Dunkirk man sentenced to 19 years for 2016 kidnapping
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BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) -- A Dunkirk man was sentenced Wednesday to 19 years in state prison plus 20 years of post-release supervision on a kidnapping charge, the Chautauqua County District Attorney's Office announced.
Samuel Saeli, 46, was convicted of second-degree kidnapping as a sexually motivated felony in June. The conviction stems from a 2016 incident in which he kidnapped a 13-year-old boy from a Fredonia Walmart parking lot.
Saeli was originally sentenced to 16 years in prison plus 10 years parole in 2018. He has served roughly eight years so far, the district attorney's office said.
Around 2023, a new trial was ordered following a hung jury. He was found guilty again and sentenced to 19 years.
Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University.