Jury Returns Guilty Verdict In Brutal Retail Return Rage Attack On Shop Worker, Customer

TOWN OF NEWBURGH, NY — Fury over a store's return policy led to violence, an Orange County jury has found.

District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 55-year-old Ronnie Williams, of Newburgh, was convicted on Thursday of third-degree assault for a violent attack in a store that took place earlier this year.

Williams was remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of bail, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 2.

According to court documents, on Jan. 4, a shopper in a Town of Newburgh retail store became "enraged" when store employees would not process a return the way she wanted. After arguing with employees and other customers, the woman called Williams, who was in a car outside the store, to come inside to "beat everybody up."

When Williams entered the store, he "aggressively" approached another shopper and struck her in the face, according to the DA.

When a 22-year-old employee attempted to stop Williams from continuing to strike the shopper, Williams turned to the employee, grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into a counter, according to court documents. As a result, the employee sustained injuries to her ear, neck and back.

DA Hoovler thanked the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their investigation which led to the arrest of Williams.

"Physical violence is never an appropriate response to settle a disagreement," Hoovler said. "Through the brave testimony of the courageous victim, together with video of the assault, prosecutors from my Office proved to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt that this defendant's violent acts were criminal. I thank the Town of Newburgh Police Department for their rapid response in this case that ensured this defendant did not cause harm to anyone else in the store. We will take whatever steps are necessary to seek justice on behalf of victims of violent crime."