Defendant to Serve Prison Sentence for Series of Thefts

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Acting Erie County District Attorney Michael J. Keane announces that 33-year-old Javarius L. Bumpers of no permanent address was sentenced last Friday morning before State Supreme Court Justice Paul B. Wojtaszek to 2 to 4 years in prison. He was sentenced as a second felony offender.

In May 2024, Bumpers pleaded to the following charges in six separate criminal cases, which included the highest sustainable charge:

• Two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree (Class "D" felonies)
• One count of Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree (Class "E" felony)
• One count of Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree (Class "A" misdemeanor)
• Two counts of Petit Larceny (Class "A" misdemeanors)

On Monday, December 19, 2022, at approximately 7:42 a.m., the defendant stole the victim's vehicle, which was parked with the engine running and the keys in the ignition outside of a gas station convenience store on 1200 block of East Lovejoy Street. The vehicle was found later the same morning in the area of Broadway and Deshler Street. The defendant, who was asleep inside of the victim's vehicle, was taken into custody for booking then released on an appearance ticket. A bench warrant was issued after the defendant failed to appear for arraignment. He was returned on the warrant and held in pre-trial custody following his arraignment on April 6, 2023.

On Friday, February 10, 2023, at approximately 2:38 a.m., the defendant threw an object to break the glass at the entrance of a grocery store on the 900 block of Broadway in the City of Buffalo. The defendant stole bookbags and candy then fled before police arrived a few minutes later. The following day, the defendant, who matched images of the suspect surveillance video, was arrested.

On Sunday, February 12, 2023, the defendant was arraigned in Buffalo City Court and released on his own recognizance as the charges are non-qualifying offenses for bail. On March 23, 2023, a bench warrant was issued after the defendant failed to appear for subsequent court dates.

On Thursday, April 6, 2023, at approximately 12:47 a.m., Buffalo Police officers responded to a burglary at a store on the 1700 block of Broadway. The defendant broke a window to gain entry to the store then caused damage to the ATM and cigarette cabinet. Police found blood, a crowbar and a jacket inside of the store. While searching the area, police encountered the defendant nearby and questioned him about the burglary. The defendant, who had an injury to his hand, was found in possession of a bag that contained merchandise from the store.

Bumpers was arraigned the following morning. As the defendant was accused of committing a crime involving identifiable harm to property while wanted on outstanding bench warrants for other pending cases involving identifiable harm to property, prosecutors requested that the defendant be held on $50,000. The court set bail at $5,000 cash or bond. On June 12, 2023, Bumpers was arraigned on an indictment for these crimes. He was released under supervision.

The defendant committed another crime while released under supervision. On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at approximately 4:41 a.m., the defendant stole merchandise from a store on the 1100 block of Genesee Street in the City of Buffalo. He was arrested and arraigned later the same day. Prosecutors requested that the defendant be remanded. He was held on bail set at $2,500 cash or bond.

The defendant was later identified as the suspect and charged in two more theft-related crimes.

On Friday, March 24, 2023, at approximately 1:45 p.m., the defendant stole a vehicle from an auto dealership from the 1500 block of Walden Avenue in the Town of Cheektowaga. In June 2023, he was arraigned in Cheektowaga Town Court and held on bail set at $10,000 cash or bond.

On Sunday, March 31, 2023, at approximately 10:24 p.m., the defendant stole merchandise from a convenience store on the 700 block of Wehrle Drive in the Town of Amherst. He was later identified as the suspect and charged for the crime in February 2024.

"This case is an example of a repeat offender who failed to appear in court and continued to commit crimes while released. Our prosecutors argued for bail as he continued to commit crimes involving harm to property while released for other theft-related crimes. I hope that the numerous victims impacted by these crimes feel that justice has now been served by this defendant pleading guilty and being sentenced to a period of incarceration," said Acting District Attorney Mike Keane.

As part of the sentencing proceeding, final orders of protection were issued on behalf of all of the victims, which remain in effect for the next five years.

Acting DA Keane commends the Buffalo Police Department, Cheektowaga Police Department and Amherst Police Department for their work in these investigations.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Daniel J. Morris of the Felony Trials Bureau.