NYC subway saw slasher pleads guilty

A man who injured another by slicing into his chest with a power saw in a subway station pleaded guilty Tuesday to assault.

Tareyton Williams, 34, had been charged with attempted murder and faced up to 25 years in prison for the attack on postal worker Michael Steinberg last summer. He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in exchange for a sentence of 18 years in prison.

Williams entered his plea after he was found mentally competent to stand trial. His lawyer, Michael Butchen, said he spoke to Williams about offering a psychiatric defense at trial and about the possible sentence if he were convicted.

Williams admitted in court that he tried to cut Steinberg, then 64, with the power saw inside the station in upper Manhattan early on July 7, 2006, and intended to cause him serious harm.

Williams picked up a power saw in each hand from a cart used by workers, took a swipe at one person and missed, police said after his arrest. Moments later, Steinberg came through a turnstile, and Williams started cutting him. Steinberg recovered.

Steinberg said the workers made no attempt to intervene. A transit spokesman, Paul Fleuranges, said a token booth clerk immediately called police. A private contractor employed the workers, he said.