigned to the Emergency Services Section of the police department responded to assist in locating the suspect, Matthew Esposito. The officers spotted Esposito coming out of the woods about a block south of the train station. He then hid behind a car that was parked on the shoulder of the road. When officers got out of their truck to investigate, they found a pistol under the car, right where Esposito was hiding. When they attempted to arrest Esposito, he resisted and attacked them.
Both officers suffered injuries as a result of the attack, but were able to take Esposito into custody. One officer sustained a concussion, a laceration to the head, and a torn quadricep muscle. The other officer broke three bones in his wrist, suffered a torn ligament in his wrist, and a sprained shoulder. During Esposito’s arrest, the officers recovered a high-capacity magazine from his pocket. It was later discovered that the pistol police found under the vehicle was loaded with an additional high –capacity magazine which was identical to the magazine found in Esposito’s pocket.
On April 2, 2024, Esposito was convicted after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei, for:
- one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony
- one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D felony
- two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class D violent felony
- two counts of second-degree assault, a Class D violent felony
- one count of resisting arrest, a Class A misdemeanor
In 1993, Esposito, 50, was convicted and served time in prison for criminally negligent homicide and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In 1998, less than four years after his release, Esposito was convicted a second time and charged with first-degree assault and five other felonies for which he served 12 years in prison.
On June 20, 2024, Justice Mazzei determined Esposito to be a persistent felony offender and sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison.
“We will not tolerate attacks on those who protect and serve,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney. “Today’s sentencing sends a clear message that our streets belong to law abiding citizens, not to criminals who disregard our laws and attack police officers who are working to keep our communities safe.”