GOSHEN – Orange County Court Judge Robert Freehill acquitted Deerpark resident David Carlson of manslaughter in the shooting death of Norris Acosta Sanchez, 35, on October 11, 2013.
In a non-jury trial, Freehill found Carlson not guilty of the charge. It was the second trial Carlson faced.
Carlson was represented by attorneys Benjamin Ostrer and Michael Mazzariello.Carlson had claimed all along that he shot Sanchez in self defense when the victim lunged at him.
Carlson had grabbed a shotgun and told Sanchez he was bringing him in after Sanchez told him there was a warrant out for Sanchez in connection with the rape of a minor.
Following the acquittal, Ostrer noted Carlson shot in self-defense.
“The verdict, I think, indicates that Judge Freehill found that Mr. Carlson’s actions were reasonable and justified to protect himself and his neighbors,” he said.
Ostrer thanked Carlson’s neighbors for posting his bail so that he would remain out of jail until the case was adjudicated.
