Marriott Shooting Accomplice Enters Plea In Separate Murder Charge

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — One of the men accused of being involved in the Poughkeepsie Courtyard by Marriott shooting in October admitted murdering someone in August.

Dutchess County Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew A. Weishaupt announced Wednesday that Devin A. Taylor pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, a felony, in connection with the death of Darren J. Villani, which happened Aug. 9 in the city of Poughkeepsie.

Taylor also pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, for the handgun that was thrown away and recovered at the Courtyard by Marriott Oct. 2.

Weishaupt said Taylor faces 22 years to life for the murder charge and an additional seven years to be served concurrently for the weapon charge.

Sentencing will take place April 19.

Judge Edward T. McLoughlin, who was hearing the case in Dutchess County Court, sent Taylor back to jail without bail.

Prosecutors said Taylor shot and killed Villani around 1:40 a.m. Aug. 9 with a handgun on Mansion Street near Bement Avenue in the city of Poughkeepsie.

The investigation into Villani’s murder is continuing, the district attorney’s office said.

In October, Taylor was charged with two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and one count of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies, in the fatal shooting of Paul J. Kutz, 53, of East Northport, Suffolk County.

Kutz was shot and killed by Roy A. Johnson, police said, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Poughkeepsie. Kutz was attending a family weekend celebration at Marist College, where one of his sons goes to school.