A Newburgh man was convicted of assault in Orange County Court today after he severely beat a man in the Village of Monroe.
Michael Cowan, age 57 of Newburgh, was convicted of Assault in the 2nd degree after a jury trial. The incident stems from an incident that occurred at approximately 9:30pm on July 31, 2022, outside of a residence on Hidden Creek Boulevard in the Village of Monroe.
Cowan reportedly beat a man outside of his residence. The victim laid defenseless on the ground as Cowan continued beating him. When a witness yelled at Cowan to stop, Cowan reportedly stated that the victim owed him money. Cowan then fled the scene.
The victim suffered serious physical injuries, including a broken jaw, and had to undergo multiple surgeries.
The Village of Monroe Police Department executed a search warrant at Cowan’s residents and recovered gloves that contained blood. During the trial, prosecutors argued that DNA testing of those gloves, as well as other evidence, established that Cowan wore the gloves while attacking the victim.
Following the guilty verdict, Cowan was remanded to Orange County Jail without bail. He will be sentenced on July 10, 2023, and faces up to seven years in the state penitentiary.
“There is no excuse for using violence to settle disputes and those who do so will face severe consequences,” said Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “People have the right to feel secure at their residences, and for that reason any attack in or at a victim’s residence is particularly egregious.”
