Edward Keegan arraigned on charges including Robbery in the Second Degree for forcibly stealing a woman’s car in a Chester shopping center parking lot.
Defendant remanded to jail in lieu of bail in the amount of $100,000.00 cash, or $200,000.00 secured bond, or $400,000.00 partially secured bond.
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Edward Keegan, age 34, of Chester, was arraigned in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with Robbery in the Second Degree (2 counts), Assault in the Second Degree, Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree and Unlawful Imprisonment in the Second Degree, for a “carjacking” which is alleged to have occurred on February 21, 2025, at approximately 11:50 AM, at the shopping center located at 78 Brookside Avenue, in the Village of Chester.
It is alleged that after a woman went into a store in the shopping center, leaving her mother in the front passenger seat, Keenan entered the car and attempted to drive it away. The mother tried to stop Keenan from stealing the car, and Keenan repeatedly struck her in the leg. The woman who had gone into the store,attempted to stop Keenan from driving away in the car with her mother by standing in front of the car. Keenan drove the car at the woman, hitting and injuring her. The mother was able to get out of the car before Keenan drove away. The car was spotted by a Town of Chester Police Officer in a marked car who tried to pull the car over. Keenan refused to comply and sped away. Keenan was arrested after he crashed the victim’s car on State Route 17 near Exit 130.
District Attorney Hoovler commended the Village of Chester Police Department, and members of his staff, who worked tirelessly on the case over the weekend so that the case could be presented to a grand jury on Monday. District Attorney Hoovler also thanked the Town of Chester Police Department and the New York State Police, who aided in Keenan’s apprehension.
After Keenan was arrested on an Arrest Warrant issued by the County Court of Orange County, he was arraigned before the Honorable Craig Stephen Brown on the indictment and remanded to Orange County Jail in lieu of bail set in the amount of $100,000.00 cash, or $200,000.00 secured bond, or $400,000.00 partially secured bond. Keenan is next scheduled for a conference in County Court on March 25, 2025.
“No one could have expected this type of unprovoked violent encounter during a routine shopping trip,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “I am grateful that no one was more seriously injured in this incident. I thank the Village of Chester Police Department for their excellent and timely investigation, as well as the Town of Chester Police Department and the New York State Police for their assistance. The prosecution of violent felonies will continue to be an essential priority of my Office.”
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.