POUGHKEEPSIE – A 50-year-old Poughkeepsie man was convicted of two felony counts of kidnapping and one count of felony robbery following a jury trial in Dutchess County Court on Tuesday. Derrick Woodhouse faces a minimum of 20 years to life in prison when Dutchess County Court Judge Jessica Segal sentences him on August 6, 2024.
Dutchess County Senior ADAs James Bryant and Jason Richland presented their case against Woodhouse on one day and the jury deliberated for less than one day before reaching a verdict on Tuesday.
On February 6, 2023, Woodhouse approached the pregnant victim’s car at 6:20 p.m. and held a knife to her abdomen while her two young children were seated in the backseat on Talmadge Street. Woodhouse demanded the victim drive him to an ATM and withdraw money from her account. He threatened to harm her children if she did not obey him. The victim complied but dropped her wallet and the money while getting back in the car and Woodhouse fled the vehicle.
Woodhouse was apprehended and arrested by the City of Poughkeepsie police who investigated the case.
Dutchess County District Attorney Anthony Parisi said, “Keeping the people of Dutchess County safe is my top priority, and individuals like this defendant, who target vulnerable members of our community must face serious consequences,” while adding “I am thankful to the jury for holding him accountable for the terror he inflicted on this pregnant mother and children, and I hope that the sentence the court imposes will ensure he will not prey or harm others again.”
