Grand Central Station Attacker Sentenced to 29 Years, Claims Federal Conspiracy
The individual responsible for the Christmas Day 2023 slashing at Grand Central Station was sentenced to over 25 years in prison on Friday. Steven Hutcherson, 38, invoked the name of former federal prosecutor Maurene Comey during a disjointed outburst in Manhattan court.
Hutcherson displayed no remorse as he rambled incoherently, receiving a prison term ranging from 26-and-a-third to 29 years following his conviction for the violent attack last month. “I was compelled to act that way by the FBI,” he asserted, before referencing Comey, the daughter of former FBI director James Comey.
During the hearing, Hutcherson addressed Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Ashlyn Dean, stating, “Maurene Comey was just let go. You’ll be next, don’t worry, because the truth is on my side.”
Comey’s dismissal from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York came just days earlier, while her father was removed from his position by former President Trump during his initial term in office.
The defendant’s erratic behavior extended beyond the courtroom, as his trial revealed a pattern of bizarre conduct. Dean informed Judge Marisol Martin-Alonzo, “He repeatedly refused to accept responsibility for his actions, continually shifting blame to others. Each time he acknowledged his wrongdoing, he offered an excuse.”
“The defendant’s behavior throughout the trial was both disruptive and deeply unsettling,” she added.
Hutcherson, legally known as Esteban Esonoasue, initially assaulted a mother using a fork before attacking her two teenage daughters—aged 14 and 16—with a knife while they dined inside the busy transit hub. One girl sustained a stab wound to her back, while the other was injured in the leg as she attempted to flee from him.
He was apprehended shortly after the incident but exhibited further violent tendencies while in custody. Days later, he attacked two fellow inmates, inflicting multiple facial injuries, and confrontationally warned a female correctional officer, “I’ve got you, b****,” according to Dean.
Hutcherson was convicted in June of numerous charges related to the Grand Central attack, including first and second-degree assault.
District Attorney Alvin Bragg characterized Hutcherson’s sentence as “a very significant prison term.” He emphasized the ongoing trauma faced by the victims and their families, stating, “New Yorkers, commuters, and tourists rely on the transit system daily and deserve to be safe while traveling. We will hold accountable those who commit such acts of violence.”
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