(SUFFOLK COUNTY, N.Y.) – Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced that Paulin Cerisier, 29, of Pennsylvania, was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision after a jury found him guilty of Murder in the Second Degree and other related charges, for the July 2021 fatal shooting of Maresse Dickerson-Stevenson, 41, of Amityville.
“While today’s sentence does not bring back Maresse Dickerson-Stevenson, it does ensure that there was justice for the victim and his family,” said District Attorney Teirney. “Far too often, lives are being lost or permanently altered due to violence. I will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to pursue strong and fair prosecutions against those who endanger our communities.”
The evidence at trial established that on July 18, 2021, at approximately 2:50 a.m., Cerisier drove to Amityville and entered a backyard party. Cerisier then approached the victim, his ex-girlfriend’s uncle, and without provocation, shot him in the left shoulder before fleeing the scene. The victim was pronounced dead a short time later.
On June 11, 2025, Cerisier was found guilty of the following charges after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy P. Mazzei:
- One count of Murder in the Second Degree, a Class A felony; and
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C felonies.
On August 14, 2025, Cerisier was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison followed by 5 years of post-release supervision. He was represented by Matthew Touhy, Esq.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Dena Rizopoulos of the Homicide Bureau and Raquel Tisi of the Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detectives Walter Sosnowski and David Gelsomino of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Homicide Squad.
