Orange County Man Who Killed Suspected Rapist Found Guilty

WHITE PLAINS, NY — The Orange County man who shot and killed a rape suspect in 2013 was convicted by a jury Monday of first-degree manslaughter.

David Carlson, 45, of Sparrow Bush, was accused of killing Norris Acosta-Sanchez.

He will be sentenced Jan. 9, 2017, and faces a maximum of 25 years in prison, acting Westchester County District Attorney James A. McCarty said.

Carlson met Acosta-Sanchez in August 2013 and hired him to do odd jobs, even bringing him into the family to give his children Spanish lessons.

Two months later Carlson learned Acosta-Sanchez was wanted in Rockland County for having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

At that point, Carlson called the police, who stopped Acosta-Sanchez near Carlson’s house to question him.

Acosta-Sanchez ran into the woods, and a massive manhunt ensued.

Two days later, Acosta-Sanchez knocked on Carlson’s door.

Carlson met him with a loaded shotgun and marched him down the driveway.

Acosta-Sanchez was shot twice by Carlson.

Media reports said Carlson had initially been enlisted by police to help catch Acosta-Sanchez.

Officials pursued the murder charge, despite acknowledging Carlson’s fatal contact with the victim was because Acosta-Sanchez appeared at his door.

Then Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore said Carlson’s actions disregarding police instructions to not have contact with the victim and let them handle the situation “tragically resulted in this outcome.”

Carlson’s bail was raised to $250,000 bail or $500,000 bond. He is currently being held in custody.

Image via Shutterstock.

CORRECTION: A previous headline for this article incorrectly stated Carlson had been sentenced. Patch regrets the error.