District Attorney Hoovler Announces Indictment in Brutal Newburgh Kidnapping
Joseph Menefee Charged with Kidnapping in the First Degreeand Related Charges
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, Joseph Menefee, age 56, of Newburgh, was arraigned in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with Kidnapping in the First Degree, Predatory Sexual Assault (2 counts), Rape in the First Degree (14 counts), Assault in the First Degree, Assault in the SecondDegree, Coercion in the First Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree for a series of violent sexual assaults that werealleged to have occurred between July 6 and July 11, 2025, in the City of Newburgh.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, Menefee approached the victim on a street in the City of Newburgh and offered her food and a place to stay. He then led her to a shack in the woods. When the victim attempted to leave, Menefee displayed a knife and tied her to a wooden pallet. Over five (5) days, Menefee repeatedly sexually assaulted the woman and burned her over her body with lit cigarettes. In the course of these acts, Menefee caused the victim serious physical injury, including an injury that required the amputation of her toe. Police responded to the scene as a result of a 911 call and located the victim who was unconscious but survived the injuries. At the arraignment, Menefee was remanded back to the Orange County without bail and is next scheduled for a conference on October 14, 2025.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of the defendant.
“The allegations in this indictment are chilling and unspeakable,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “It is a miracle that the victim in this case survived. The prompt response by the police, who also conducted a thorough investigation, led to this defendant being taken into custody. We will continue to work to hold this defendant accountable for the heinous conduct alleged in the indictment.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Jessica Dovico.
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.