A Poughkeepsie man will spend more than two decades in prison for the stabbing death of 50-year-old father of two William Gearhart.
Shrone Wright, 52, of Poughkeepsie, had been accused of engaging in a physical altercation with Gearhart in Pershing Avenue Park in Poughkeepsie on Nov. 6, 2024, and causing Gearhart’s death with a single stab wound to his upper torso, without justification.
Wright was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter on March 12, following nine days of testimony and just over three hours of deliberations by a Dutchess County jury.
Wright was sentenced to 25 years in state prison, according to the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office.
“William Gearhart lost his life as the result of a senseless and needless act of violence in a City of Poughkeepsie park,” District Attorney Anthony Parisi said in a statement. “The jury carefully weighed the evidence and held the defendant accountable for that fatal act. While nothing can restore Mr. Gearhart to his family, this conviction and sentence should send a strong message that violence of this kind will be met with accountability in Dutchess County. I want to commend the jurors for their service and thank the prosecutors, investigators, and law enforcement partners who worked tirelessly to seek justice in this case.”
Wright’s sentence of 25 years will also include five years of post-release supervision.
Nickie Hayes is Breaking & Trending News Reporter for the Poughkeepsie Journal. See her most recent articles here. Contact reporter Nickie Hayes: NHayes@poughkee.gannett.com, 845-863-3518 and @nickieehayess on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Poughkeepsie man sentenced to 25 years for 2024 stabbing death
Reporting by Nickie Hayes, Poughkeepsie Journal / Poughkeepsie Journal
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