District Attorney Hoovler Announces Guilty Verdict in Sexual Abuse Case

July 22, 2021

Orange County Court Jury finds Middletown Man Guilty of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Forcible Touching and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree

Defendant faces up to Seven Years in State Prison

First Post-COVID Shutdown Felony Jury Trial in Orange County

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on that on July 22, 2021, a jury in Orange County Court found Ryan Nagle, 28, of Middletown, guilty of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree, Forcible Touching and Criminal Trespass in the Second Degree. The top-count conviction occurred before Orange County Court Judge Hyun Chin Kim. Nagle, who had been at liberty during the trail after posting bail, was immediately remanded to the Orange County Jail with no bail following the convictions.

During the trial, the prosecutor argued that on January 27, 2020, Nagle had subjected a woman to sexual contact by forcible compulsion when they were in her home, and that Nagle had intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly touched the sexual or intimate parts of the victim for the purpose of degrading or abusing her and to satisfy his own sexual desire. It was also argued that Nagle knowingly and unlawfully remained inside the home during the attack

The trial began on July 12, 2021, and is the first felony jury conducted in Orange County since the Courts had stopped in-court proceedings due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the commencement of the jury trial, all parties in the courtroom had to wear masks, although later those who had been fully vaccinated were allowed to remove their masks. The proceedings were conducted in the Ceremonial Courtroom, which is larger than most courtrooms, to maintain social distancing. Jurors deliberated inside the large courtroom, rather than in a more confined jury-room.

Nagle faces up to seven years in state prison and five years post release supervision on the charge of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. Nagle is scheduled to be sentenced on September 16, 2021.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the police officers, detective and sergeant who worked on the case for their investigation, the arrest of Nagle, and their assistance in the prosecution

District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Senior Assistant District Attorney Michael Milza who prosecuted the case. .

“Those who subject others to sexual abuse deserve lengthy prison sentences,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “The courage and determination that victims of sexual abuse demonstrate when they aid in the prosecution of their offenders is worthy of everyone’s admiration and respect. Testifying publicly, and particularly being subjected to cross-examination in these circumstances, is never easy, but it is the only way that those who commit these types of crimes can be brought to justice. My office will recommend that this defendant be sentenced to the maximum sentence allowed by law to deter him and others from committing similar crimes.”

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.