Binghamton Man Sentenced for Unprovoked Attack on Homeless Man

A Binghamton man will spend 9 years in prison for brutally attacking and stabbing a homeless man at the Greater Binghamton Transportation Center last summer, almost killing him.

The Broome County District Attorney’s office says 24-year-old Saquawon Linton was sentenced July 18 for felony assault after initially being charged with attempted murder in the early morning attack June 24 of last year.

Linton had been accused of assailing the homeless man at the bus station shortly before 1:30 in the morning, stabbing him in the face and neck and yelling “DIE! DIE!”

The 59-year-old victim managed to walk several blocks and hailed a police officer near Court and Washington Streets a few minutes later.

Police found Linton in Syracuse and arrested him.

Before accepting a deal to plead guilty to a violent felony assault charge, Linton had turned down a deal offered in September and looked to get a new attorney.  That deal would have resulted in a ten year prison sentence.