Huguenot man arrested on weapons charges

Brian Negrette, 40, of Huguenot, was arrested on January 2 on the charge of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. The arrest was announced in a joint statement by Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden and Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler, and a separate announcement by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. DA Hoovler’s announcement said Negrette was held pending arraignment on the charges.

According to the announcement, the City of Port Jervis Police Department initiated the investigation. Police executed a judicially authorized search warrant at a residence on Black Rock Trail in Deerpark that allegedly recovered a .223 caliber semi-automatic AR15-style assault rifle with a defaced serial number, a semi-automatic 9mm pistol with no serial number, as well as a sawed-off pistol grip shotgun and “assorted firearms components.” The Orange County Sheriff’s Office claimed that narcotics were also seized from the home.

Other agencies involved in the investigation included the Deerpark Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Orange County Drug Task Force, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group, and the New York State Police Explosive Unit.

“The illegal possession of guns is the enabling force behind narcotics trafficking and accordant violence in Orange County,” said Hoovler. “In order to disrupt these dangerous practices, law enforcement must work collaboratively to investigate the source of these deadly weapons. I commend the work of the City of Port Jervis Police Department, as well as all of the agencies involved in this investigation and the arrest of the defendant today. We remain committed to holding those who illegally possess firearms accountable.”

Chief Worden said, “Today’s arrest highlights the significance of collaboration among various law enforcement agencies in ensuring the safety of our communities. I am very proud of the outstanding work performed by the detectives, officers, and prosecutors assigned to this case over the past several months, which resulted in the seizure of these weapons and the arrest of the defendant.”

Deerpark Police Chief Richard J. Sztyndor said, “The safety of our community is important to us. Ensuring that is a collaboration between us and our law enforcement partners. Working together has made the Deerpark/Port Jervis community safer and highlights the relationships of all of the agencies involved working together. I commend the hard work and dedication shown by the investigators, from every agency, in bringing this to a successful close.”

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory.