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Second Man Indicted for Attacking Exchange Student in Mistaken Identity: DA

By Katie Honan | April 20, 2017 8:26am
 Devon Berkley slashed a 16-year-old Chinese exchange student across the face, police said.
Devon Berkley slashed a 16-year-old Chinese exchange student across the face, police said.
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NYPD

WHITESTONE — A second man was indicted and extradited from Pennsylvania this week for the slashing of a Chinese exchange student in 2015 who was mistaken for another teen, according to the Queens district attorney's office.

Devon Berkley, 38, of Allentown, Pa., was hired by Wilson Lai to attack a teenage girl in December 2015, according to the DA.

Lai was allegedly having a sexual relationship with the 14-year-old girl he wanted to attack — but Berkley, who covered his face in a surgical mask, slashed the wrong girl, officials said.

The victim, a Chinese exchange student living in the intended target's home, was slashed twice and left with two long scars on the left side of her face, according to the DA. 

Berkley was extradited to New York from Pennsylvania this week and indicted on assault and conspiracy, along with other charges. He faces up to 25 years in prison if he's convicted.

Lai was arrested and indicted last year for the assault.