D.A. puts new law to work in Staten Island deli arrests, when beer, cigarette, bagel thefts allegedly turned violent

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Armed with a new statute that went into effect this month, prosecutors have begun filing felony charges against individuals accused of carrying out assaults against retail workers while shoplifting.

As part of a bill written by state Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton (D-North Shore/South Brooklyn) and signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul this past spring, the assault of a retail worker has been elevated to a Class E felony, making the crime punishable by up to four years in prison.

“As we’ve been saying for quite some time now, no one should have to live in fear of being assaulted when they go to work,” Scarcella-Spanton said back in May. “Especially our deli owners right here on Staten Island — who have non-traditional hours, who a lot of times work 24/7 — and we’ve heard these reports time and time again. I’m really proud to get this done.”

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