Ossining Man Indicted For Hate Crimes In Stabbing Of 17-Year-Old

OSSINING, NY — A 35-year-old Ossining man accused of trying to kill a 17-year-old girl in a hate crime in March has been indicted by a grand jury in Westchester County.

Police responding to a report of a stabbing March 13 said they found Robert McCallion in the parking lot of the Avalon apartment complex with blood on his hands and clothes.

Inside, they found the victim with her family. She was bleeding profusely from many stab wounds to the face and back. The teen was taken to the hospital where she underwent surgery for her wounds.

The victim was a stranger to McCallion, who lived with his father in the same North Highland Avenue complex, said Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr.

In March, News 12 quoted Ossining Police Chief Kevin Sylvester about a cache of weapons, including two loaded assault weapons, found in McCallion's bedroom. "They were laid out as if someone may have intended to use them,” Sylvester told the station. Police told News 12 that McCallion was acting strange in the days leading up to the attack and that they were called to the Avalon Apartments several times.

McCallion is charged under the Hate Crime statutes based upon the evidence developed during the investigation, the DA said Monday.

The Grand Jury handed up an indictment on 14 counts:

• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a class B felony.
• Attempted Murder in the Second Degree as a Hate Crime, a class B felony
• 2 Assault in the First Degree, a class B felony
• 2 Assault in the First Degree as a Hate Crime, a class B felony
• 2 Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C felony
• 4 Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a class D felony
• 2 Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony

McCallion appeared before Judge David Zuckerman. He was sent back into custody. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 22.

Assistant District Attorney Laura Murphy, Chief of the Career Criminal Bureau, and Assistant District Attorney Lana Hochheiser, Deputy Chief of the Homicide Bureau, are prosecuting the case.