Sentences issued for felons in weapons and robbery cases

ALBANY, N.Y. » Albany County District Attorney David Soares announced Friday that Melichisedek Wortham, 26, of Berlin, was sentenced to five and a half years in State prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision as a predicate felon before the Hon. Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court Friday morning.

Wortham previously pleaded guilty on March 28, 2022, to one count of second-degree attempted criminal possession of a weapon, one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of third-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

An indictment alleged that on or about Oct. 8, 2019, Wortham knowingly possessed a loaded pistol in the area of 321 Second St.in the City of Albany.

Assistant District Attorney Alex Scher handled the prosecution of this case.

In a separate case, Soares announced that Lakisha Stevenson, 46, of Albany, was sentenced to concurrent terms of five years in state prison, followed by five years of postrelease supervision, and three years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, and as a predicate felon before the Hon. Andra Ackerman in Albany County Court Friday afternoon.

Stevenson previously pleaded guilty on March 30, 2022, to felony second-degree attempted robbery, and felony second-degree assault.

That plea fully satisfies the original charges against Stevenson, which included two counts of felony second-degree robbery, one count of felony third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and, one count of felony second-degree assault.

A superior court information alleged that on July 26, 2021, at approximately 8:12 p.m., Stevenson and a co-defendant punched and kicked a victim in the area of Washington Park in the City of Albany, and took $100 from the victim’s purse.

Stevenson was also accused of intentionally stabbing a victim in the back in the area of 97 Columbia St. in the City of Albany on Aug. 5, 2021, at approximately 9:50 p.m., causing injuries that required hospitalization.

In addition to the term of incarceration, two no-contact orders of protection were issued on behalf of the victims.

Assistant District Attorney David Szalda handled the prosecution of this case.