The Monroe County man who pleaded guilty in September to attacking former Congressman Lee Zeldin last year during his gubernatorial campaign was sentenced to three years of probation on Thursday. David Jakubonis, of Fairport, pleaded guilty to a charge of assaulting a federal officer.
On July 21, 2022, during a campaign event in Perinton, then-Congressman Zeldin gave a speech from the bed of a flatbed trailer. During the speech, Jakubonis walked onto the trailer, approached the Congressman, extended a keychain with two sharp points toward him, and grabbed his arm. A struggle then ensued between Congressman Zeldin and Jakubonis and, as bystanders intervened, Jakubonis pulled Congressman Zeldin down onto the bed of the trailer, stating several times during the assault, “You’re done.” Jakubonis was subdued and arrested.
Zeldin released a statement on Thursday saying “Thanks to the great resources made available through the Monroe County VA and other local veteran’s organizations, he hopes Jakubonis can make significant progress towards getting his life back on track.”
The sentencing is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge Matthew Miraglia, the U.S. Capitol Police, under the direction of Assistant Special Agent-in-Charge Chad Beckett, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, under the direction of Sheriff Todd Baxter, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Miklos Szoczei II, the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Smith and the Brighton Police Department, under the direction of Chief David Catholdi.
