Orange County Man Tried to Bribe a Witness for $2,500 in Burglary Trial

An Orange County man is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in prison following a plea deal for burglary and bribing a witness.

On Friday in Orange County Court, 35-year-old Sean Leath of Middletown admitted he forced his way into an apartment on North Street in the City of Middletown on April 23 and displayed what appeared to be a pistol.

After jury selection began, prosecutors learned of allegations that Leath paid a witness $2,500 to change his testimony and not identify Leath as the person responsible for the burglary.

Leath has agreed to plead guilty on Monday for attempted bribing of a witness, a felony, officials say.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, which were placed on the record at the time of the plea, Leath will be sentenced to 20 years in state prison.

“The community will be safer during the two decades that this defendant will be in prison,” Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler stated. “This defendant admitted invading a home with what appeared to be a pistol. Such violent conduct, particularly in an area where everyone deserves to feel safe, is clearly deserving of a lengthy state prison sentence.”