District Attorney Hoovler: Repeat Middletown Drug Dealer Pleads Guilty
Rahyim Woodson Pled Guilty to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree
Defendant Faces up to 7 Years in Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, Rahyim Woodson, 39, of Orange, New Jersey, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. The plea constitutes Woodson’s second felony drug conviction. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Woodson pled guilty, he faces up to seven (7) years in prison to be followed by three (3) years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced on December 3, 2024.
The charges against Woodson stemmed from a long-term investigation into the possession and sale of narcotics in and around the City of Middletown. As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, Woodson sold quantities of narcotics to undercover police officers in the City of Middletown six (6) times in the summer of 2022. The narcotics were tested at a forensic laboratory which confirmed the presence of cocaine and/or fentanyl or heroin. At the plea proceedings, Woodson admitted to knowingly and unlawfully selling a narcotic drug.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Woodson.
“Long-term drug investigations uncover the significant traffickers who fuel the drug trade in our communities,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “These recidivist offenders pose the greatest risk of causing death and their operations must be dismantled by arrest, prosecution and incarceration. We will continue to partner with law enforcement agencies whose dedicated investigators represent the thin line between these criminals and a safe neighborhood. Drug dealers should be forewarned that Orange County will not tolerate their dangerous actions.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior 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.