Jianni Nicholas Pled Guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Jianni Nicholas, 19, of Newburgh, was sentenced in Orange County Court to nine (9) years in prison to be followed by five (5) years of post-release supervision relative to his prior plea of guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree.
As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, March 18, 2025 at approximately 2:45 p.m., two teenagers got off of a school bus in the Town of Newburgh. A car pulled up to a nearby intersection, the passenger door opened and a gun was fired, but the projectile did not strike anyone. The shooter was seen to be wearing a ski mask and medical gloves. Police responded and conducted an investigation which led to the location of the vehicle. A judicially-authorized search warrant was executed at a residence where Nicholas lived with an individual who was linked to the vehicle. During the search warrant execution, the police recovered what is believed to be the ski mask used during the shooting. Nicholas later admitted to police that he was the shooter. At the plea proceedings, Nicholas admitted to illegally possessing the loaded firearm.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Nicholas. District Attorney Hoovler also thanked the City of Newburgh Police Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office Digital Forensics Unit for their assistance during the investigation.
“Wanton use of dangerous firearms often results in tragic outcomes,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “We will not allow for the indiscriminate and illegal possession and use of guns in Orange County. Thankfully, this defendant’s violent conduct did not result in injury to anyone, but the risk posed by this behavior cannot be overlooked. It was only through a careful investigation by all of the law enforcement agencies in this case that the truth was uncovered. Violent crime, in particular gun crime, will remain a prominent priority of my Office.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Michael Roche.
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.
