MONTICELLO, NY — Vernon DeGroat, 52, of Lava, was convicted of assault and DWI charges on May 20 after a jury trial in Sullivan County Court. The jury deliberated for about two hours before returning its verdict to County Judge Frank LaBuda.

District Attorney Jim 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. The victim was airlifted to Westchester Medical Center 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. DeGroat was arrested after an investigation by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department. Sentencing is scheduled for August 17, and DeGroat faces a minimum sentence of three-and-a-half years and a maximum of 15 years in state prison.