Spring Valley student indicted in stabbing of classmate

A Rockland grand jury has indicted Christopher Bermeo on multiple charges for allegedly stabbing and attempting to kill a fellow Spring Valley High School student during a confrontation inside the school.

The indictment charges Bermeo with felony counts of second-degree attempted murder, first-degree attempted assault and second-degree assault. The top count of attempted murder carries a maximum of 25 years in prison for the 16-year-old Spring Valley resident.

The charges against Bermeo were released Monday afternoon after the indictment was submitted to a judge.

Bermeo is accused of stabbing a 17-year-old boy four times in the language wing of the high school on Tuesday.

Bermeo has claimed through his lawyers that he acted in self-defense after the other teenager persistently bullied him. Bermeo also faces a robbery charge in a separate incident, but Spring Valley police and prosecutors have not released details of that case.

Police and school officials have said Bermeo and his family never reported any bullying incidents to them.

Bermeo allegedly used a penknife to stab his schoolmate around 8:40 a.m. Tuesday. The 17-year-old, whose most serious wound was to his abdomen, was discharged from the hospital Thursday but hospitalized again early Friday due to complications, police said.

Neither Bermeo nor the injured student had a record of serious disciplinary issues at the high school, said Tom Carton, the East Ramapo security director.

Bermeo remains in the county jail on $500,000 bail. A Spring Valley judge on Friday refused to lower his bail, which had been set by another judge at his initial court appearance.

Bermeo's attorney, Benjamin Greenwald, has argued the bail amount is unreasonably high. He said Bermeom who lives with his father, is not a threat to flee, saying the teenager has no passport, no money and no ability to leave town.

"If he was some rich kid, he wouldn't be sitting in jail," Greenwald said.

Executive Assistant District Attorney Dominic Crispino has contended the high bail is warranted given the violent nature of the attack and Bermeo's history..

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe said Bermeo must be tried as an adult. Family Court proceedings are for people 15 years old or younger.

Twitter:@lohudlegal