Orange County News

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 For Immediate Release                                                                     Contact: Christopher Borek 
January 5, 2021                                                                                    845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c

CITY OF PORT JERVIS POLICE CHIEF WORDEN AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY HOOVLER ANNOUNCE THREE ASSAULT AND WEAPONS RELATED ARRESTS

Man Arrested for November 3, 2021 Shooting of Port Jervis Home

Different Man Accused of Menacing Police Officer with Knife on Christmas 

Third Defendant Accused of January 4, 2022 Stabbing   

City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden and Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced charges against three defendants involved in unrelated incidents involving illegal possession and use of weapons in the City of Port Jervis.

Christopher Sicina, age 22, of Port Jervis, New York, was arrested on January 3, 2022, by Port Jervis City Police and charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree. Both charges were in connection with an investigation into an incident occurring on November 3, 2021, at approximately 10:30 PM, where City Police Officers responded to reports of gun shots being fired on Hammond Street in the City of Port Jervis.  

The investigation revealed that multiple gun shots were discharged at a residence located on Hammond Street.  The defendant was additionally charged with Unlawful Fleeing a Police Officer in a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree,  a misdemeanor, when officers attempted to take Sicina into custody on January 3, 2022.  The defendant was held overnight in the Port Jervis City Lock-up facility and subsequently arraigned in Orange County Central Arraignment Court- Middletown City Court Part and remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $100,000 bail pending further court appearances.

Port Jervis City Police were assisted by the New York State Police, the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in this investigation.  Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler stated, “Crimes involving guns present an imminent danger to everyone and the investigation of these incidents is a priority”. The District Attorney’s Office will be presenting the case to an Orange County Grand Jury.  Chief Trial Assistant District Attorney Richard Moran is assigned to prosecute the case.  

John Donghia, age 32, of Port Jervis, New York, was arrested on January 3, 2022, and charged with Attempted Aggravated Assault of a Police Officer, Menacing a Police Officer, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, all felonies.  

Donghia is accused of menacing and attempting to stab a Port Jervis City Police Officer with a knife while officers were investigating an incident that occurred on December 25, 2021, at an East Main Street residence.  Donghia was arraigned in Orange County Central Arraignment – Port Jervis City Court Part and remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail pending further court appearances. 

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office assisted City Police during this investigation. 

Scott A. Leffler, age 57, of Port Jervis, New York, was arrested during the early morning hours of January 4, 2022, by Port Jervis City Police and charged with Assault in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, both felonies. Leffler was additionally charged with Menacing in the Second Degree, a misdemeanor.  The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by City police into an incident that occurred on Ryan Street in the City of Port Jervis.  Leffler is accused of menacing another person with a knife and stabbing the victim with the knife resulting in a small laceration to the victim’s chest.  

Leffler was arraigned in Orange County Central Arraignment Court- Middletown City Court Part and remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of $1,500.00 bail pending further appearances. 

“I commend the police officers of the City of Port Jervis Police Department for their handling of these cases,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “These unrelated cases of violent behavior involving the weapons demonstrate the dangers that police officers face every day to protect our communities. Police officers certainly deserve our gratitude for voluntarily risking their lives to keep us safe.”

Chief William Worden said, "I am extremely proud of the professionalism, courage, and team- work displayed by our officers and law enforcement partners in the handling of these recent acts of violence. The excellent patrol response and thorough investigation by detectives into these acts of violence involving weapons is highly commendable.  I want to further commend the officers and their professional handling of a highly dangerous, rapidly evolving situation on Christmas night where their personal safety was greatly threatened while they intervened to protect others from an individual wielding a knife placing themselves in great danger while the suspect attempted to stab the officers.  I am very impressed with their composure under this highly stressful situation and their continued attempts to de-escalate the situation and a less than lethal technology to bring the situation to a desirable outcome.”   

A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.