REMOTE SUPPORT
Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of New Windsor Police Department listed below.
On Saturday, May 14, 2022 Police Chief Robert Doss attended a Change of Command Ceremony for the U.S. Army’s, 411th Engineer Brigade on New York Stewart International Airport. Colonel Jean-Paul Plamondon passed command and control of the reserve unit to Colonel Kirk Claunch during the ceremony. This brigade is a combat engineer brigade with lineage dating back to 1921 and was last activated in 2012 when they were deployed to Afghanistan to take command of theater-wide engineering operations. The brigade motto is: Plan - Build - Protect. Chief Doss personally thanked Col. Plamondon for his service to the country, especially over the last two years that he has been stationed here in New Windsor. He also welcomed Texas native Col. Kirk Claunch to his new command and pledged the Town’s continued support of the brigade. Photo: Col. Claunch (L), Chief Doss (C), Col. Plamondon (R)
Orange County News For Immediate Release Contact: Christopher Borek November 6, 2020 845.291.3276, 845.238.4245c
District Attorney Hoovler Announces Murder Charges
In Death of Missing City of Newburgh Woman
Man Indicted for Murdering 36-Year-Old Woman
Victim Missing Since November 3, 2019
Body of Victim Not Recovered
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Friday, November 6, 2020, that Matthew Mercado, 37, of Newburgh, was arraigned before Orange County Court Judge William L. DeProspo on charges including Murder in the Second Degree, in connection with the death of 36-year-old Jessica Lopez, a City of Newburgh woman who was last seen on November 3, 2019, at the Windsor Motel in the Town of New Windsor.
Mercado had previously been indicted on charges including Burglary in the Second Degree for breaking into room 32 of the Windsor Motel on November 3, 2019, at about 1:35 AM, and stealing two bags from the three young woman who had been sleeping in the room at the time. Mercado has been continually incarcerated since his arrest on November 6, 2019, in connection with those charges. The District Attorney’s Office superseded that case in the Grand Jury and asked the Grand Jury to consider additional evidence concerning the disappearance of Jessica Lopez, who had been staying with Mercado in room 33 of the Windsor Motel the night of Saturday, November 2, 2019, into the morning of Sunday, November 3, 2019. The Grand Jury indicted Mercado for Murder in the Second Degree for intentionally killing Jessica Lopez in room 33 of the motel as Ms. Lopez was attempting to leave the motel at approximately 5:00 AM on November 3, 2019. The Grand Jury also indicted Mercado for a separate count of Murder in the Second Degree for having killed Ms. Lopez during the commission of a robbery or kidnapping of her. Robbery under the law is forcibly stealing property. Mercado is charged with two counts of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for having stolen Ms. Lopez bank card and stealing approximately $1,500 from her account, most of which was taken out in ATM withdrawals starting at approximately 9:00 AM on November 3, 2019.
Mercado is also charged with three felony counts of Tampering with Physical Evidence. One count alleges that he removed Ms. Lopez’s body from room 33, placed her in the trunk of her car, drove the car to an unknown location and concealed the body. Another count alleges that he deleted text messages between her cellular telephone and his cellular telephone, messages that were sent at about 5:30 AM on November 3, 2019. The third count of Tampering with Physical Evidence alleges that he disposed of Ms. Lopez’s cellular telephone so it could not be used as evidence.
The Grand Jury indicted Mercado again for Burglary in the Second Degree for breaking into room 32 and stealing bags from the three young woman, and added a charge of Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree for Mercado having told the three young woman that he would not give their bags back and that he was an undercover police officer.
Bail was set in the amount of one-million dollars cash, or three-million dollars secured bond, or ten-million dollars partially secured bond. The case is next scheduled for a virtual conference in County Court on December 2, 2020. Mercado faces up to twenty-five years to life in state prison on the charges of Murder in the Second Degree and up to an additional fifteen years in state prison on the charge of Burglary in the Second Degree.
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended the Town of New Windsor Police Department for their investigation and unceasing efforts in the case, as well as the many law enforcement agencies that aided in the investigation, including the Town of Newburgh Police Department, the City of Newburgh Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Police, and the New York State Police, as well as the civilian volunteers who have searched for Jessica Lopez.
“By all accounts Jessica Lopez was a remarkable young woman and her loss is being severely felt by her family, friends, and many of her former students,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “While recovering her remains will continue to be a high priority for us, we are fully prepared to litigate this case even without her body being recovered. Murder convictions without bodies are permissible under the law and in fact such convictions have occurred before here in Orange County. My heartfelt condolences go out to Ms. Lopez’s family, and my office will do everything in our power to see that the person responsible for her death faces just punishment.”
Chief Robert Doss of the Town of New Windsor Police Department said, “I would like to thank every member of the New Windsor Police Department that worked so diligently on this investigation. It is because of their hard work, along with the assistance of all the other police agencies, that made a difference in this case. I also want to thank District Attorney David Hoovler and his staff for their unwavering support through the process. We will never forget the family of Jessica Lopez, who have been without her in their lives for over a year now. Her mother, father and brother, all live with the constant pain of her loss. I speak for every member of Law Enforcement that worked on this investigation when I say that we stand with them and we will continue to fight for Jessica every day until justice is brought in this case. Our hearts go out to her family and we will continue to pray for them. It is my hope that the news of this indictment will at least begin the process of closure to Jessica’s family and everyone that knew her.”
The case is being prosecuted by Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek and Senior Assistant District Attorney Kelle Grimmer.
A 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.
Jessica Lopez
District Attorney Hoovler: Cornelius Stubbs Guilty of All Counts After Month-Long Jury Trial
Newburgh Man Guilty of Murder in the First Degree for Killing of a Woman in New Windsor
Co-Defendant Previously Pled Guilty to All Charges Against Him
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, Cornelius Stubbs, age 50, of Newburgh, was convicted following a jury trial in the Orange County Court of all charges against him including Murder in the First Degree. Stubbs faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison without parole when he is sentenced on September 20, 2022. Stubbs’s co-defendant in the case, Carlos Rivera, age 49, also of Newburgh, pled guilty to all counts he was facing, including Murder in the First Degree, during the jury selection phase of the trial on May 2, 2022. Rivera is expected to be sentenced to thirty years to life in state prison when he is sentenced on August 22, 2022.
The charges in the case stem from the September 2019 shooting death of a twenty-one-year-old female college student inside a New Windsor residence. The deceased woman was in the apartment visiting her boyfriend, who is the brother of the mother of one of Stubbs’ children. The indictment also charged Stubbs with a pattern of harassment of that same mother, as well as her family.
At trial, Stubbs was convicted of Murder in the First Degree, two counts of Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Burglary in the First Degree, Assault in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, for having broken into the brother’s New Windsor apartment, shooting the brother, and fatally shooting his girlfriend. The brother was seriously injured in the attack.
Stubbs was also convicted of ten counts of Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, Coercion in the First Degree, eight counts of Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, three counts of Aggravated Harassment in the Second Degree, and two counts of Harassment in the Second Degree, for having repeatedly threatened and harassed the mother of his child, as well as her brother.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Town of New Windsor Police Department and New York State Police for their investigation and the arrest of the defendants, as well the City of Newburgh Police Department who aided in the investigation.
“The horrific tragedy perpetrated by these defendants stands as a stark reminder of the dangers that escalating domestic and intimate partner violence can pose not only to those who had been directly involved in a relationship with an offender, but to others as well,” said District Attorney David Hoovler. “This case has not only affected the victims and their families but has cast a long shadow over the community. I hope that this verdict will bring some measure of closure to the family and loved ones of the victims who have suffered such unimaginable grief. I highly commend Senior Assistant District Attorney David Byrne, who has been a prosecutor for over twenty years, for working tirelessly to see that these violent felons were brought to justice.”
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Senior Assistant District Attorney David Byrne and Assistant District Attorney Michael Roche who prosecuted the case.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police 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.
Supervisor Meyers presented the town’s Police Chief Robert Doss with a certificate recognizing his twenty-five (25) years of service as a sworn police officer with the Town of New Windsor.
Supervisor Meyers and the Town Board are very appreciative of the leadership Chief Doss has provided for our exceptional Police Department during his four (4) year term as our Police Chief.
(June 21,2021 - Goshen, New York) New Windsor Police Chief Robert L. Doss was part of a press conference held by Orange County District Attorney Dave Hoovler and New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli to announce the arrest and guilty pleas of three individuals on felony charges in relation to the Orange County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) case. These individuals, as part of their pleas, will pay back the IDA $1.265 million dollars. This was a result of an investigation that began in New Windsor and was conducted collaboratively by New Windsor PD, the NYS Comptroller’s Office and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
See the below links for further details from the press conference.
https://www.orangecountygov.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1273
https://www.osc.state.ny.us/press/releases/2021/06/new-york-state-comptroller-dinapoli-statement-former-orange-county-ida-officials-guilty-plea?utm_source=comptroller%20message&utm_medium=state&utm_campaign=new%20york&utm_term=crime&utm_content=20210621
Photo 1: Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli speaks as officials look on. Photo 2: New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli poses for a photo with Chief Doss and Detective Sergeant Christopher Sager. Photo 3: A presentation board with some of the findings of the investigation.
New Windsor’s Deputy Police Chief Michael Farbent retired Friday after 37-years of service to the town. Deputy Chief Farbent, an FBI National Academy graduate, held many ranks within the police department over his career including: Sergeant, Lieutenant and Deputy Chief. In August of 2018, he became just the second Deputy Police Chief in the long history of the Police Department. He was also a K-9 handler for 7 years and the Police Academy Director of the Orange County Police Chiefs Association’s Police Academy for 1 year. In 1999, Deputy Chief Farbent was awarded as ‘Officer of the Year’ after locating and pursuing a vehicle and its two occupants who had just fled the scene of an armed robbery at Cowan’s Jewelers. His actions resulted in the arrest of the occupants, who were armed with two loaded handguns.
Town Supervisor George Meyers stated, “That during Deputy Chief Farbent’s 37-year career he has made major contributions to the current professionalism of the Town of New Windsor Police Department.”
Chief Doss added, “Deputy Chief Farbent will be greatly missed by everyone at the Police Department. Throughout his entire career, he was always a well-respected Officer that was known for his intelligence and his knowledge of police practices. His presence and leadership as a long-standing member of the police department’s administration has been invaluable, not only to me but to the entire community. I know I will personally miss his input in the day to day operations of the department. I wish him the very best in retirement, he certainly earned it.”
Meet Officer Ryan Sussman. He is one of our officers that has advanced training and experience in DWI enforcement that makes him a certified Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) in New York State. His primary focus is to take impaired drivers off the road. He works hard at keeping the roadways safe for everyone in New Windsor.
In the last month, NWPD has arrested a staggering 11 drivers for Driving While Intoxicated or Driving while Ability Impaired by Drugs.
Chief Robert Doss commented, “There is simply no excuse for these individuals to be behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Call a friend, call a relative, get a taxi or an Uber but don’t get behind the wheel because you’re putting yourself and others at risk. Our DWI enforcement numbers show that our officers are out there making a difference in keeping the roads safe but we need everyone’s cooperation. These DWI arrests are completely preventable. Be smart. Make a plan in advance to get home safe. You owe it to yourself and you owe it to the community.”
Learn More about Officer Sussman: View on Instagram