Hasseem Jenkins Sentenced to 23 Years for Murder of Westchester Social Worker Maria Cotto

Sentencing for Maria Cotto's Murder

• 💔 Hasseem Jenkins was sentenced to at least 23 years in prison for the murder of Westchester social worker Maria Cotto.
• 😔 Jenkins expressed remorse but also attempted to deflect blame, claiming involuntary intoxication due to a family member maliciously lacing his drugs with PCP.

The Violent Attack

• 💥 In May 2024, Jenkins, high on drugs, attacked Cotto after she knocked on the wrong door at a Peak Skill complex.
• 👊 He brutally beat and kicked her, including repeated blows to the head, while tormenting her.
• 🏥 Maria Cotto remained in a coma for a month before passing away.

Court Proceedings and Sentencing

• ⚖️ Jenkins was convicted in November, and on Thursday, Judge George Fidio found his claims of involuntary intoxication unconvincing, citing evidence of his drug use.
• 🗓️ The judge sentenced Jenkins to just under the maximum of 25 to life, making him eligible for parole in 23 years.

Calls for Social Worker Protection

• ✊ Colleagues remembered Maria Cotto as a supportive and vibrant individual, highlighting the void her loss created.
• 📢 District Attorney Susan Casease joined county workers in rallying to support Maria's memory and urged state lawmakers to increase penalties for assaulting social workers.
• 🛡️ The DA also advocated for funding for panic buttons and other protective devices for social workers.