Kingston, NY—On February 14, 2025, Dominic Sorbara, age 46, of Ellenville, was sentenced in Ulster County Court to 19 years in state prison and 10 years of post-release supervision by the Honorable James Farrell, visiting Judge from Sullivan County. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. The sentence follows a November 2024 conviction on all counts of a 20-count indictment that included two counts of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, two counts of Assault in the First Second Degree, Strangulation in the Second Degree, Stalking in the First Degree, Attempted Aggravated Sex Abuse in the Third Degree, Unlawful Imprisonment in the First Degree, Forcible Touching, two counts of Aggravated Harassment, Menacing in the Second Degree, five counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, two counts of Criminal Mischief in the Fourth Degree, and Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree. The convictions followed a three-day non-jury trial held in November of 2024.
On May 23, 2023, Sorbara assaulted and strangled his wife at their home in Ellenville which they shared with three of their children. The victim attempted to leave following an argument in the morning but returned when Sorbara threatened to ram her with his vehicle. When she returned, Sorbara assaulted her with a cane, a large bag of dog food, a hammer, broom handle, aerosol can, her own shirt, an air fryer, a sock, and various other household items in various rooms of their home. In addition to the physical assault, Sorbara engaged in additional degrading and humiliating conduct against the victim. The victim managed to escape, ultimately losing consciousness in a nearby field. A witness noticed her and immediately drove her to Ellenville Regional Hospital.
Sorbara was arrested by the New York State Police soon afterwards and arraigned before Judge Dechon who set bail and issued an order of protection. Sorbara’s approximately 40 firearms and ammunition were removed pursuant to Emergency Risk Protection Order. Sorbara posted bail and violated the order of protection and has been remanded to the Ulster County Jail since July 2023.
The trial included testimony from family members, physicians and physician’s assistants, New York State Police, and Ulster County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Officer whose testimony related to recorded phone calls placed by Sorbara containing many incriminating admissions about his crimes.
The victim-survivor and three of her children spoke at sentencing. The victim-survivor told the defendant, “Our story is over; you don’t get any more chances with me … while my physical bruises have healed since then, I still have the weight of all the emotional trauma you have put me through.” The defendant’s children made statements as well: “I cannot try to forgive you anymore, when I know you have no regrets for it all. But I wish you were sorry or at least pretended to be” and “I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to recover from this, but what I do know is that I will never become you. I would rather say I had no father growing up than ever admit you were mine. You mean nothing to me.”
At sentencing, Special Victims Unit Bureau Chief Jenna Hastings said, “A father is meant to protect his children, provide them peace and safety, show them what love is. The defendant did the exact opposite and feels absolutely no remorse for his actions. The defendant cares for nothing other than himself. He feels and sees nothing but what he wants to see and feel. He has learned absolutely nothing from his egregious and horrendous behavior.”
District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said, “The sentence imposed today sends a strong message to domestic violence offenders in Ulster County. No one should have to endure what this man did to his wife and children. I am grateful to the victims for their fortitude and action to stop him.”
SVU Bureau Chief Hastings and ADA Sohil Sharedalal prosecuted this case. Mark Formichelli of the Dutchess County Office of the Conflict Defender represented the defendant.
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