GOSHEN – An 18-year-old Port Jervis man has been sentenced in Orange County Court to five years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision following his guilty pleas to menacing a police officer and robbery.
It was alleged that on October 16, 2023, Port Jervis Police were called because a man, later identified as Joel Howell, was seen running down a street with a gun.
A witness pointed Howell out to a sergeant, who when he approached him in his patrol car, Howell pointed what appeared to be a firearm at him before running away.
When Howell was apprehended, he was found in possession of a BB gun that looked like a firearm.
After Howell pled guilty to menacing a police officer, he was arrested again by Port Jervis Police for allegedly approaching a homeless man on November 7, 2023 and pointing what appeared to be a firearm but was later found to be a BB gun.
After displaying the weapon, he robbed the victim with the aid of underage youths and engaged in a physical altercation.
