GOSHEN- Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler has a message to everyone in Orange County: illegal gun possession and use will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Recently, Hoovler’s office has secured a number of convictions and negotiated a number of pleas on gun related charges. This past week, he reiterated his commitment to aggressively prosecuting the illegal possession and use of guns and committed to assigning the most experienced attorneys in his office to prosecuting violent crime.
“Time and again, we see the tragic consequences of the illegal use and possession of dangerous guns,” said Hoovler. “We must utilize all resources available to identify the perpetrators of violent crime and to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.
Additionally, Hoovler has been working with local law enforcement to utilize available technology, including DNA, body worn camera footage, surveillance video, and phone technology and analysis to identify and prosecute violent criminals. Hoovler has also spearheaded an aggressive education campaign designed to inform the public on the issue of illegally possessed guns.
“Police, prosecutors and members of our community must work together to keep our streets safe,” said Hoovler. “We ask anyone with information about illegally possessed guns to report that information to their local law enforcement. The most effective way of addressing violent crime is to prevent it from happening in the first place.”
According to Hoovler, there is a direct connection between high-level narcotics trafficking and guns. As such, the Office has continued to pursue lengthy and fruitful long-term narcotics investigations which often result in the recovery of illegal guns. Such recovery frequently means taking a gun off the street and out of the hands of a dangerous offender before it can hurt or kill others.
Recent examples in 2023 of the District Attorney’s Office commitment to gun prosecutions include:
- Nicholas Palm, convicted after trial of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for illegally possessing a loaded firearm. Sentenced to 12.5 years in prison after having previously been convicted of a similar charge.
- Wayne Lewis, pled guilty to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for his involvement in a shooting of another man. Expected to be sentenced to 12 years to life in prison because of prior violent felony convictions.
- James Boursiquot, pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for illegally possessing a loaded firearm. Sentenced to 5 years in prison.
- Aljean Cromartie, pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for illegally possessing a loaded firearm. Sentenced to 9 years in prison.
- Roger Alleyne, pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for illegally possessing a loaded firearm. Sentenced to 11 years in prison.
- Jason Mendoza, pled guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for illegally possessing a loaded firearm. Sentenced to 8 years in prison.
