During assault trial, Albion man pleads guilty
Wesley Askew facing about a decade in prison when he is sentenced Aug. 20
Wesley Askew
ALBION – An Albion man on trial for first- and second-degree assault after allegedly nearly killed another man accepted a plea offer on Tuesday, the start of the second week of the trial.
Wesley Askew, 50, pleaded guilty to attempted assault in the second degree. That charge carries a maximum of 2 to 4 years in prison.
However, Askew was on parole during the incident last June 9. He will be sentenced for seven years in prison that are remaining in his post-release supervision. Plus, the 2 to 4 years will likely be added to the sentence, meaning he could get 9 to 11 years in his sentence, said District Attorney Joe Cardone.
Askew has been in the county jail on $250,000 bail after he allegedly seriously injured another Albion man on June 9 during a late-night fight at 175 North Main St., an apartment building north of the Erie Canal.
Askew allegedly got into an altercation at 1:45 a.m. and allegedly punched another man several times, causing serious head injuries.
Joseph Julyan, 54, tried to intervene when Askew got in an argument with his girlfriend. Askew testified he was upset that Julyan didn’t mind his own business, Cardone said.
Askew allegedly punched Julyan five to seven times in the head. Julyan got to his feet, but fell and hit his head on concrete.
Julyan suffered a stroke and has some paralysis on his right side.
It is difficult, however, for a doctor to pinpoint if Julyan’s injuries were caused by the punches from Askew or when Julyan fell and hit his head, Cardone said.
The DA checked with Julyan and his family if they were OK with the plea deal and they said yes.
Askew will be sentenced on Aug. 20.
He was released from prison in late 2015 after being convicted in May 2009 for second-degree rape. He is a level 3 sex offender, the highest possible risk for re-offending.
