Niagara Falls Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Deadly 2022 Stabbing

Niagara Action
6 hours ago
2 min read

A Niagara Falls resident will serve more than two decades in state prison for killing another man during a dispute in 2022.

Al Villane, 32, was sentenced in Niagara County Court to 22 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and criminal possession of a weapon. The sentence was imposed by Judge John Ottaviano who had the option to go as high as 25 years to life.

The case stemmed from a violent confrontation on September 19th, 2022, inside an apartment building on the 700 block of 20th Street. The victim, 47-year-old Niagara Falls resident Hollis Stewart, suffered a deep stab wound to the chest and was rushed to Erie County Medical Center. After six weeks of complications and medical treatment, he died in November 2022.

Villane was arrested at the scene. Police recovered the large hunting knife used in the attack. Witnesses later said Villane brandished the blade before the stabbing occurred and some recalled hearing him threaten Stewart moments before the assault.

During the trial, defense attorneys argued that Villane never intended to kill anyone and claimed he picked up the knife only to intimidate Stewart, describing his behavior as reckless rather than deliberate. Prosecutors countered by telling jurors that Villane chose not to leave the apartment when ordered to do so and instead made a conscious decision to use the weapon during a personal dispute involving a woman.

After a three-day trial, jurors needed only an hour to convict Villane on all counts.

Villane did not speak before the sentence was imposed on Monday, November 10th.