District Attorney Hoovler Announces Plea in Perjury Case
Ruben Cotto Pled Guilty to Perjury in the First Degree
Defendant Admitted to Lying Under Oath at Trial
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Friday, March 28, 2025, Ruben Cotto, 58, of Newburgh, pled guilty in Orange County Court to Perjury in the First Degree Degree and was subsequently sentenced to five (5) years of probation.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on January 10, 2021, Cotto was the passenger outside of a vehicle stopped at a green light in the City of Newburgh. The operator of the vehicle told members of the New York State Police that he was driving Cotto from a party. The Troopers determined that the operator was intoxicated and he was subsequently arrested for Driving While Intoxicated. At a bench trial in May, 2022 in the City of Newburgh for the Driving While Intoxicated case, Cotto testified under oath that he had operated the vehicle and not the man who was arrested. The trial resulted in an acquittal on account of Cotto’s testimony. Cotto was himself arrested for Driving While Intoxicated on March 17, 2023. During the investigation into that matter, Cotto admitted to other members of the New York State Police that he had lied under oath at the trial and in fact had not driven the car on January 10, 2021. At the plea proceedings in the perjury case, Cotto admitted to swearing falsely by giving testimony which was material to the proceeding in which it was made.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the New York State Police for their investigation which led to the arrest of Cotto.
“A bedrock principal of our criminal justice system is the sanctity of an oath taken in open court,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Law enforcement, including police and prosecutors, work hard every day to ensure that justice is delivered on behalf of the citizens of Orange County. That work is undermined by the deceitful actions of this defendant. We will not stand idly by and turn a blind eye to anyone who would knowingly lie under oath. I commend the work of the New York State Police, both in the righteous arrest into the underlying matter, as well as the investigation which led to this defendant’s arrest and conviction.”
The case is being prosecuted by Executive Assistant District Attorney Ryan Greenbaum and Assistant District AttorneyDaniel Steyskal.
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.