Blooming Grove man convicted in DWI Case

On Tuesday, April 9, James Cassidy, 50, of Blooming Grove, was convicted following a six-day bench trial in the Orange County Court of all charges against him, including driving while intoxicated as a Class “D” felony and aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first degree, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced. Cassidy is scheduled to be sentenced on June 27, 2024.

According to court filings, on July 12, 2023, at around 6 p.m., an Orange County deputy sheriff was in the process of serving civil paperwork at the Clover Stables horse farm in the town of New Windsor. After being unable to locate the individual to serve the civil paperwork, the deputy started to leave the property when she encountered Cassidy who was driving up the driveway. The deputy alleged that Cassidy displayed signs of intoxication. Cassidy then allegedly admitted to the deputy that he had been drinking and that he was coming from Montgomery and had been on the road leading to the farm. Cassidy failed several field sobriety tests and refused to submit to a breath test. It was later learned that Cassidy had a revoked license and had previous convictions for driving while intoxicated.

Hoovler thanked the Orange County Sheriff’s Office for their investigation and the arrest of Cassidy.

“Intoxicated drivers are a grave risk to everyone else on our shared roads,” said Hoovler. “This defendant chose to place his interests before those of society and I am grateful that the judge in this case held him responsible for his actions. Repeat offenders pose a troubling danger and law enforcement must do everything to keep them off the street. I commend the dedicated work of the members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office who patrol our streets to make sure that they are safe for us all. My office will continue to seek justice in intoxicated and impaired driving cases.”

Hoovler also commended Assistant District Attorney Emily Worden who prosecuted the case.