Goshen. Newburgh man sentenced to seven years in prison for breaking Monroe man’s jaw

Michael Cowan, 37, of Newburgh, was sentenced in the Orange County Court on Monday, Aug. 21, to the maximum sentence of seven years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision following his conviction of second-degree assault after jury trial.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that on July 31, 2022, at approximately 9:30 p.m., outside of a residence on Hidden Creek Boulevard in the Village of Monroe, Cowan severely beat the man who lived there.

While the victim was lying defenseless on the ground, a witness yelled at Cowan to stop beating the man.

Cowan fled, stating that he believed the man owed him money.

The victim suffered serious physical injury, including a broken jaw, which required multiple surgeries.

Village of Monroe Police officers executed a search warrant at Cowan’s residence and recovered gloves which had what appeared to blood on them.

At the trial, prosecutors argued that DNA testing of those gloves, along with other evidence in the case, established that Cowan had worn the gloves during his attack of the victim.

“Violence is never the answer to settle disputes,” District Attorney David M. Hoovler said in the press release announcing the sentencing. “Repeat felony offenders, such as this one, deserve for their violent actions to be met with stern consequences. The maximum sentence imposed in this case was earned by this defendant’s criminal conduct. I commend the dedicated work of the police and prosecutors in this case that ensured a violent recidivist is no longer free to harm others.”