2 NJ Men Admit To Stealing Motorbikes, Go-Karts In Newburgh

GOSHEN, NY — Two New Jersey men admitted taking part in the burglary of a motor-sports store in Newburgh, which resulted in a fatal crash.

Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said Luis Colon, 27, and Jose Tavera, 18, both of New Jersey, pleaded guilty in Orange County Court to charges related to the burglary, after which one person in the van containing stolen motorbikes and ATVs was killed in a crash.

Colon, who admitted being the driver of the van, pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and second-degree burglary, felonies.

Tavera, who was charged as an adolescent offender, pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted burglary, a felony.

Hoovler's office will recommend Colon be sentenced to 10 years in prison, with Tavera sentenced to five, pursuant to the plea agreement. Besides the prison sentences, Colon received five years post-release supervision and Tavera, who was denied youthful offender status, received three years. Both men agreed to pay $2,180 in restitution for the damaged police car.

The men are scheduled to be sentenced Dec. 15.

According to prosecutors, around 1:30 a.m. Dec. 6, the men stole motorbikes and go-karts from Big Boyz Toys on Route 9W in the town of Newburgh.

They put the stolen vehicles in a van which was then pursued by marked patrol cars from the Newburgh town police and New York State Police.

The van was traveling more than 90 mph at times, police said.

In an attempt to get away from the pursuing police, occupants of the van threw stolen vehicles at the police cars, damaging a state police marked vehicle.

The van crashed in the city of Newburgh, resulting in the death of one of its occupants.

Hoovler said throwing vehicles from a moving van onto the highway not only endangered the police but other motorists and pedestrians.

"Had these defendants complied with police commands and been arrested, they would have been released with no bail being set due to the recent bail reform laws," he said. "The death of this man was truly a senseless tragedy."