FROM: HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
ULSTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
DATE: NOVEMBER 16, 2018
SUBJECT: PRESS RELEASE – JOVAN A. WILKINS
On November 15, 2018, a jury of seven men and five women convicted JOVAN A. WILKINS of Assault in the First Degree, a Class B violent felony. Wilkins, age 26, a resident of Lagrangeville, in Dutchess County, was charged by the New York State Police on December 3, 2017 with felony assault in connection with the stabbing of a man during a house party purportedly celebrating then recently elected Dutchess County legislator, Legislature Giancarlo Llaverias’ victory.
During the week-long trial jurors heard testimony from surgeon Dr. Dennis-Roger Phillip of the Mid-Hudson Regional Hospital, forensic scientists Sarah Koss and Lisa Sheridan of the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center, and several Investigators with the New York State Police. They also heard from the victim of the assault and an eyewitness who testified that as they were leaving the party they saw an individual on the ground being beaten and stomped. The victim tried to push people off of the individual being attacked when Wilkins repeatedly stabbed him in the back and lower abdomen. Dr. Phillip explained to the jury that many of the stab wounds could have been fatal. He described one stab wound as having punctured the victim’s lung, a second having lacerated his spleen and that the wounds to the victim’s abdomen in effect disemboweled him.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kathleen E. Klein and Clifford Owens. Wilkins was represented by Assistant Public Defender Mikael Cohn.
The defense presented two seemingly inconsistent arguments to the jury. The first, was that Wilkins did not intend to cause any injury, an argument belied by the significant, life threatening injuries sustained. The second argument was that he was justified in stabbing the victim because he was defending a third party, ie his brother.
Wilkins has been remanded to the Ulster County Jail. Sentencing is scheduled for January 18, 2018. Defendant faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in State Prison.