BAY SHORE, NY — Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the conviction of Holmark Garces, 35, of Bay Shore, for kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and several related offenses. Garces was found guilty of kidnapping and other charges after a jury trial for abducting his ex-girlfriend at knifepoint and taking her to Brooklyn.
District Attorney Tierney praised the victim for her courage in testifying against Garces and acknowledged the efforts of law enforcement and prosecution teams involved in securing the conviction. The trial revealed that Garces had exhibited controlling and abusive behavior towards the victim, from whom he had separated in December 2019. This behavior persisted despite a stay away order of protection issued in November 2020.
The culmination of Garces’ actions occurred on October 12, 2022, when he forcibly abducted the victim from Brentwood, throwing her into his vehicle while armed with a kitchen knife. The incident, witnessed by bystanders and captured on surveillance, led to a police chase that ended with Garces’ arrest by NYPD officers in Brooklyn after he crashed into multiple police vehicles.
Garces was convicted on May 9, 2024, by Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. The charges include second-degree kidnapping, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal contempt, menacing, and harassment. Additional charges related to the incident in Brooklyn are still pending.