A West Seneca Man Found Guilty For Attacking Woman w/ Tree Branch

A West Seneca man has pleaded guilty to violently attacking a female jogger with a tree branch. Erie County District Attorney John J. Flynn announced that the 20-year-old man entered a guilty plea on the morning of Monday, January 10, 2022, before Erie County Court Judge Sheila A. DiTullio. West Seneca resident Ryan J. Strunk pleaded guilty to one count of Assault in the Second Degree, which is a felony.

On September 11, 2021, Skunk attacked the victim at around 1 in the afternoon as she was jogging on the New York State Developmental Disabilities Services Office campus. Skunk hit the woman multiple times with a tree branch as she tried to flee. He chased the victim, continuing to attack her with the branch. She was able to finally escape his assault by getting into a Developmental Disabilities Services Office patrol car. The security officer in the vehicle was able to call 911 and Skunk was taken into custody. The victim received multiple lacerations and bruises.

Skunk, who is being held without bail, is due back in court on Thursday, February 17, 2022, at 10:30 am for sentencing. He is facing a maximum of seven years behind bars.

As a woman, this is scary to hear about. To think you could be minding your business, going for a run, when an unhinged individual with who knows what type of motive, attacks you in broad daylight. I know that the poor woman will never forget the attack.