A College Point man who assaulted New York City Police officers, in part by shooting an assault rifle toward them, has been sentenced. 

Rodolfo Montero, 29, received a sentence of 18 years in prison, plus an additional five years of post-release supervision, for his aggressive behavior on September 19, 2020.  

Sometimes, situations can spiral out of our control before we're able to stop ourselves. Should your future be uncertain because of a past decision, call the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team at 888-535-3686 or contact us here. 

An Altercation Led to Assault 

Police were summoned to the 125th Street home of Montero and his 28-year-old girlfriend after a fight between the two led to physical violence. Montero choked and punched the woman in the presence of both the couple's one-year-old son and his own mother. He then assaulted his own mother and threatened to kill his girlfriend, brandishing an assault weapon as he did so. 

Both women were able to flee the scene, taking the baby with them. When police arrived, Montero fired the assault weapon first out of a second-story window, then out a window on the first floor. Police avoided being shot by taking cover, but a neighbor's car was hit by one of the bullets.  

Montero eventually exited the home and was taken safely into custody. Officers later recovered ballistic evidence, including the assault rifle, from the scene.  

The Plea and the Sentence 

In January 2024, Montero pleaded guilty to attempted murder in the second degree. He was sentenced in early February by Queens Supreme Court Justice Stephanie Zaro to 18 years in prison. After release, Montero will also be subject to five years of parole.  

Before It's Too Late 

Everyone occasionally lets their impulses get the better of them because they don't think through the consequences because they are overwhelmed with extreme emotions because they're under the influence of drugs or alcohol—or some combination of these factors. Each poor choice, however, comes with its own point of no return. No matter how hopeless a situation might seem, it's always better if you can manage to stop impulsive behavior from taking you past that point of no return. By doing so, you can prevent devastating, life-altering consequences, such as a prison term.  

In other words, the old adage “in for a penny, in for a pound” definitely does not apply here. 

The Criminal Defense Team at the Lento Law Firm can help bring you back from the brink. Our attorneys can mitigate a great deal of damage, but you need to get in touch. Do so by filling out the contact form here or calling 888-535-3686 to discuss your situation—and improve your future.