22-Year-Old Admits Shooting Victim During Violent Armed Robbery

PORT JERVIS, NY — A plea deal reached in connection to a violent mugging and shooting will likely see one of the culprits behind bars for years to come.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 22-year-old John Selja Jr., of Monroe, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault related to the shooting of a man in Port Jervis last May.

According to the plea agreement, it will be recommended that Selja be sentence to 15 years in prison, followed by five years post-release supervision, when he is sentenced on January 27.

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According to court documents, on May 6, around 9:28 p.m., Selja and co-defendant Andrew Delrio approached the victim who was in a parked vehicle, on Barcelow Street in Port Jervis.

Selja leaned into the vehicle and tried to take property from the victim, who pushed Selja back. Selja then pulled out a gun and fired at the victim who received serious physical injuries.

A search warrant was later executed at Selja's home, on Penaluna Road in the Town of Warwick, which resulted in authorities finding a firearm that ballistically matched casings recovered from the crime scene.

During plea proceedings, Selja admitted that, with the intent to cause serious physical injury to the victim, he caused such injury using a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the City of Port Jervis Police for their investigation which led to the arrest of the defendants. He also thanked the Town of Warwick Police Department and the Orange County Drug Task Force who aided in the investigation.

"Illegally possessed firearms pose a clear and present danger in the hands of violent offenders," Hoovler said. "While the needless violence exhibited by the defendant in this case did not result in fatal injuries, his conduct was senseless and calls for significant punishment. The investigation and prosecution of violent crime and the criminals responsible remains the number one priority of my office."