On Thursday, April 6th, Tyresse Minter, 28, was re-arrested after being released just two days prior for choking his 15-year-old stepson to death. Minter, who was originally brought in on Wednesday, April 5th for criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter for the death of his stepson, reportedly had a lenient judge release him to the dismay of prosecutors that claimed his past violent behaviors made him a “flight risk.” Minter was on parole after being released from prison in December 2022. The Bronx District Attorney’s office asked Judge Naiti Semaj, who is notably “soft on crime,” to hold Minter while he awaited trial but she decided to release him on his own “recognizance.” His release sparked controversy with many criticizing Judge Semaj and her history of letting repeat violent offenders free.
After Minter’s release, the Department of Corrections issued an arrest warrant that led to him being placed in custody on Thursday, April 6th. The arrest allegedly took place due to the involvement of Governor Kathy Hochul. “My top priority is public safety,” Hochul said in a statement. “Earlier today, the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision issued a warrant for Tyresse Minter, and he is now in custody.”
“We will continue working closely with the Bronx District Attorney’s Office throughout this process as it prosecutes the charges, and we will continue coordinating with our partners in law enforcement to strengthen public safety across the state,” Hochul continued in her statement.
Minter, who is a repeat offender having been arrested for attempted murder in 2018, made a deal with the prosecution in the case and had the charge reduced to assault. Minter was sentenced to state prison in 2019, served his time, and was released on parole in December 2022. In a tragic turn of events, on January 23rd, Minter was allegedly involved in an altercation with his 15-year-old stepson, Corde Scott. According to reports, Minter had gotten into an argument with Scott one day when he got home from school. Minter strangled Scott in their Westchester Square apartment, putting him in a chokehold and wrapping his legs around 15-year-old Scott, leading to his death. Minter reportedly did not call 911 until approximately 20 after Scott initially lost consciousness from the choking. Scott was declared dead at the scene.
Minter was arrested and charged with criminally negligent homicide and manslaughter. However, on Wednesday, April 5th, when Minter stood before the Bronx Criminal Court during his arraignment, Judge Semaj granted him bail. This was despite the District Attorney’s request that he be kept behind bars. Judge Semaj has been accused of being lenient against offenders.
During his hearing on Friday, April 7th, Minter was sent back to a jail cell by Judge Laurence Bushing. “Mr. Minter presents a substantive flight risk. I am ordering he be remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections,” Bushing said.
The New York State Board of Parole pushed for Minter to remain in custody. Board of Parole Liaison N. Rivera encouraged Judge Bushing to keep Minter in custody as he was an extremely violent person.
“Due to the severity of the alleged offense, the [Department of Corrections] was forced with issuing an arrest warrant as Minter does pose a substantial risk of not returning,” Rivera said.
“Also during his incarceration, he has been disciplined for violent conduct, fighting, creating disturbance, harassment, and possessing a weapon, and providing false information. It shows that Minter will disregard any judicial authority and will not abide by any court order for return to court,” Rivera said before the court, referring to the crimes Minter had committed while in jail. The fact that Minter had murdered someone while he was on parole, was a violation of its terms.
Michelle McGrath, Minter’s legal representative, claimed that her client was not a flight risk as he had repeatedly shown up for his legal appearances.
“Absent from this record is any argument that Mr. Minter does not report, that he’s not kept in touch with parole, that he has done anything that would allow this court to draw the conclusion that he’s a risk of flight,” said McGrath.
“He reported to parole that evening. They told him to report the following day, he came. He was well aware that he may be arrested. He could have fled, he did not. He came to court,” she continued. “There is simply no basis for drawing a logical conclusion that he would not show up for a parole proceedings.”
Scott’s mother, Karen Glenn, said that she initially felt defeated that Minter had been released without bail. However, his rearrest left her feeling happier and safer.
The issue of bail reform continues to rear its head in the social, legal, and political landscape of New York. Parents and politicians have called for a change in the bail reform laws. In her State of the State address, Governor Hochul said that New York’s bail reform laws were one of her “top priorities.”
