Newburgh Man Convicted After Trial of Illegally Possessing 491 Decks of Heroin

Faces Up To Fifteen Years in State Prison

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, May 1, 2017, Davonte Hawkins, 28, of Newburgh, was convicted after a trial before Orange County Court Judge Craig Stephen Brown of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, for possessing 491 “decks” of heroin on August 2, 2016, on Grand Street, in the City of Newburgh. Hawkins was found guilty of possessing the heroin, which had an aggregate weight of over one-eighth ounce, with the intent to sell it.

On August 2, 2016, Hawkins attempted to discard the narcotics by tossing them over a fence, when he saw police in his vicinity. The narcotics were recovered from where Hawkins threw them. Witnesses at the trial testified that the heroin had a street value of approximately $5,000. Hawkins faces up to fifteen years in prison when he is sentenced by Judge Brown on June 13, 2017.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their arrest and investigation of the case, and the New York State Police for their assistance in the investigation of the case.

“The evidence in this case supported the court’s verdict that this defendant intended on selling this heroin, likely in the City of Newburgh” said District Attorney Hoovler. “I commend the City of Newburgh Police Department and the New York State Police for their professional investigation of case and their arrest of the defendant. My office will continue to seek severe state prison sentences for those who traffick in the very types of drugs which are destroying our communities and claiming far too many lives.”

District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Assistant District Attorney Theresa Cayton who prosecuted the case.

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.