Jury Convicts Hudson Valley Man Of Murdering College Student

NEWBURGH, NY — A jury in Orange County found a Newburgh man guilty Tuesday of first-degree murder — and more — in the 2019 fatal shooting of a 19-year-old college student.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Cornelius Stubbs, 50, of Newburgh, faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison for the September 2019 death of Chelsea Debidin of Walden.

In addition to first-degree murder, the jury convicted Stubbs of two counts of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree assault and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

Prosecutors said Stubbs broke into the New Windsor home of the uncle of one of his children, shooting and seriously injuring the man and fatally shooting Debidin.

Police said Debidin was in the apartment visiting Stubbs' uncle, who was her boyfriend.

Stubbs was also convicted of 10 counts of first-degree criminal contempt, first-degree coercion, eight counts of second-degree criminal contempt, three counts of second-degree aggravated harassment and two counts of second-degree harassment, for having repeatedly threatened and harassed the mother of his child, as well as her brother.

Prosecutors said that Stubbs' co-defendant — Carlos Rivera, 49, of Newburgh — pleaded guilty to all counts he was facing, including first-degree murder, during the jury selection phase of trial May 2. He is expected to be sentenced to 30 years to life in state prison when he is sentenced Aug. 22.

Hoovler said he hoped the verdict would bring some measure of closure to the family and loved ones of the victims.

"This horrific tragedy perpetrated by these defendants stands as a stark reminder of the dangers that escalating domestic and intimate partner violence can pose not only to those who had been directly involved in a relationship with an offender, but to others as well," he said.

"This case has not only affected the victims and their families but has cast a long shadow over the community," Hoovler said.