Reggie Florence Charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Related Charges
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Reggie Florence, age 28, of Middletown, was arraigned in Orange County Court on an indictment charging him with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree and Assault in the First Degree (2 counts) for a violent stabbing that is alleged to have occurred on August 3, 2025, in the City of Middletown.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on the day of the attack, Florence began to communicate with the victim on a dating app. Soon after, Florence lured the victim to his residence in the City of Middletown where he told the victim he would give the victim a massage. After directing the victim to lie down on the floor and beginning to massage the victim, Florence repeatedly stabbed the victim in the back of the neck with a large kitchen knife. As the victim attempted to fight back, Florence continued to stab the victim about the body, including the eyes and torso. As a result, the victim sustained critical injuries including the loss of an eye. A concerned neighbor called the police who, upon arriving at the scene, found the defendant standing over the victim struggling with the knife. After taking Florence into custody, police also recovered what appeared to be a new mop, bucket and bottle of bleach in close proximity to where the attack occurred. At the arraignment, Florence’s bail was continued and he was remanded back to the Orange County Jail in lieu of $500,000 cash bail, or $1,000,000 fully secured bond or $2,000,000 partially secured bond and is next scheduled for a conference on August 28, 2025.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of the defendant. District Attorney Hoovler also thanked the New York State Police who assisted in securing the scene.
“It is a miracle that the haunting allegations in this case did not result in the death of the victim,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Thankfully, the prompt response by law enforcement ensured not only that the victim survived, but that this allegedly violent offender was promptly taken into custody. While the victim continues to recover from life-altering injuries, we will seek to hold this defendant accountable for his unspeakable crimes.”
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.
