The family of murdered Toys R Us assistant manager Larry Wells will have to wait longer for justice to be served. In State Supreme Court in Buffalo Monday, a judge granted a last minute request by the attorney for Bernard Grucza.Grucza's sentencing was rescheduled to July 24 before Judge Penny Wolfgang. The 39-year-old faces a maximum of 25 years in prison for first-degree manslaughter.
Attorney Frank Housh says when his client pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter, all parties agreed that Grucza would be sentenced on a weapons charge in federal court before sentencing in state court.
"I just misunderstood. When we scheduled the sentence, I thought it was understood by all the parties that we would proceed after federal court. For whatever reason, there was a scheduling mix-up," Housh said following the court proceeding Monday morning.
Grucza was a Regional Loss Prevention manager for the retailer when he stabbed Wells to death in their company's Hamburg store on McKinley Parkway in June of 2013.
Grucza has also admitted to stealing about $200,000 dollars in cash and merchandise from the toy chain.
The federal gun charge carries a 12-18 month sentence.