GOSHEN – A Newburgh man has been sentenced to 12 years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision in connection with his guilty plea to attempted murder.
Jonathan Esson, 34, was charged with the daytime stabbing of another man in Newburgh on July 9, 2021.
As alleged, Esson drove his taxicab by a man who was at the rear of his vehicle near his fiancée and two children.
It is alleged that Esson had been pursuing the man’s fiancée and had stalked her for a period of time leading up to that date. When he saw the man, Esson stopped his cab, crossed the street, and stabbed the man a single time in the back as he was taken groceries out of his trunk.
Esson fled before being located and taken into custody later that day, where he was found in possession of the knife used in the attack.
The victim drove to the hospital and was treated for serious injuries.
The prosecutors said after his arrest, Esson made statements to police that indicated his intent was to kill the victim.
At the time of his plea, Esson admitted that he attempted to kill the man he stabbed.
District Attorney David Hoovler called the “violent and brazen daytime attack on a man in front of his family was heinous.”
