ORANGE COUNTY, NY – On Tuesday, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing of Butchie Middleton, a 37-year-old resident of Port Jervis.
Middleton received a ten-year prison sentence and five years of post-release supervision. He pleaded guilty to Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.
The City of Port Jervis Police Department initially responded to a gun-related disturbance on July 22, 2022. Middleton had threatened another individual with a gun concealed in a shopping bag. Although he discarded the weapon before police arrived, it was located and recovered due to the victim’s directions. DNA analysis linked Middleton to the firearm, leading to his arrest.
During the ongoing investigation, the City of Port Jervis Police Department uncovered Middleton’s involvement in cocaine distribution. An investigation spanning approximately four months culminated in the execution of a search warrant at a Port Jervis residence.
The search yielded evidence of drug trafficking, including packaging materials and scales. In court, Middleton admitted to both the illegal possession of the firearm and the intent to sell cocaine.