Newburgh Man Faces Mandatory Prison Sentence

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Johnathan Arnold, age 30, of Newburgh, was convicted following a jury trial in the Orange County Court of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, the sole count against him.  The conviction was Arnold’s fourth (4^th) felony conviction and as such, he faces a mandatory prison sentence when he is scheduled to be sentenced on November 4, 2024.  Arnold was remanded back to the Orange County Jail without bail following the jury’s verdict.

As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on November 12, 2023 at approximately 8:40 p.m., Arnold entered the Kohl’s store in the Town of Newburgh.  Once inside, Arnold went to the men’s athletic department, selected numerous items whose value was approximately $1,600 and concealed the items in a black bag.  Arnold then left the store, passing all points of sale without paying, got into a vehicle and fled.  Employees from the store gave law enforcement a description of the car, which the police located with Arnold and the stolen merchandise inside.  Before being apprehended, Arnold had taken steps to change his clothing that he had worn during commission of the crime in an effort to avoid detection.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation and the arrest of the defendant.  District Attorney Hoovler also thanked the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance during the investigation.

“Retail theft has pernicious effects that result not only in untold losses to businesses but create difficult and often dangerous situations for workers and shoppers,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “My Office has committed to working with our partners in the retail industry, including the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, to enhance the ability to prevent retail crime where possible and to hold accountable those who commit these offenses.  We will continue to pursue all avenues of disrupting such criminal behavior, particularly by prosecuting and, where appropriate, seeking incarceration for repeat offenders.”

District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Assistant District Attorney Emily Worden who prosecuted the case.

A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police 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.