Douglas McFarlane convicted of Murder in the First Degree and Murder in the Second Degree for 2019 Slaying of Middletown Man
Sheldon Paul previously Convicted of Two Counts of Murder in the Second Degree
McFarlane faces Life in Prison without Parole
Paul faces up to 25 Years to Life in Prison
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that Douglas McFarlane, age 27, of Middletown was convicted after a jury trial before the Honorable Hyun Chin Kim, in the Orange County Court, of Murder in the First Degree and Murder in the Second Degree, for the 2019 killing of a man in his City of Middletown residence. McFarlane faces a maximum sentence of Life in Prison Without Parole on the charge of Murder in the First Degree and up to twenty-five (25) years to life in prison on the charge of Murder in the Second Degree. McFarlane is scheduled to be sentenced on January 25, 2027, and is remanded to the Orange County Jail without bail pending sentencing.
On October 2, 2026, a different jury convicted Sheldon Paul, age 42, of Middletown, of two counts of Murder in the Second Degree in connection with the same killing. Paul faces up to twenty-five (25) years to life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on January 21, 2027.
As alleged at both trials, on the morning of March 11, 2019, McFarlane and Dijion Constantine, age 26, of Middletown entered the apartment of the victim on Knapp Street in the City of Middletown. The sole occupant of the apartment was found dead as the result of a gunshot wound to his head. During both trials, prosecutors argued that Sheldon Paul had hired McFarlane and Constantine to go to the apartment and kill the victim in apparent retaliation for Paul’s belief that the victim had orchestrated a burglary of Paul’s residence on March 6, 2019. Prosecutors argued that Sheldon Paul had paid McFarlane and Constantine $10,000 and a pound of marijuana for the killing. Evidence at the trials showed that Paul later realized that he had been wrong about the victim being involved in the burglary of his residence. Prosecutors argued that McFarlane had killed the victim by shooting him at close range with a .380 semiautomatic pistol after he and Constantine had forced their way into the victim’s home. Constantine previously pled guilty to Murder in the Second Degree and is scheduled to appear in court on November 4, 2026.
District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Middletown Police Department for their investigation which resulted in the defendant’s arrest.
District Attorney Hoovler highly commended Senior Assistant District Attorney Janine Kovacs and Chief Assistant District Attorney Christopher Borek for their handling of the cases.
“The evidence proved that this was a murder for hire scheme and that the two main actors were Sheldon Paul and Douglas McFarlane,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “This evil scheme was conceived and orchestrated by Sheldon Paul, and the evidence showed that it was Douglas McFarlane who was the triggerman who shot the victim at close range, and in cold blood, for $10,000 and some marijuana. We will be seeking the maximum permissible sentences when Paul and McFarlane are sentenced. I commend the unrelenting work of the City of Middletown Police Department in pursuing this investigation and working with my office to see that justice was done. I also thank the New York State Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center for their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of this case. I hope this verdict brings some measure of closure to the family and loved ones of the victim.”
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.
