GOSHEN – A Newburgh man pled guilty before Orange County Court Judge Robert Freehill to firing a gun in the air while in the middle of a large crowd in the City of Newburgh.
Demetrius Stewart, 34, admitted to criminal possession of a weapon for repeatedly firing the weapon.
On April 10, 2020 at about 10:35 p.m., a large group formed in the vicinity of Carpenter Avenue and First Street. City police were notified that their Shot Spotter system was indicating that 13 gunshots had occurred on that street corner.
Investigation by Newburgh Police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office revealed the existence of a digital recording showing Stewart repeatedly firing the gun into the air.
Pursuant to a plea agreement, the DA’s office will recommend that he be sentenced to 10 years in state prison and five years of post-release supervision when he returns to court in January.
“Reckless gunplay in a crowded city street is certainly deserving of a severe prison sentence,” said DA David Hoovler. “City of Newburgh residents deserve to be free of the gun violence that occurs all too often where they live, work and raise their families.”
Hoovler credited the Shot Spotter program with allowing a successful prosecution without testimony of eyewitnesses.
