Hudson Valley Man Charged With 'Savage' Beating Death Of 3-Year-Old Boy Hudson Valley Man Charged With 'Savage' Beating Death Of 3-Year-Old Boy
Hudson Valley Man Charged With 'Savage' Beating Death Of 3-Year-Old Boy A Hudson Valley man has been charged with murder and manslaughter for the death of a 3-year-old boy. Orange County resident Gionni Sellers, age 23, of Middletown, was arrested on Friday, Dec. 16, and indicted on Friday, Dec. 23, for what authorities call a "savage" attack on Xavier Johnson of Wallkill.  During a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 27, Wallkill Police Chief Robert Hertman and Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said the attack was "catastrophic" and included blunt force trauma to the brain and massive internal bleeding allegedly caused by a severe beating. The …
Hudson Valley Fire Department Lieutenant Admits To Being Major Drug Trafficker Hudson Valley Fire Department Lieutenant Admits To Being Major Drug Trafficker
Hudson Valley Fire Department Lieutenant Admits To Being Major Drug Trafficker A former Hudson Valley fire lieutenant has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to operating as a major drug trafficker. Orange County resident Paul Smith, age 52, of Deerpark, was sentenced to 10 to 25 years on Wednesday, Nov. 16, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. Smith, a paid lieutenant with the city of Middletown Fire Department at the time of his arrest, was also sentenced to five years post-release supervision, the DA's Office said. The former firefighter was nabbed during an undercover investigation dubbed “Operation Bread, White, and Blues," in February …
Man Indicted For Fatal Stabbing Of Senior Citizen In Hudson Valley Road Rage Incident Man Indicted For Fatal Stabbing Of Senior Citizen In Hudson Valley Road Rage Incident
Man Indicted For Fatal Stabbing Of Senior Citizen In Hudson Valley Road Rage Incident A Hudson Valley grand jury has indicted a 22-year-old man for manslaughter in connection with a stabbing death during a road rage incident. Orange County resident Horace Duke, of Wallkill, was indicted on Thursday, Nov. 3 for manslaughter and criminal possession of a weapon for the Sunday, Oct. 30 incident, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. Duke was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, $500,000 bond, or $750,00 partially secured bond.  It is alleged that Duke was involved in a motor vehicle accident with Joel Laddy, age 74, of the to…
Hudson Valley Man Found Guilty Of Firing Shotgun Through Floor Of Apartment Complex Hudson Valley Man Found Guilty Of Firing Shotgun Through Floor Of Apartment Complex
Hudson Valley Man Found Guilty Of Firing Shotgun Through Floor Of Apartment Complex A Hudson Valley man was found guilty of firing a shotgun through the floor of his bedroom and into two other apartments in the building.  According to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, 36-year-old Kervin Jeanty of the Orange County city of Port Jervis shot the gun after an argument with his wife, and when police responded to the scene, Jeanty was outside wearing a bulletproof vest and armed with a flare gun.  The shotgun slug fired by Jeanty pierced through two other apartments in the building and struck a toy box about one foot from a sleeping child, Hoovler sai…
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Repeated Sexual Abuse Of Child Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Repeated Sexual Abuse Of Child
Hudson Valley Man Sentenced For Repeated Sexual Abuse Of Child A Hudson Valley man has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to repeatedly sexually abusing a victim under the age of 13. Orange County resident Byron Romero, age 36, of New Windsor, was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Monday, Oct. 3, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. Romero was also sentenced to 20 years post-release supervision. Prior to his release from state prison, Romero will be registered as a sex offender, Hoovler said. Hoovler thanked the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their investigation and the arrest of Romero. “This d…
36 Nabbed In Drug Bust Centered In Hudson Valley 36 Nabbed In Drug Bust Centered In Hudson Valley
36 Nabbed In Drug Bust Centered In Hudson Valley A four-month-long investigation into drug trafficking in the region led to the arrest of 36 people and the seizure of a large number of drugs. The investigation, dubbed “Operation Final Blow” was initially started by the City of Port Jervis Police Department, and also included: The Orange County Drug Task Force The New York State Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team The Pike County Criminal Investigations Division of the Pike County District Attorney’s Office The Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and The investigation included the use of court-ordered e…
Owner Convicted Of Setting Fire That Destroyed Restaurant In Case Involving Westchester Woman Owner Convicted Of Setting Fire That Destroyed Restaurant In Case Involving Westchester Woman
Owner Convicted Of Setting Fire That Destroyed Restaurant In Case Involving Westchester Woman A Hudson Valley restaurant owner faces years in prison after being found guilty by a jury of setting fire to his restaurant. Zef Gjurashaj, age 60, was found guilty on Monday, Sept. 26 by a jury on all counts including arson, reckless endangerment, and insurance fraud, among others, for setting fire to Andiamo’s Restaurant in the town of Newburgh, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler Prior to the trial, Gjurashaj’s co-defendant, Marina Gjurashaj, age 38, of Yonkers, who is the wife of his nephew, pled guilty for her role in setting the fire. As part of her plea agree…
2 Sentenced For Murder Of College Student In Hudson Valley 2 Sentenced For Murder Of College Student In Hudson Valley
2 Sentenced For Murder Of College Student In Hudson Valley Two men have been sentenced to prison for the brutal murder of a college student in Hudson Valley. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, Sept. 20, Cornelius Stubbs, age 51, and Carlos Rivera, age 49, both of Newburgh, for the murder of a 21-year-old college student.  At the time of sentencing, more than 40 friends and family members of the victim, Chelsea Debidin of Walden, were present, as well as numerous members of law enforcement representing the town of New Windsor Police and the New York State Police. The charges i…
Man Confesses To Killing Missing Hudson Valley Teacher Man Confesses To Killing Missing Hudson Valley Teacher
Man Confesses To Killing Missing Hudson Valley Teacher A Hudson Valley man has confessed to killing a missing teacher and will provide information to police to help find her body. Orange County resident Matthew Mercado, age 39, of Newburgh, made the admission in court on Thursday, Aug. 25, while pleading guilty to a manslaughter charge in the death of Jessica Lopez, also of Newburgh, who has been missing since 2019. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said  Mercado will also help police locate Lopez's body. Jessica Lopez - also known as Yessica Lopez - was reported missing to the City of Newburgh Police Department on S…
13-Year-Old Caught Carrying Loaded Handgun In Hudson Valley, Police Say 13-Year-Old Caught Carrying Loaded Handgun In Hudson Valley, Police Say
13-Year-Old Caught Carrying Loaded Handgun In Hudson Valley, Police Say A 13-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly walking down a street with a handgun in the Hudson Valley. The incident took place in Orange County on Saturday, July 30 in the city of Port Jervis. The teen was apprehended after officers responded to a report of a teenager dressed all in black in possession of a handgun in his waistband walking toward Church Street, said the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Officers Mackenzie Decker, Christopher Mehedin, and Manuel Medeiros responded to the area of Church Street and Barcelow Street and located the suspect, the DA's Office s…
Hudson Valley Woman Sentenced To 15 Years For Starving Boy To Death Hudson Valley Woman Sentenced To 15 Years For Starving Boy To Death
Hudson Valley Woman Sentenced To 15 Years For Starving Boy To Death A Hudson Valley woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for starving to death a 7-year-old boy in her care. Orange County resident Leticia Bravo, age 40, of Newburgh, was sentenced on Tuesday, June 21 after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the death of Peter Cucuas. In addition to the 15 years, Bravo will also serve five years post-release supervision, said Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler. On February 10, 2021, shortly after 8 a.m., Bravo brought Cuacuas’ lifeless body to St. Luke’s Hospital in Newburgh. He was pronounced dead shortly thereafter, the DA's Office said…
11 Charged After Multi-Department Hudson Valley Drug Sweep 11 Charged After Multi-Department Hudson Valley Drug Sweep
11 Charged After Multi-Department Hudson Valley Drug Sweep Eleven Hudson Valley residents have been charged with drug-related crimes following a narcotics sweep by multiple agencies. The arrests took place in Orange County in and around the city of Newburgh on Friday, June 10. According to Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, those arrested were charged with the criminal sale of a controlled substance including crack cocaine and heroin throughout the city of Newburgh. Over the course of the past several months, undercover investigators from the Orange County Task Force and its members purchased quantities of narcotics from…