A Town of Tonawanda man pleaded guilty Thursday to misdemeanor criminal mischief in Buffalo City Court, admitting he damaged a flagpole at Niagara Square that had been flying a Somali flag over the summer. Justin M. Eassa, 34, entered the plea to one count of fourth-degree criminal mischief, and he faces up to 364 days in jail when he is sentenced on Jan. 7, 2027.
Eassa was accused of stealing the Somali flag from Niagara Square and damaging the flagpole, according to buffalonews.com. The flag had been raised outside Buffalo City Hall on July 1 to mark Somalia’s Independence Day, the outlet reported. Prosecutors are now asking the court to order Eassa to pay $462 in restitution to the City of Buffalo and complete community service, per Buffalo Toronto Public Media.
The flag had been raised by Heal International in honor of Somali Independence Day, according to the station’s earlier reporting. Accounts of the timeline differ: the station’s July report described the flag as cut down and removed sometime overnight after it was raised on July 1, while WIVB has reported that Eassa intentionally damaged the flagpole on July 2 and was arrested on July 8, adding that the flag itself was not recovered. Eassa’s guilty plea this week was also reported by Spectrum News.
From Felony Charges to a Misdemeanor Plea
Eassa was originally charged with third-degree criminal mischief and one count of petit larceny, the same report notes, before the case was resolved with a plea to the lesser misdemeanor charge. Under New York’s penal law, fourth-degree criminal mischief is classified as a class A misdemeanor, according to the New York State Senate’s published statute. Eassa remains released under supervision of the Erie County Probation Department as the case moves toward sentencing, per the same account.
Heal International had raised the Somali flag at Niagara Square for at least four years before the incident, the station’s July coverage noted. That same report found the flag raising had sparked social media outrage from critics, including the Erie County Republican Committee.
Separate Cases Pending in Kenmore
Beyond the Buffalo case, Eassa is also being prosecuted for two other alleged crimes in the Village of Kenmore. Eassa’s sentencing on the Niagara Square flagpole case is set for Jan. 7, 2027, in Buffalo City Court.
