Albany County District Attorney Lee C. Kindlon announced today that a 56-year-old man with 41 criminal convictions in the last 40 years is being sent to prison for breaking into a home.
Michael Maye was sentenced on Monday by the Honorable Thomas Marcelle to serve 19 years to life in state prison after a jury found him guilty on Aug. 7 of two counts of Burglary in the Second Degree and one count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree.
On March 29, Maye broke into a home multiple times on South Pearl Street where several residents, many of whom were minors, were sleeping and stole a number of items, including a credit card that he was spotted on surveillance video attempting to buy cigarettes with shortly after the burglary.
Due to the defendant's extensive criminal history, which in addition to his now 11 felony convictions also include 30 misdemeanor convictions, the Albany County District Attorney's Office submitted a motion to the Court requesting a persistent felony offender hearing to determine if Maye’s previous criminal history coupled with the most recent convictions made him eligible to receive a life sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Beven Nedumthakady of the Major Crimes Bureau, who prosecuted the case along with ADA Katherine Miller of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau, argued on Monday that Maye’s criminal history, which dates back to 1985, was alarming and posed a threat to public safety.
“He’s been given numerous opportunities to redeem himself to live a law-abiding life,” Nedumthakady said. “But each time he’s been released, often within a few months of release, he’s proven he cannot reintegrate into society, and I have grave concerns of this defendant’s potential to cause harm … He has left a long legacy of pain within the community.”
Judge Marcelle ruled that the severity and frequency of Maye’s criminality was cause for concern, and deemed Maye a persistent felony offender.
“Due to the nature of his conduct, without supervision, there will be more victims in society,” Marcelle said. “And while it may it may not be measured in broken bones and blood, it will be measured by loss of spirit and hope.”
