Alleged Bloods Gang Member Sentenced For 2 LI Shootings: DA

RIVERHEAD, NY — An alleged Bloods gang member was sentenced Wednesday after he shot two individuals, including a person he shot twice in the chest outside the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said.

Jovan Bailey, 31, was sentenced Wednesday by Suffolk County Court Judge Stephen Braslow to 14 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision, Sini said.

He pleaded guilty on April 12, 2018, to charges of second degree attempted murder, a felony; first degree criminal use of a firearm, a felony; first degree assault, a felony; and second degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, Sini said, adding that orders of protection were issued for the two individuals shot.

“This is a dangerous individual and an alleged gang member who repeatedly committed senseless acts of gun violence and then attempted to evade law enforcement by fleeing Suffolk County,” District Attorney Sini said.

Due to the collaboration between his office and partners in the Suffolk County Police Department, Riverhead Police Department, and U.S. Marshals Service, Bailey will serving a "significant prison sentence" and be held accountable for his crimes, Sini said.

On Nov. 26, 2016, at approximately 3:25 a.m., Bailey shot a person twice in the chest outside of the Suffolk Theater, located at 118 East Main Street. Next, on Jan. 14, 2017, at approximately 3:05 a.m., outside Shakers Pub, located at 4608 Sunrise Highway in Oakdale, Bailey shot a different victim once in the leg, Sini said.

The vehicle in which Bailey fled the scene of the shooting was located by the Suffolk County Police Department and its owner, Jessica Hardy, 29, of Bellport, was arrested at approximately 5:32 a.m. and charged with illegally possessing an unloaded Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol found in the car, Sini said.

A forensic analysis of the weapon found that it matched evidence recovered at the two shooting scenes and DNA analysis tied both Hardy and Bailey to the firearm, Sini said.

An investigation by the Suffolk County Police Department, Riverhead Police Department and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office of the two incidents further identified Bailey as the shooter, Sini said.

Following the second shooting, Bailey fled the state and was arrested in Massachusetts on March 7, 2017, by the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force of the U.S. Marshals Service and was brought back to Suffolk County for prosecution, Sini said.

Hardy pleaded guilty on May 23, 2018, to attempted criminal possession of a firearm, a misdemeanor; she was sentenced on July 25 by Judge Braslow to three years of probation, Sini said.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Tracy Hoffman.

Photo courtesy Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini's office.