GOSHEN – An arrest warrant has been issued for a 21-year-old Newburgh man after he failed to appear in Orange County Court in connection with a shooting and weapons possession case and law enforcement is seeking the public’s assistance in locating him.
On December 15, 2022, John DiCaprio was arraigned on three counts of criminal possession of a weapon.
Newburgh City Police charged him with illegally possessing a .45 caliber revolver and a Glock .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol while in a car in the city earlier in the day.
Each gun was loaded, and one had the serial number removed.
At arraignment, the district attorney’s office recommended bail be set at $100,000 cash, $500,000 secured bond or $750,000 partially secured bond. The recent criminal justice reform legislation requires judges to set three forms of bail.
In this case, the judge set bail at $5,000 cash, $50,000 secured bond or $50,000 partially secured bond. DiCaprio posted bail.
Two days later on December 17, DiCaprio Newburgh City Police again arrested him on additional charges including assault and criminal possession of a weapon, alleging that on December 10, he fired a gun at an adult, striking him in the leg and that the bullet, or part of it, struck a nearby child.
At that arraignment, the DA’s office recommended bail be set at $100,000 cash, $500,000 secured bond, or $750,000 partially secured bond to ensure that DiCaprio would continue to appear on the charges.
The judge set bail at $10,000 cash, $50,000 secured bond, or $75,000 partially secured bond.
DiCaprio again posted the bail.
The matters were presented to a grand jury, which indicted him on four counts of weapon’s possession, attempted assault and reckless endangerment.
He was scheduled to appear in county court on January 11 but failed to show. As required under the state reform laws, the judge stayed issuance of an arrest warrant so DiCaprio could appear in court on January 13, 2023. He failed to appear on that date, so an arrest warrant was issued.
“It is well known that those who are convicted of illegal weapons possession and the illegal use of weapons can expect significant sentences in Orange County,” said DA David Hoovler. “Bail which is sufficient to ensure a defendant returns to court must take into account the seriousness of the offense and a defendant’s incentive to not return to court. Illegally possessed firearms lead to violence on our streets. I urge anyone with information concerning John DiCaprio’s location to contact the City of Newburgh Police Department.”
