NEWBURGH, New York — A 55-year-old Newburgh man will spend the next 13 years behind bars after a jury convicted him of a violent street robbery that left his victim bloodied on the pavement.
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Robert Smith was sentenced in Orange County Court to 13 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision.
The conviction came after a jury trial on charges of Robbery in the Second Degree.
What Happened on That October Afternoon
The attack took place on October 12, 2024, at around 1:10 p.m. on a street in the City of Newburgh — the middle of the afternoon, in plain sight.
According to testimony at trial, Smith rode up to a man on a bicycle and began arguing with him. Smith demanded money. The victim refused and kept walking.
That is when Smith got off the bicycle.
He punched the victim multiple times. The force of the blows caused the man to fall backward, striking his head hard against the pavement.
While the victim lay on the ground, Smith went through his pockets, took his property, and fled the scene.
Victim Died Before the Case Went to Trial
In a development that made this case especially difficult to prosecute, the victim passed away from unrelated causes before the trial began.
With the victim unable to testify, prosecutors faced a significant challenge. They built the case entirely on other witnesses and physical evidence — and it was enough.
The jury found Smith guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
DA Calls Sentence a Win for Community Safety
District Attorney Hoovler did not hold back in his response to the sentence.
“The appropriately lengthy sentence imposed on this violent recidivist will help to make our community safer,” Hoovler said. “We remain committed to the pursuit of justice, even in the most challenging circumstances.”
Hoovler credited the City of Newburgh Police Department for the investigation that led to Smith’s arrest. He also specifically commended Senior Assistant District Attorney Christopher Kelly and Assistant District Attorney Anthony Molina for their work prosecuting the case.
A Case That Tested the System — and Held
This case is a reminder that serious crimes do not go unanswered in Orange County, even when the path to conviction is complicated.
Smith, described by the DA as a violent recidivist, will now serve over a decade in state prison before any possibility of release. The five years of post-release supervision that follows means he will remain under oversight well into his late 60s.
For the Newburgh community, the outcome sends a clear message — violent offenders will be prosecuted, and the legal system will find a way to hold them accountable.
Do you think 13 years is the right sentence for this crime, or should it have been longer? Share your thoughts in the comments.
