District Attorney Hoovler Announces Maximum Prison Sentence in Fatal Road Rage Case

Maximum Sentence of 5-15 Years in Prison Imposed on Manslaughter Charges and 6 Years on Assault Charges

Walden Man Previously Convicted After Jury Trial of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, Assault in the Second Degree and Assault in the Third Degree

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, Anthony Jones, age 26 of Walden, was sentenced in the Orange County Court to the maximum permitted sentence of five to fifteen (5-15) years in prison for his conviction of Manslaughter in the Second Degree, and six (6) years in prison to be followed by three (3) years of post-release supervision for his conviction of Assault in the Second Degree, with the sentences to run concurrently.  Jones was found guilty in August after a jury trial of all of the counts against him.

As alleged at trial, on August 4, 2021 at approximately 7:00 p.m., Jones was the sole occupant and driver of a Ford Escapehe was operating eastbound on State Route 17 in the town of Wallkill between exits 118 and 119.  Jones became angry at the driver of a van carrying eight people and he caused his car to collide with the van. The collision resulted in the deaths of three occupants of the van, including the driver, and serious physical injuries to four other occupants of the van.  Another passenger in the van was also injured, although not as seriously. Jones was treated for complaints of pain, transported to a local hospital, and released.  Jones was involved in another road rage incident in the Town of Crawford subsequent to the August, 2021 crash.  The details of the subsequent incident were presented as evidence in the trial against Jones.

An investigation conducted by the New York State Police and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office determined that the collision was the result of reckless and negligent actions by Jones, and that he was responsible for causing the collision.  Jones was arrested by State Police on September 12, 2022.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of Jones. 

“This case is a reminder of the incredible tragedy that can be wrought in the blink of an eye,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “While the sentence imposed in this case can never bring back the lives of those who were killed by the defendant’s reckless actions, it nevertheless holds the defendant accountable for his consequential choices.  I commend the New York State Police, including the Collision Reconstruction Unit, for their dedicated work on the investigation as well as the skilled prosecutors who saw the case through to conviction.  I hope that the sentence imposed in this case offers some degree of closure to the families of the victims.”

District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Senior Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs and Assistant District Attorney Peter Fernandez who prosecuted the case.

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 afair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.