Joshua Clayborne Expected to be Sentenced to Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, Joshua Clayborne, 35, of Newburgh, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Clayborne pled guilty,it is expected he will be sentenced to one and one half (1.5) to three (3) years in prison when he is sentenced on April 19, 2024.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on May 30, 2023, Clayborne entered the Target store in the Town of Monroe. Inside, a loss prevention officer who was familiar with Clayborne observed him take numerous items and place them in his cart. The loss prevention officer called the police who responded and also observed Clayborne place items in his cart. The police then saw Clayborne leave the store without paying for the items, which had a total value in excess of $2,000. At the plea proceedings, Clayborne admitted to taking the items and that he had no permission or authority to take them. He further admitted that he has been previously convicted of Grand Larceny. The conviction is Clayborne’s twenty-eighth (28th) criminal conviction and his third (3rd) felony conviction.
The plea comes after the District Attorney’s Office recently reiterated its commitment to fighting retail theft. In November, 2023, the District Attorney’s Office announced its participation in a retail theft initiative working hand-in-hand with community retailers, exchanging valuable insights, fostering a mutual understanding, and collaboratively developing retail crime mitigation strategies. Retail theft collectively costs communities billions annually, undermining local economies and threatening the viability of storefronts in neighborhoods across the country. Equally concerning, in recent years organized and habitual theft has become more brazen and violent, raising safety concerns for employees and customers alike—disrupting lives, jeopardizing livelihoods, and undermining the vitality of communities and neighborhood shopping districts.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of the defendant.
“It is only through proactive cooperation amongst law enforcement, retailers and the community that we can effectively tackle retail crime,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Let the expected prison sentence in this case underscore the focus that my Office has on the spread of retail crime and the recidivists who drive it. I commend the work of the police and prosecutors in this case that ensured this defendant was held accountable for his actions.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District AttorneyAlexandra Pietropaolo.
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 a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.