By Harold Mcneil
The Buffalo News
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A Buffalo man who punched an Erie County corrections officer in the face was virtually sentenced Wednesday to one year in prison by Erie County Court Judge Susan Eagan, according to the Erie County District Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors said 38-year-old Joseph F. Aronica attacked the officer on Nov. 24, 2019, before being restrained by other officers while Aronica was incarcerated at the Collins Correctional Facility for a prior conviction.
The injured corrections officer suffered pain and swelling to her left eye area, prosecutors said.
Aronica pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, a misdemeanor, on Sept. 4.
He also pleaded guilty to three counts of arson for intentionally setting fire to his East Delavan Avenue home on Nov. 28, 2017. The fire spread to two neighboring homes, displacing several residents. Aronica was sentenced to a determinate sentence of eight years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
He will serve time on the assault charge after completing his sentence on the arson conviction.
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