By JACKSON WANG
Executive Editor
An Albany man pleaded guilty to second degree attempted kidnapping charges last week, according to the Albany District Attorney.
Anthony Collins, 54, admitted to trying to abduct two UAlbany students before Judge Roger McDonough in the Supreme Court of Albany last Monday.
Back on October 4th, Collins was seen wearing a Christmas sweater and running pants when he used a knife in the attempted abduction, according Saint Rose security. The incident occurred just before 8 a.m.
UAlbany student Joseph Jackson witness the situation unfolds and then intervened. The woman got on the bus safely and away from the scene.
Approximately half an hour later at the same bus stop, in front of Waterbury Hall, Collins attempted to abduct another woman, this time without using a knife, according to Albany police. The individual also escaped safely and unharmed
Neither Jackson nor the victims reported the incident right away. But later on, Jackson told his residential assistant what happened and then she called University of Albany Police and Albany Police.
The cameras on the corners of Western Avenue and O’Leary Boulevard caught a photo of Collins, which Jackson was able to confirm. Jackson then filed criminal menacing and weapon charges against Collins, which caused police to keep Collins in custody after they arrested him a few days after the incident.
Once the news got out to the public, the first victim came forward and the charges upgraded from a misdemeanors to a felony, attempted kidnapping in the second degree.
The second victim never came forward.
Collins remains in custody until his sentencing on March 10th, where he faces up to 12 years in state prison. Chief Assisant District Attorney David Rossi is handling the prosecution of this case.
There was speculation that Collins was a resident at 326 Western Ave., the same building where the Albany District Attorney said Oscar Valcarcel killed Caleb Capen back in early December. Valcarcel is facing two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder.
When a reporter from The Chronicle inquired whether Collins was a tenant, the landlord of 326 Western Ave. from Hyjinks LLC hung up the phone.
A neighbor, Sifat Anwar, said he believes Collins was a former resident at 326 Western Ave. before his arrest.
“I spoke to a few friends and they said this house in general is sketchy,” Anwar said a few days after the homicide occurred.
A resident of 326 Western Ave, who identified himself as DH, confirmed that Collins did live in the basement apartment on the north side of the building. He also believes that Collins was running a crack house from the apartment because of the smells and visitors Collins would see outside the building.