MIDDLETOWN – Brive Crosske, a 50-year-old resident of Middletown, was sentenced on Tuesday to 15 years in state prison with an additional five years of post-release supervision.
This decision came after Crosske pled guilty to charges of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Second and Third Degrees. Notably, Crosske has had a checkered past, having been previously convicted of five felonies and incarcerated for four of them.
On June 17, 2022, Middletown Police officers tried to stop Crosske’s vehicle due to observed traffic law violations. Despite the activation of emergency lights, Crosske did not immediately halt. Instead, he stopped his car farther ahead and made an escape into a nearby wooded area. During his flight, he discarded over an eighth of an ounce of cocaine, which was promptly recovered by the pursuing officers. Due to the restrictions of the 2019 “bail reform” legislation, Crosske was indicted but then released on his own recognizance as his charges were not eligible for bail.
Further troubles for Crosske arose on February 17, 2023. While he was out on release for the previous case, the City of Middletown Police Department’s Narcotics Unit conducted a search of his home.
They discovered 164 grams of cocaine, a scale, and a sum of cash in his bedroom. Crosske subsequently faced indictment once more and in May 2023, he pled guilty to both cases.
In response to this case, District Attorney David M. Hoovler said, “While bail reform legislation has hampered the ability for judges to use their discretion in setting bail, it does not dissuade the police or prosecutors from pursuing drug dealers.” He went on to stress the gravity of Crosske’s actions and emphasized law enforcement’s dedication to halting the distribution of narcotics within the community.