District Attorney Hoovler Announces Guilty Plea in Middletown Gun Case

Cameron Leath Pled Guilty to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree

Defendant Faces up to 5 Years in Prison

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, Cameron Leath, 25, of Pine Bush, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Attempted Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.  Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Leath pled guilty, the People will recommend he be sentenced to five (5) years in prison when he is in court next on June 24, 2024.

As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on January 27, 2024 City of Middletown Police officers were dispatched to a warming station in the City for a report of a fight involving a man who was seen with a gun the night before.  At the warming station, the police found Leath, who matched the description of the person involved in the fight.  Leath admitted to getting into a verbal argument but denied possessing any weapons.  The police ultimately recovered a loaded pistol from a jacket on a chair at the location.  Surveillance video from prior to the officers’ arrival showed Leath wearing the jacket.  At the plea proceedings Leath admitted to attempting to illegally possessing the loaded firearm.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of MiddletownPolice for their investigation and the arrest of the defendant.

“Illegally possessed firearms pose a credible threat to law-abiding citizens of the County,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Making and keeping our streets safe takes proactive policing, coupled with a prosecutorial dedication to hold these offenders accountable.  I commend the work of the City of Middletown Police that ensured that another illegally possessed handgun, and the offender who chose to wield it, is off the street before it can be used against anyone in an act of violence.”

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District AttorneyAlexis Gregory. 

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.