Middletown Man Pleads Guilty In Attempted Smoke Shop Robbery: DA

MIDDLETOWN, NY — A local man accused of robbing a Middletown smoke shop has pleaded guilty and is expected to get a decade in prison, according to the district attorney’s office.

Fritznel Beauchamps, 47, of Middletown, entered the guilty plea to one count of first-degree attempted robbery on Feb. 20 in Orange County Court.

Under the terms of a plea agreement, Beauchamps is expected to be sentenced to 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision at his sentencing, now scheduled for May 5.

The charge stemmed from an incident on July 9, 2024.

According to prosecutors, Beauchamps entered the smoke shop and approached an employee while displaying a knife.

Beauchamps told the worker, “Give me all the money in the register or I will kill you,” prosecutors said.

The employee backed away and got to safety, then Beauchamps left the store, according to a press release.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Beauchamps has three prior robbery-related convictions.

“Violent recidivists whose criminal conduct persists in the face of escalating punishment deserve to be separated from society,” Hoovler said. “The lengthy sentence expected in this case rightfully reflects both the dangerous nature of this defendant’s admitted conduct, as well as the lengthy nature of his criminal history.”