Burglar Who Pleaded Guilty, Absconded Sentencing, Finally Sentenced

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A convicted violent felon only put off the inevitable when he avoided his own sentencing.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 37-year-old Oscar Castillo, of Yonkers, was sentenced last week to nine years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision in connection with his 2023 guilty plea to second degree burglary.

After he pleaded guilty in February of 2023, he failed to appear for sentencing and a warrant was issued. Castillo wasn't returned on the warrant until 2024, when he could finally be sentenced.

According to court documents, on November 18, 2017, around 8 p.m., two men forced entry into the back door of a home on Cardinal Drive in the Village of Washingtonville. The homeowner confronted the men inside his home, and told police that they wore masks, carried a shotgun, and yelled "FBI" at him. The homeowner got into a physical altercation with the men and was injured during the burglary.

Washingtonville police processed the crime scene and collected evidence, which was submitted to the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center for analysis. DNA from that evidence was then entered into the Combined DNA Index System, where it was matched to Castillo, who had previously been required to submit a DNA sample to the New York State DNA Databank.

Castillo was arrested on Friday, July 2, 2021, in Westchester County, with the assistance of New York State Parole. At the plea proceedings, he admitted to unlawfully entering the home with the intent to commit a crime.

"Despite this defendant's efforts to escape responsibility for his crimes, an appropriate prison sentence ultimately was imposed," District Attorney Hoovler said. "Thankfully, through careful police investigation and the use of DNA technology, this violent offender was located and held accountable for his actions. Criminals should know that law enforcement will not rest in their pursuit of justice and the prosecutors in my Office remain steadfast in their commitment to victims of violent crime."

Hoovler thanked the Washingtonville Police Department, the New York State Police, the State Police Forensic Investigation Center, and New York State Parole for their assistance in the investigation of the case and in the arrest.