Wilfredo Mercado Pleads Guilty to Murder in Stabbing Death
of Temporary Emergency Housing Employee

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Friday, September 28, 2018, Wilfredo Mercado, 52, of Newburgh, pleaded guilty before Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown to Murder in the Second Degree, in connection with the May 2017, stabbing death of man inside a temporary emergency housing facility in the City of Newburgh.

At the time that he pleaded guilty, Mercado admitted that at approximately 11:15 pm, on May 23, 2017, he killed an employee inside the temporary emergency housing facility located at 44 Grand Street, where Mercado resided, by repeatedly stabbing him in the torso. Prosecutors had argued that that in addition to stabbing the victim, Mercado had repeatedly bludgeoned him and strangled the victim with his own belt.

Pursuant to a plea agreement which was placed on the record at the time that Mercado pleaded guilty, he faces up to twenty-one years to life in prison when he is sentenced on January 8, 2019.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation and the arrest of Mercado, as well as the New York State Police Major Crimes Unit who assisted in the investigation.

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jason Rosenwasser.

“This was a particularly violent murder of a man who worked to help those who required assistance,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “I commend the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation of this case and for their fast apprehension of the defendant. Those who kill by committing senseless violent acts deserve lengthy prison sentences, whether or not they used a firearm. The community will be safer while this defendant remains incarcerated.”

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.