Middletown Man Admits Slashing Innocent Bystander

WALLKILL, NY — A Middletown man admitted his guilt in a stabbing outside a bar. Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler said Thursday that Barry Cooper, 27, of Middletown, pleaded guilty to first-degree assault, a felony.

Cooper said he slashed his victim in the face with a sharp-edged object around 3:30 a.m. Sept. 21 outside a closed bar on Route 211.

Prosecutors said the victim had been an innocent bystander who had attempted to intervene and break up an argument between the DJ who had just left the bar and Cooper and others who were with Cooper.

Authorities said the victim suffered serious injuries to his face as a result of the slashing.

The plea agreement said the district attorney's office will recommend Cooper be sentenced to nine years in state prison when he is sentenced Feb. 11.

Hoovler said a lengthly sentence was deserved in this case and that hopefully it will deter others who might be tempted to use weapons or violence to settle disputes.

"It is both tragic and ironic that this victim, who was altruistically attempting to prevent violence, must now carry the marks of this defendant's cowardly and senseless attack on his face," he said.

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