Binghamton Assault Conviction is Upheld

Ten years in prison is being handed to a Binghamton man for an assault on a Binghamton University student.

27 year old Joseph Rojas had, unsuccessfully, sought to have his felony assault verdict thrown out.  The State Appellate Division Third Judicial Department in Albany heard the appeal in September but upheld the guilty verdict.

Rojas was convicted in December, 2011 in connection with the 2009 incident in which George Hamelos from the Bronx was assaulted so badly that he was in a coma for over a week.

Investigators say Hamelos reportedly got into a fight with Rojas and Rojas’ sister behind a State Street bar after the bars had closed.

Officials say Hamelos was knocked unconscious and Rojas stomped on his head as he was laying on the ground.