Monroe man convicted of Assault in the Second Degree for breaking victim’s jaw. 

Defendant Faces up to 7 Years in State Prison

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Friday, April 28, 2023, 2023, Michael Cowan, 57, of Newburgh, was convicted after a jury trial in the Orange CountyCourt of the top count against him, Assault in the Second Degree. During the trial prosecutors argued that July 31, 2022, at approximately 9:30 pm, outside of a residence on Hidden Creek Boulevard, in the Village of Monroe, Cowan severely beat the man who lived in that residence.  When a witness to the attack yelled at Cowan to stop beating the man while the victim was lying defenseless on the ground, Cowan fled, stating that he believed the man owed him money. The victim suffered serious physical injury as a result of the attack, including a broken jaw, which required multiple surgeries. 

Village of Monroe Police Officers executed a search warrant at Cowan’s residence and recovered gloves which had what appeared to blood on them.  At the trial prosecutors argued thatDNA testing of those gloves, along with other evidence in the case, established that Cowan had worn the gloves during hisattack of the victim.  

Cowan faces up to seven years in state prison when he is sentenced on July 10, 2023. Cowan was remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail following the jury’s verdict.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Village of Monroe PoliceDepartment for their investigation and the arrest of Cowan.  

“There is no excuse for using violence to settle disputes and those who do so will face severe consequences,” said DistrictAttorney David M. Hoovler. “People have the right to feel secure at their residences, and for that reason any attack in or at a victim’s residence is particularly egregious.  I commend the Village of Monroe Police Department for their investigation, and especially for asking my Office to aid them in obtaining the search warrant which resulted in crucial evidence being recovered and preserved.”

District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Assistant District Attorney Tanja Beemer and Assistant District Attorney Cassidy Turi, 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 afair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.