Kingston, NY—On November 8, 2024, Dasany Naveo, age 23, of Ellenville, pled guilty to Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a class C felony, before the Honorable James Farrell. Naveo is scheduled to be sentenced on January 10, 2025.
On August 6, 2023, while patrol officers from the Town of New Paltz Police Department were attempting to make an arrest on Main Street, Naveo and others interfered. A bystander attempted to pull Naveo away from police; Naveo then chased that bystander around a patrol vehicle and stabbed him in the chest; the man required hospitalization. Naveo was indicted with three other individuals for gang assault after an investigation involving members of the New Paltz Police Department, Ulster County District Attorney’s Office, and New York State Police. For the sake of clarity, “gang assault” does not mean that a “gang” was involved – it simply means that two or more people acted together in the criminal transaction.
District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said, “I am impressed and grateful that members of our community are increasingly taking positive action to stop obvious acts of violence, sometimes at serious risk to themselves. It is a great message to our community and I encourage doing so at the safest possible distance. On behalf of the residents of New Paltz and the buoyant life involving students and visitors from around the world, I express our community gratitude and well-wishes for the good Samaritan for his heroic effort to assist and prevent what might otherwise have been a worse scenario. It is important for students and everyone enjoying a weekend or night out with friends and neighbors to do so safely, without reservation or concern for violence. I am particularly grateful for the professionalism and extraordinary discipline by New Paltz Police Officers and supporting law enforcement in this matter.”
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kristen Druse, who also serves as the Gun Violence Unit Chief. The defendant is represented by Thomas Petro.
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