DA Hoovler Announces Prison Sentence in Sexual Abuse Case

Middletown Man Found Guilty After Jury Trial of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Forcible Touching and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, October 18, 2021, Ryan Nagle, 28, of Middletown, was sentenced Orange County Court Judge Hyun Chin Kim to five years in state prison for having forcibly subjected a woman to sexual contact. On July 22, 2021, a jury in Orange County Court convicted Nagle of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Forcible Touching and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree.

During the trial, the prosecutor argued that on January 27, 2020, Nagle had subjected the woman to sexual contact by forcible compulsion when they were in her home, and that Nagle had intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly touched the sexual or intimate parts of the victim for the purpose of degrading or abusing her and to satisfy his own sexual desire. It was also argued that Nagle knowingly and unlawfully remained inside the home during the attack

The trial was the first felony jury conducted in Orange County since the Courts had stopped in-court proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the commencement of the jury trial, all parties in the courtroom had to wear masks, although later those who had been fully vaccinated were allowed to remove their masks. The proceedings were conducted in the Ceremonial Courtroom, which is larger than most courtrooms, to maintain social distancing. Jurors deliberated inside the large courtroom, rather than in a more confined jury-room.

Nagle was sentenced to five years in prison and five years post-release supervision of the charge of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, and one year in jail each on the crimes of Forcible Touching and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. By operation of law the sentences merge so that Nagle will serve a total of five years in prison and five years post-release supervision. Prosecutors had recommended that the Court sentence Nagle to seven years, the maximum authorized sentence.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the police officers, detective and sergeant who worked on the case for their investigation, the arrest of Nagle, and their assistance in the prosecution

District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Milza who prosecuted the case.

“The courage and determination that victims of sexual abuse demonstrate when they aid in the prosecution of their offenders is worthy of everyone’s admiration and respect,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Testifying publicly, and particularly being subjected to cross-examination in these circumstances, is never easy, but it is the only way that those who commit these types of crimes can be brought to justice. My office will continue to recommend that those who subject others to sexual abuse receive meaningful prison sentences.”