Hinds
GOSHEN – Bail was set at $25,000 cash or $100,000 bond for a Port Jervis man, who was arraigned in Orange County Court on Friday, for allegedly throwing a liquid containing his own semen at unsuspecting female customers at the Shoprite Plaza on Dolson Avenue in Middletown.
Christopher Hinds, 38, is charged with throwing the fowl-smelling liquid at customers on June 16, July 2 and July 7. Hinds was arrested by Middletown Police on July 13.
An Orange County grand jury had indicted him on charges of criminal mischief as a hate crime, aggravated harassment, sexual abuse, public lewdness and endangering the welfare of a child. He was also charged with criminal possession of a weapon as Middletown police officers found a pair of metal knuckles in his car.
On three dates, Hinds allegedly threw the liquids on the female customers. In some instances, he tossed them from a car and at other times, he approached the victims on foot. Hinds is charged with hate crimes for picking victims, one of whom was a 14-year-oold girl, because of her gender.
The criminal mischief charges stem from the damage done to the victims’ clothes and property from the liquids.
If convicted, he faces sentences of two-and-one-third to seven years in state prison on each of the charges of criminal mischief as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon.
A conviction on the charge of sexual abuse would require that he be placed on the state sex offender registry since the victim is under 18 years of age.
“Any case involving a defendant who commits a series of crimes against strangers and who targets his victims based on their gender is a very serious crime,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “Any offender who repeatedly targets women for this type of disgusting and disturbing criminal activity, particularly one who targets a young teenage girl, and subjects them to any type of sexual abuse, is someone who must be severely punished and closely monitored.”
