Orange County News
For Immediate Release Contact: Ryan Greenbaum
Wednesday, March 15, 2023 845.615.3657, 845.415.0868c
District Attorney Hoovler Details State Prison Sentence in Newburgh Gun Case
Defendant Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison with Five Years of Post-Release Supervision
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, Aljean Cromartie, 21, of Newburgh, was sentenced to nine (9) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision in connection with his guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for illegally possessing a firearm.
As admitted during the plea allocution and in charging documents filed and comments made on the record in court, on July 20, 2022, police officers in the City of Newburgh responded to reports of shots fired. Cromartie was observed on street cameras in the vicinity of the area clearly holding a gun. Subsequent investigation resulted in the issuance of a judicially approved search warrant for a residence in the City of Newburgh. On August 19, 2022 when the search warrant was executed, Cromartie was inside the residence with an illegally possessed loaded 9mm pistol next to him. Cromartie later made certain admissions to police officers that he fired that pistol during the incident on July 20.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation and arrest of Cromartie.
“Behind senseless and persistent violence, we often find the dangerous possession and use of unlicensed firearms,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “I have made it a priority of my Office to identify and seek to hold accountable the drivers of violent crime in the County. In particular, those who knowingly and illegally possess firearms, particularly in situations where those firearms are used against others, will be brought to justice. I appreciate the dedicated work of the police officers involved in the investigation and arrest of this defendant whose prison sentence will make our community safer.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelle Grimmer.
This 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.