Orange County News
For Immediate Release Contact: Ryan Greenbaum
Friday, August 18, 2023 845.615.3657, 845.415.0868c
District Attorney Hoovler Announces All-Count Guilty Verdict in Port Jervis Attempted Murder Case
Port Jervis Man Convicted of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree
Defendant Faces up to 50 Years in Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Friday, August 18, 2023, Shawn Beach, age 43, of Port Jervis, was convicted after a jury trial before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown in the Orange County Court of all charges against him, including two counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree. Beach faces up to fifty (50) years in prison when he is sentenced on October 3, 2023. Beach was remanded to Orange County Jail without bail following the jury’s verdict.
As alleged at trial, on December 11, 2022 Beach swung a hammer in the direction of a woman in a residence in the City of Port Jervis. The woman’s eighteen (18) year old son, upon hearing his mother scream, rushed downstairs to her aid. Beach then turned to the man and struck him in the head with the hammer, fracturing his skull. The man was treated at Westchester Medical Center for life-threatening injuries but survived.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Port Jervis Police Department for their investigation and the arrest of Beach.
“This defendant’s terrifying acts of brutality have rightfully resulted in his conviction,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Acts of domestic violence are as senseless as they are dangerous. Thanks to the immediate intervention of life saving medical treatment, a life was saved. The significant prison sentence that this offender faces will ensure that he is not able to terrorize others for a long time. I applaud the dedicated work of the police and prosecutors who brought this defendant to justice.”
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Chief Trial Assistant District Attorney Richard Moran and Assistant District Attorney Bryan Conway who prosecuted the case.
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.
