District Attorney Hoovler Announces Guilty Plea in Fatal Beating Case

Middletown Man Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Beating Death of Man by Train Tracks

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, January 22, 2018, Primitivo Sosa, 28, of Middletown, pleaded guilty before Orange County Court Judge Robert H. Freehill to Manslaughter in the Second Degree, in connection with the beating death of a man near the train tracks in downtown Middletown on September 3, 2017.

At the time that he pleaded guilty, Sosa admitted that on September 3, 2017, at about 6:30 AM, he was at the railroad right-of-way in the vicinity of Low Avenue, in the City of Middletown. Sosa admitted that he struck a man that he knew had serious medical issues multiple times in the head using his fist. The man who had been beaten died the next day at Orange Regional Medical Center. On September 5, 2017, Sosa was arrested by the City of Middletown Police Department and currently remains incarcerated in the Orange County Jail. He is next scheduled to appear in court on February 27, 2018, for sentencing.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation of the case and Sosa’s apprehension.

“Violence has no place in our communities,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Those who resort to violence to settle disputes, even if they do not use weapons, must be held accountable for their actions. Everyone, including those without a home, is entitled to be free from violence. I commend the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation of this case. My office will continue to work with all our law enforcement partners to reduce violent crimes.”

This case is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs.

A 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.