Andre Roach Charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler, Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden and Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta announced the arrest of Andre Roach, 46, of Forestburgh, for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. Roach was arraigned on February 21, 2026 in the Centralized Arraignment Part and remanded to the Orange County Jail where he remains pending presentation of the case to the grand jury.
The charges follow a year-long investigation into narcotics dealing in and around the City of Port Jervis. As alleged in documents filed and statements made in court, on February 7, 2026, Roach sold in excess of two (2) ounces of cocaine to another person for an undisclosed amount of United States currency.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked all of the law enforcement agencies who worked together on the investigation, including the City of Port Jervis Police Department, the Orange County Drug Task Force, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Town of Montgomery Police Department and the Town of Deerpark Police Department.
“The solemn responsibility to protect our community from the influx of dangerous drugs is one assumed by law enforcement agencies throughout Orange County,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “On these issues and many others, we work collaboratively to pursue these investigations because we are far too familiar with the devastating effects that illicit drugs have on our citizens. My office will continue to dedicate all available resources to the apprehension and prosecution of those who engage in the sale of narcotics and attempt to profit from others’ addiction.”
“We find that a small number of persons are responsible for the majority of illegal drugs present in our city,” said City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden. “We strive to identify and focus our investigative, patrol, and community resources to disrupt these persons and their illicit trafficking operations. This case demonstrates yet another example of effective, collaborative work between multiple law enforcement agencies to address narcotics trafficking across our region. People who make the choice to peddle deadly, highly addictive drugs in the City of Port Jervis will be identified and investigated, regardless of the geographical area where they operate. Our partnerships exemplify law enforcement’s answer to this issue.”
“As Sheriff, my priority is protecting our families and holding accountable those who traffic in dangerous narcotics,” said Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta. “This case demonstrates the dedication of every agency involved and our unwavering resolve to confront the individuals who threaten the safety and stability of our communities.”
The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory.
A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police 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.
