PRESS RELEASE
FOR: IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 12, 2019
RE: SENTENCE FOR CONVICTED OFFENDER JUSTIN TILLMON TODAY
CONTACT PERSON: District Attorney Jon E. Budelmann, (315) 246 -1375
District Attorney Jon E. Budelmann announced that Justin Tillmon (DOB 8/12/86), was sentenced in Cayuga County Court, for his fourth felony conviction, to an aggregate sentence of 16 to 18 years prison, followed by 5 years Post-Release Supervision, and a $5,000 fine. Following a trial that covered nearly two weeks (including 5.5 days of testimony and just 35 minutes of deliberations), Defendant Justin Tillmon was convicted upon Jury verdict rendered March 7, 2019, of 20 counts on a 20 count indictment. Prior to trial defendant stated he would accept nothing more than two misdemeanors; not because he wasn’t guilty, but because he had knowingly violated his Orders of Protection and believed he had successfully stopped all civilian witnesses from testifying.
Tillmon was convicted of: two (2) counts of the class D violent felony Second Degree Assault (for injuring two (2) Auburn Police Officers during his arrest); class E felony First Degree Criminal Contempt (for repeatedly calling his Domestic Violence assault victim in violation of an Order Of Protection); two (2) counts of Fourth Degree Tampering with a Witness (for his attempts to stop them from testifying); Third Degree Assault; two (2) counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child (8 and 15 year olds); Resisting Arrest; nine (9) counts of the Second Degree Criminal Contempt (calls and emails in violation of the OOP); Second Degree Unlawful Imprisonment (as lesser of Kidnapping); Criminal Obstruction of Breathing (as a lesser of Strangulation).
We were pleased that the jurors agreed that the deserved much more and found him guilty of twenty crimes between the two indictments, including the three felonies. We are equally pleased that the Judge imposed a sentence where he faces up to 18 years in prison. By convicting the defendant of both counts of the violent felony Assault Second he has been held accountable for injuring two police officers. He was sentenced to 7 years prison and 5 years PRS on each Assault Second (14 years) and 2 to 4 years on the Contempt First, to run consecutively (16-18 years plus 5 years PRS). One year jail sentences were imposed on all 17 misdemeanors (merge w/prison by operation of law)
The defendant has expressed no remorse for any of his actions (against victims or police). Instead he was caught (in recorded jail calls and emails) trying to escape justice by tampering with witnesses, attempting to stop them from testifying at his trial. He continued to try to hurt the victim (from jail) by telling a friend where to find nude photos and videos that were later posted on social media and passed out to friends. After being indicted on multiple Violations of the Orders of Protection, and Witness Tampering charges, the defendant continued reaching out to witnesses, using other inmates’ pin numbers.
Justin Tillmon, (DOB 8/12/86), was previously convicted and sentenced as follows:
July 10, 2012 Criminal Sale and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, sentenced concurrent determinate prison terms of three (3) years, followed by Post-Release Supervision of three (3) years on each Count;
March 24, 2010-Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and two (2) counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (metal knuckles and billy); Sentenced to one year on all three felonies for a total of two (2) years definite incarceration (Cayuga County Jail)
June 2006 -Criminal Contempt in the First Degree. Sentenced to five (5) years’ probation.
September 11, 2007- violation of probation, resentenced to one year Cayuga County Jail.
Tillmon has more than 20 arrests since 2004 (both before and after the felonies).
February 27, 2007, on felony probation for Contempt First re-arrested Aggravated Unlic. Oper.
September 2006 of Criminal Sale of Marihuana in the Fourth Degree, Auburn City Ct, 45 days jail December 15, 2006, Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Seventh, 2 cts Criminally
Using Drug Paraphernalia Second (baggies and scales), and Marihuana Possession.
June 1, 2005 charges pending in Auburn, Aurelius, and Venice.
April 17, 2005, UPM, Passing a Flashing Red Light, and No Seatbelt Driver
April 21, 2005, UPM and Speed 77/55.
May 10, 2005, Criminal Tampering Third and Speeding
May 23, 2005 UPM