BUFFALO, NY – Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced the guilty plea of 68-year-old Michael Askew of Cheektowaga.
On Tuesday morning, Askew appeared before Buffalo City Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio, pleading guilty to Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class “A” misdemeanor. He received a one-year conditional discharge.
The incident dates back to Thursday, April 20. While working as a school bus driver, Askew made a verbal threat to a student on a bus on Roehrer Avenue in Buffalo around 4:40 p.m. Following this incident, Askew was terminated from his driving position.
In response to the threat, the Buffalo Police Department secured a temporary Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) against Askew.
On April 25, investigators found an illegal rifle with a pistol grip and detachable magazine in Askew’s Cheektowaga residence. Three legally owned handguns were also seized under the ERPO. Although initially indicted on two felony gun charges, these were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.