Joseph Lightfoot Sentenced to 7.5 Years After Previously Pleading Guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree

 Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Joseph Lightfoot, 18, of Wallkill, was sentenced in Orange County Court to seven and one half (7.5) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision relative to his previous plea of guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.  At sentencing, the People recommend Lightfoot be sentenced to ten (10) years in prison. 

As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on April 25, 2024, residents in the Village of Walden engaged in an argument with a relative regarding property they believed was stolen by the relative from their driveway.  During the course of the argument, Lightfoot, his girlfriend and another man exited a truck and began a physical altercation with the male resident.  During the altercation, Lightfoot took a loaded, unlicensed pistol out of his hoodie, aimed at the male resident and fired, striking his own girlfriend in the wrist and subsequently shattering the window of the vehicle.  Lightfoot later admitted to members of the Village of Walden Police Department that he possessed the gun, for which he did not have a permit, and shot it during the altercation. At the plea proceedings Lightfoot admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Village of Walden Police for their investigation and the arrest of the defendant.

“As I have said time and again, dangerous weapons in the hands of dangerous individuals are a recipe for disaster,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “It is only through sheer luck that this offender’s careless choices caused a non-fatal injury.  The significant sentence imposed highlights the commitment that my Office, together with our law enforcement partners, shares in our pursuit of gun offenders.  We will continue to tirelessly work to ensure that illegal firearms and the criminals who use them are taken off our streets.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Nicholas Mangold.

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.