District Attorney Hoovler Reiterates Commitment to Prosecution of Illegally Possessed Guns
Four Recent Convictions for Weapons Possession with Significant Prison Sentences Imposed or Expected
One Persistent Violent Felony Offender Expected to be Sentenced to 12 Years to Life in Prison
On September 5, 2025, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler detailed the recent convictions of four people for gun related crimes:
• On August 18, 2025, Thomas McLaughlin, 49, of Watervliet, was sentenced in Orange County Court to seven (7) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision relative to his guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
• On August 28, 2025, James Price, 63, of Brooklyn, 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 Price pled guilty, owing to his status as a persistent violent felony offender, it is expected that he will be sentenced to twelve (12) years to life in prison when he is sentenced on October 16, 2025.
• On September 3, 2025, Savion Knight, 24, of Newburgh, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. Under the plea agreement announced on the record at the time that Knight pled guilty, the People will recommend that he be sentenced to ten (10) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision when he is sentenced on October 20, 2025.
• On September 3, 2025, Darryn Deans, 29, of Walden, was sentenced in Orange County Court to five (5 years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision relative to his guilty plea to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on October 26, 2024 at approximately 3:30 p.m., members of the New York State Police observed a vehicle fail to signal in the Town of Wallkill. After a traffic stop, Troopers observed five (5) occupants, including Thomas McLaughlin. It was later discovered that all of the occupants were illegally possessing firearms. Troopers recovered a loaded P90 9mm ghost gun fromMcLaughlin. At the plea proceedings, McLaughlin admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm. McLaughlin was previously convicted of a gun felony in 2015.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, the New York State Police conducted a long-term investigation into narcotics sales in the City of Newburgh. As part of the investigation, undercover officers made controlled purchases of narcotics from James Price out of a building in the City of Newburgh. On February 28, 2025, the execution of a judicially-authorized search warrant of the building resulted in the recovery of narcotics, including both fentanyl and cocaine, a loaded AK-47 style rifle and a loaded revolver. At the plea proceedings, Price admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm. The conviction is Price’s seventh felony conviction and fifth violent felony conviction and Price conceded that he is a persistent violent felony offender, authorizing a sentence of twelve (12) years to life.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on April 2, 2025 at approximately 5:35 p.m., members of the New York State Police observed a vehicle with heavily tinted windows being operated in the City of Newburgh. After a traffic stop, Troopers observed Savion Knight in the passenger seat, with what appeared to be narcotics in his hand. When directed to put the drugs on the center console, Knight put the drugs in his mouth and began to chew. When the Troopers removed Knight from the vehicle, they recovered a quantity of cocaine from his pocket. Knight attempted to resist the Troopers’ efforts to place him under arrest, during which time a loaded .380 Sig Sauer pistol fell to the ground. At the plea proceedings, Knight admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm. Knight was previously convicted of a gun felony in 2020.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on August 1, 2024 at approximately 8:45 p.m., members of the New York State Police observed a vehicle with an expired registration on the side of the road in the Town of Montgomery. When Troopers approached the vehicle, they observed it was occupied by four (4) males and that Darryn Deans was the driver. The Troopers smelled the odor of burned cannabis and observed indicia of impairment in Deans, who admitted to smoking cannabis. During a search of the vehicle, the Troopers recovered a loaded and defaced 9mm pistol in the trunk which Deans said was his. At the plea proceedings, Deans admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm. Deans was previously convicted of a drug felony in 2021.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigations which led to the arrests and convictions of all four (4) defendants.
“Because of the terrible, violent consequences we see every day associated with the illegal possession of firearms, we are wholly committed to holding gun offenders accountable,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “While every case and every defendant is different, what will never change is our dedication to ridding our streets of these deadly weapons and the criminals who wield them. We have been and will remain relentless in our pursuit of these crimes. I thank the devotion of our law enforcement partners to this life-or-death cause and caution those who might consider illegally carrying or using a gun that we will find them and bring them to justice.”
The McLaughlin and Price cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Pietropaolo. The Knight and Deans cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Peter Fernandez and Bryan Conway, respectively.
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.