A Monroe man pleaded guilty to assault in Orange County Court on Nov. 14 in connection with his role in the May shooting of a robbery victim in Port Jervis.
Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler announced John Selja Jr., 22, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, a felony.
Documents filed and statements made in court alleged Selja and a co-defendant, Andrew Delrio, approached a person who was in a parked vehicle in the City of Port Jervis at approximately 9:30 p.m. on May 6.
Selja leaned into the vehicle and tried to take property from the victim, who pushed Selja back.
Selja then allegedly pulled out a gun and fired at the victim, who suffered serious physical injuries.
A judicially authorized search warrant was later executed at Selja’s residence, which resulted in the recovery of a firearm that ballistically matched casings recovered from the crime scene.
At his plea proceeding, Selja admitted that, with intent to cause serious physical injury to the victim, he caused such injury by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument.
“Illegally possessed firearms pose a clear and present danger in the hands of violent offenders,” Hoovler said in a statement released by his office. “While the needless violence exhibited by the defendant in this case did not result in fatal injuries, his conduct was senseless and calls for significant punishment.”
Hoovler said the people will recommend that Selja be sentenced to 15 years in state prison, to be followed by five years of post-release supervision, when he is sentenced on Jan. 27.
The name of Selja’s attorney was not immediately available.
Hoovler did not say what the current status of Delrio’s case is.
Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record and the Poughkeepsie Journal. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com.
