Newburgh Man Receives Long Prison Term After Brutal Beating Death of Innocent Man

A Newburgh man who plead guilty for his role in the brutal beating death of an innocent 48-year-old man will serve many years in prison.

On Friday, in Orange County Court, 28-year-old Richard Vallejo of Newburgh was sentenced to 20 years in state prison and five years post release supervision.

In March, Vallejo and 30-year-old Kelsin Rivera, also from Newburgh attacked and beat a 48-year-old man on Lake Street in the City of Newburgh.

On July 19, 2016, Vallejo plead guilty to manslaughter. Rivera plead guilty to assault.

Rivera admitted to striking the victim more than once with his hands, and Vallejo admitted to kicking the victim repeatedly in the head, as the victim laid on the ground.

The victim was declared brain dead at St. Luke’s-Cornwall Hospital shortly after the attack. He never regained consciousness. He was eventually taken off life support and died on April 6.

“Our community will be safer during the two decades that defendant Vallejo is in State Prison,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler stated. “Senseless violence is a plague on our communities, whether it is committed by someone pointing a gun or a knife, or by someone perpetrating an assault as serious as the one in this case. Violence cannot be tolerated, and my office will seek appropriate sanctions against anyone who chooses to settle their disputes by acts of violence. I hope that these sentences serve to deter anyone contemplating using violence as a means to settle disagreements.”

Rivera is expected to be sentenced to four years in prison.