David Johnson Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

 Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, David Johnson, 47, of Middletown, was sentenced in Orange County Court to six (6) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision relative to his previous plea of guilty to Robbery in the Second Degree.

As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on March 12, 2023, Johnson approached a man who was entering a grocery store in the City of Middletown and demanded money.  After the man gave Johnson money, he walked away only for Johnson to pursue him.  Johnson then grabbed the man by the throat and knocked him to the ground.  On the ground, Johnson repeatedly punched the victim in the face until he was unconscious.  Johnson then took the man’s wallet from his pocket and fled to a nearby apartment building.  The police, having observed part of the incident on street camera, responded and located Johnson in a common area closet in the apartment.  After Johnson was arrested, police recovered the victim’s wallet inside the closet.  At the plea proceedings, Johnson admitted to forcibly stealing the man’s property and thereby causing the man to sustain physical injury.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police for their investigation and the arrest of the defendant.

“The sentence imposed in this makes clear that violent crimes will be met with swift and severe consequences,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Our community deserves to feel safe, and we will not tolerate those who threaten that safety. I hope that the resolution of the case offers the victim a degree of closure while ensuring that this violent offender is not free to victimize others.”

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Ryan Greenbaum.

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.