By Tiffany Williams –
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – A Greenburgh, New York firefighter was sentenced Monday to three years of probation for a brutal domestic attack on his former girlfriend, sparking outrage over the violence inside their shared apartment.
Joseph Apostoli, 46, a Fairview Fire Department firefighter, avoided jail time despite a DA push for shock probation, with Judge James McCarty handing down the probation sentence instead. Apostoli was convicted in a June bench trial of two counts of Third-Degree Assault, a class A misdemeanor, but acquitted of Second-Degree Assault and other charges, including Unlawful Imprisonment and Criminal Obstruction of Breathing.
The sentence also requires Apostoli to perform 100 hours of community service, pay $1,600 in restitution for the victim’s medical bills, and abide by a permanent order of protection.
“Domestic violence is a scourge that affects everyone, no matter their circumstance or lot in life,” Westchester County DA Susan Cacace said. “Working to eradicate domestic violence by prosecuting abusers and empowering survivors is and will remain the guiding principle for my administration.”
The attack on April 11, 2024, was savage. Apostoli slammed his partner — a woman just 4’10” and about 100 pounds — to the floor of their Dobbs Ferry apartment bedroom. He carried her to the living room, threw her down again, and struck her in the head. The victim suffered a fractured rib, partially collapsed lung, and extensive bruising.
At sentencing, the victim’s statement was read aloud, capturing the lasting terror she endured: “Although I work diligently to reclaim my life, the memories of that night constantly haunt me, triggered by the simplest reminders… I find myself questioning: ‘Why did this happen to me? What did I do to deserve this suffering? I wish for understanding, but the answer is, I may never know.’”
Apostoli walks free under probation while the community reels from the violence that tore through a home that should have been safe.