Orange County, NY – On Monday, Michael Cowan, 37, of Newburgh, was sentenced in Orange County Court to the maximum allowed sentence of seven years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision. The sentence comes after Cowan’s conviction for Assault in the Second Degree, where he severely beat a man, breaking his jaw.
The incident occurred on July 31, 2022, at approximately 9:30 p.m. outside a residence on Hidden Creek Boulevard in the Village of Monroe. Cowan assaulted the man living there, continuing to beat him even as he lay defenseless on the ground. A witness shouted at Cowan to stop, causing him to flee. Cowan later claimed he believed the man owed him money.
The victim’s injuries were severe, including a broken jaw that required multiple surgeries. Village of Monroe Police Officers executed a search warrant at Cowan’s residence, recovering gloves that appeared to have blood on them. DNA testing and other evidence established that Cowan had worn the gloves during his attack.
District Attorney David M. Hoovler thanked the Village of Monroe Police Department for their diligent investigation and Cowan’s subsequent arrest. He also commended the prosecutors, Assistant District Attorney Tanja Beemer and Assistant District Attorney Cassidy Turi, for their dedicated work on the case.
“Violence is never the answer to settle disputes,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “The maximum sentence imposed in this case was earned by this defendant’s criminal conduct. I commend the work of the police and prosecutors that ensured a violent recidivist is no longer free to harm others.”