Dawn Nguyen's defense attorneys will have another 60 days to weigh their options.
The Greece woman, who is facing state and federal charges alleging that she supplied two weapons to William Spengler Jr., appeared in federal court Tuesday. According to law enforcement, Spengler, 62, used the weapons, along with a third whose source has yet to be determined, to open fire on the emergency responders who arrived at his Webster home after he set a fire to trap them. Two were killed and three were injured.
Authorities claim that Nguyen, who was at one time Spengler's neighbor in Webster, went to Gander Mountain with him in Henrietta on June 6, 2010. There, Nguyen allegedly acted as a "straw purchaser," claiming that she was going to be the owner of the two weapons on the firearm transaction record, but, instead, gave them to Spengler. He had spent 17 years in prison for killing his grandmother in 1980 and was barred from possessing weapons because of his crime.
Nguyen pleaded not guilty to falsifying a business record, a felony, in Henrietta Town Court earlier this month. The charge carries a minimum penalty of conditional discharge and a maximum penalty of 1 and 1/3 to 4 years in jail. The case has been waived to a Monroe County grand jury. No date has been set.
The federal charges allege that Nguyen knowingly made a false statement in connection with the purchase of the firearms.
During Tuesday's appearance, the defense was granted more time to review evidence in the case, which was adjourned for 60 days so the defense can consider all its options.
“If we review the case and Ms. Nguyen maintains her innocence and if we determine we're not talking any kind of deal we'll proceed forward and send the case to the grand jury," her attorney, Matthew Parrinello, said. "The government will always offer a plea agreement. Whether it's good or bad we don't know. They will offer something. That's if we decided to talk about a plea agreement. We don't know that yet.”
She is due back in federal court April 1.
Dawn Nguyen's defense attorneys will have another 60 days to weigh their options.
The Greece woman, who is facing state and federal charges alleging that she supplied two weapons to William Spengler Jr., appeared in federal court Tuesday. According to law enforcement, Spengler, 62, used the weapons, along with a third whose source has yet to be determined, to open fire on the emergency responders who arrived at his Webster home after he set a fire to trap them. Two were killed and three were injured.
Authorities claim that Nguyen, who was at one time Spengler's neighbor in Webster, went to Gander Mountain with him in Henrietta on June 6, 2010. There, Nguyen allegedly acted as a "straw purchaser," claiming that she was going to be the owner of the two weapons on the firearm transaction record, but, instead, gave them to Spengler. He had spent 17 years in prison for killing his grandmother in 1980 and was barred from possessing weapons because of his crime.
Nguyen pleaded not guilty to falsifying a business record, a felony, in Henrietta Town Court earlier this month. The charge carries a minimum penalty of conditional discharge and a maximum penalty of 1 and 1/3 to 4 years in jail. The case has been waived to a Monroe County grand jury. No date has been set.
The federal charges allege that Nguyen knowingly made a false statement in connection with the purchase of the firearms.
During Tuesday's appearance, the defense was granted more time to review evidence in the case, which was adjourned for 60 days so the defense can consider all its options.
“If we review the case and Ms. Nguyen maintains her innocence and if we determine we're not talking any kind of deal we'll proceed forward and send the case to the grand jury," her attorney, Matthew Parrinello, said. "The government will always offer a plea agreement. Whether it's good or bad we don't know. They will offer something. That's if we decided to talk about a plea agreement. We don't know that yet.”
She is due back in federal court April 1.
