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Charges announced Monday against a Jamestown man charged in the May 3 stabbing death of Torry Kenny are the latest in a list of criminal charges in recent years.
A secret indictment issued by the Chautauqua County Grand Jury was unsealed in Chautauqua County Court charging 27-year-old Robert Brinkley with second-degree murder, first-degree manslaughter and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in the May 3 death of Jamestown resident Torry Kenny, 32.
Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason Schmidt called the incident a “brutal and predatory attack committed without justification.
“(Kenny) was unarmed and fearing for his life when he was stabbed through the eye and collapsed on the street during the early morning hours of May 3. Within minutes of the call, Jamestown Police began their investigation with very little evidence and information from the crime scene, and devoted countless hours from then on developing the case until we were confident that it was ready for prosecution," Schmidt said in a news release.
Brinkley pleaded not guilty to the charges and a conference has been scheduled for Aug. 17. County Court Judge David Foley set bail at $1 million cash or, in the alternative, $2 million to be secured by property bond or the posting of 10%. If convicted of the charges, Brinkley faces a prison sentence of between 25 years and life.
In June 2025, Brinkley was taken into custody after city police officers responded to a reported domestic incident on the east side of Jamestown. While no domestic incident actually happened, Brinkley had pending charges of first-degree robbery and petit larceny. As officers began to place Brinkley into custody, he allegedly pulled away and tried to run from officers. After a brief struggle, he was placed into custody.
In May 2025, Brinkley was charged with first-degree criminal contempt, third-degree criminal mischief and third-degree assault after officers responded to a reported fight on the east side of Jamestown. When officers arrived they learned that one of the men involved in the fight had an active order of protection against the other man. Brinkley also allegedly threw rock through a person’s window and hit a woman in the head, causing injury.
In July 2024, Brinkley was charged with first-degree assault, first-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and first-degree escape after officers responded to an east side home to help parole officers with a stabbing victim. Officers allege Brinkley stabbed a person several times in the head causing multiple severe cuts. The person was taken to UPMC Chautauqua for evaluation and treatment. Officers then conducted a warrant check for Brinkley at a north side home and report finding Brinkley inside an apartment. He was taken into custody and, as officers were taking him to the city jail, Brinkley ran away from officers.
In all three instances Brinkley was taken to the city jail until he could be arraigned.