District Attorney Hoovler Announces 18 Year Sentence in Carjacking Case

June 8, 2017

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced today that on June 8, 2017, Alan Alberto, 26, of Newburgh, was sentenced to 18 years in state prison by the Hon. Nicholas De Rosa. Alberto pleaded guilty to Assault in the First Degree on April 27, 2017, for having severely injured a woman during a carjacking which occurred on December 13, 2016, in the City of Newburgh. At the time he pleaded guilty, Alberto admitted that he stole a car at knifepoint from a woman at approximately 10:00 pm in the vicinity of Dubois Street and First Street. Alberto entered the woman’s car and stabbed her in an attempt to force her from the vehicle Alberto admitted driving the stolen car through the streets as the woman clung to the car. Alberto narrowly missed hitting a City of Newburgh Police Officer who was on foot patrol as he careened the car wildly through the streets of Newburgh. Alberto lost control of the car, which crashed into a building and flipped over, trapping Alberto in the driver’s seat, and pinning the woman under the car, severely injuring her. The victim’s injuries included broken hips, legs, feet and knees which required her to undergo at least five surgeries.

At the time of his sentence, the District Attorney’s Office requested that Alberto be sentenced to a period of 18 years in state prison and a period of post-release supervision, which was the maximum sentence permitted under the terms of the plea agreement.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation and arrest in the case.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Christopher Kelly.

“The community will be safer during the almost two decades that this defendant will be in prison,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “This type of senseless violence deserves the severest of penalties. A law-abiding citizen suffered catastrophic injuries due to this defendant’s attempt to steal a car from what he hoped was an easy target. I applaud the heroic actions of the victim in this case as she continues to recover from her injuries.”