Port Jervis Man Sentenced On Rape, Robbery Charges

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A Port Jervis man who robbed and kidnapped a 67-year-old, locking him in the trunk of his own car, has been sentenced to 16 years in state prison, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced Friday. Justin White, 30, had pleaded guilty in January to Robbery in the First Degree.

White was already a felon, having pleaded guilty in September to Rape in the Second Degree for having sex with an underaged girl.

On Aug. 3, 2018, in the vicinity of Jersey Avenue in Port Jervis, White and Tranelle Drake confronted the 67-year-old man and displayed what appeared to be a pistol. They struck the man in the face with the gun; stole his wallet, car keys and cellphone; and locked the man in the trunk of his car.

The victim was able to escape from the trunk before White and Drake drove away in his car. Several police agencies, including the Port Jervis Police Department, the New York State Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Walden Police Department attempted to locate the car.

Sheriff’s deputies stopped the car in Walden, and White and Drake were arrested. An Orange County grand jury indicted White and Drake for crimes including Robbery in the First Degree and Kidnapping in the Second Degree.

On Oct. 24, Drake pled guilty to the top charge of Robbery in the First Degree and admitted robbing the victim with what appeared to be a firearm. On Feb. 6, Drake was sentenced to 13 years in prison, and five years of post-release supervision.

During the investigation of the robbery and kidnapping, police learned that White had engaged in sexual intercourse with a girl who was less than 15 years old. White was indicted by an Orange County grand jury and on Sept. 17, pleaded guilty to Rape in the Second Degree.

White admitted that he had engaged in sexual intercourse with the child between July 1, 2018, and August 3, 2018, in Port Jervis, prosecutors said.

White was sentenced to 19 years in prison and five years post-release supervision on the robbery charge, and six years in prison and 10 years post-release supervision on the rape charge. The judge ordered that both sentences run consecutively, for a total sentence of 16 years.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the Port Jervis Police Department, the New York State Police, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and the Walden Police Department for their work on the case and their aid in the prosecution.

SEE:

Port Jervis men indicted on kidnapping, robbery charges