Bronx Man Faces Life In Prison For Cop Shooting In Hudson Valley

GOSHEN, NY — A Bronx man who tried to kill a City of Middletown police officer will likely be spending more almost six decades in prison.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced Wednesday that Desean Owens, 31, of the Bronx, was sentenced to a total of 58-1/2 years to life in state prison in connection with the Aug. 29, 2020, shooting of Middletown Officer Evan Barone.

Owens was found guilty by a jury May 13 of the following:

• First-degree attempted murder.
• Aggravate assault upon a police officer.
• First-degree assault.
• Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.
• First-degree reckless endangerment.
• First-degree criminal trespass.

At the trial, prosecutors argued Owens tried to kill Barone on Myrtle Avenue in Middletown by shooting him with a 9mm pistol.

Barone had been flagged down while on patrol by a man who stated that Owens was refusing to leave a house which he had illegally entered.

The officer accompanied the man to the house, and when Owens came out, he fired a bullet from his pistol at Barone.

The bullet passed through the officer's left arm, permanently damaging a nerve and shattering a bone, and then hit the officer in the chest area of his body armor.

Barone immediately fired back, hitting Owens before he could fire again.

Both Barone and Owens were treated for gunshot wounds.

Prosecutors said Owens was also found guilty of reckless endangerment because, when he shot at Barone, behind him and in the path of the bullets was a car with children inside.

The criminal trespass charge was because Owens entered and remained unlawfully in the house while in possession of a pistol.

The court sentenced Owens to 40 years to life in prison on the attempted murder charge, 25 years in prison and five years post-release supervision on the charges aggravated assault upon a police officer and assault and three and one-half to seven years in prison on the reckless endangerment charge.

All those sentences were ordered to run concurrently.

Owens was sentenced to an additional consecutive term of 15 years in state prison and five years post-release supervision on the charge of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, as well as an additional consecutive term of three and one-half to seven years in prison for first-degree criminal trespass — for a total of 58-1/2 years to life in state prison.

Hoovler said Owens has shown no remorse for either his actions in shooting the officer or endangering the lives of the children.

“This defendant turned down a reasonable plea offer and claimed he was innocent despite the overwhelming evidence of his guilt,” Hoovler said.

“Police Officer Barone heroically prevented this defendant from further injuring him and others by his fast actions,” he said. “The community will be far safer while this defendant is incarcerated.”