District Attorney Jim Farrell announced today that Vernon DeGroat, 52, of Lava, N.Y. was convicted after a jury trial in Sullivan County Court of Attempted Assault in the 1st Degree, a class C violent felony, Assault in the 2nd Degree, a class D violent felony, and two counts of Driving While Intoxicated, both misdemeanors. The jury deliberated for about two hours before returning its verdict before County Judge Frank Labuda.

Farrell said that on June 30, 2015, on School Street in Narrowsburg, DeGroat intentionally drove his Ford Ranger pick-up truck at another man ramming him and causing him physical injury, including a broken clavicle and head injury, that required treatment at Westchester Medical Center. The victim was airlifted to Westchester via helicopter after a response by the Narrowsburg Fire Department. In the process of striking the victim, DeGroat drove his truck into a house causing damage to the house, as well.

Farrell said the assault was the product of what appeared to be jealous rage by DeGroat and his belief that his wife was having an affair with the victim resulting in him driving his truck at the victim with the intent to seriously harm him. DeGroat was arrested after an investigation by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department. Sentencing was scheduled for August 17, 2016 and DeGroat faces a minimum sentence of 3 ½ years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison. Chief Assistant District Attorney Robert Zangla was in charge of the prosecution of this case for the District Attorney.