District Attorney Hoovler: Newburgh Man Pleads Guilty to Assault in the First Degree in Slashing Incident

Defendant admits slashing victim in the neck with knife.

Witnesses rendered first aid to victim and brought him to the hospital.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, January 24, 2023, Melfred Williams, 52, of Newburgh, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Assault in the First Degree, in connection with May 21, 2022, slashing of a man on Lander Street in the City of Newburgh.  Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Williams pled guilty, Williams faces fifteen (15) years in state prison and five (5) years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced on March 23, 2023.

The victim was a life-long acquaintance of Williams.  Several witnesses who saw the slashing immediately rendered first aid to the victim and brought him to St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital.  Williams was subsequently arrested by the City of Newburgh Police Department.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation and arrest of Williams.

“This senseless, brazen, and brutal attack demonstrates a complete disregard for human life and is deserving of a lengthy state prison sentence,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “In contrast, the selfless actions of the bystanders who rendered aid to the victim exemplifies the best aspects of what it means to live in a close-knit and caring community.”

The case is being prosecuted by Chief Trial Assistant District Attorney Richard Moran.

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.