District Attorney Hoovler Announces State Prison Sentence in Fatal Beating Case

Middletown Man Sentenced to State Prison For Beating Death of Man by Train Tracks

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, Primitivo Sosa, 28, of Middletown, was sentenced by Orange County Court Judge Robert H. Freehill to two and one-half to seven years in state prison in connection with the beating death of a man near the train tracks in downtown Middletown on September 3, 2017. On January 22, 2018, Sosa had pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the Second Degree.

At the time that he pleaded guilty, Sosa admitted that on September 3, 2017, at about 6:30 AM, he was at the railroad right-of-way in the vicinity of Low Avenue, in the City of Middletown. Sosa admitted that he struck a man that he knew had serious medical issues multiple times in the head using his fist. The man who had been beaten died the next day at Orange Regional Medical Center. On September 5, 2017, Sosa was arrested by the City of Middletown Police Department. Investigation revealed that Sosa and many at the railroad right-of-way had been drinking at the time of the incident. At the time he was sentenced Sosa indicated that he will seek treatment for alcoholism.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation of the case and Sosa’s apprehension.

“Violence has no place in our communities,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Those who resort to violence to settle disputes, even if they do not use weapons, must be held accountable for their actions. Although this defendant did not intend on killing his victim, he knew he was beating a man with severe medical issues. To the extent that this defendant’s alcohol abuse contributed to this conduct, I hope it is addressed while he is incarcerated and afterwards. But alcohol abuse does not excuse violent behavior. Everyone, including those without a home, is entitled to be free from violence. I commend the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation of this case.”

This case was prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs.