By admin 
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NEWBURGH, NY – Ziquan Jenkins, 22, of Newburgh, pleaded guilty Thursday to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, marking the latest development in a string of convictions that could extend his prison sentence to 40 years, according to Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler.
Jenkins was previously sentenced in October to 25 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision for convictions of first-degree robbery and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. His latest guilty plea, related to an incident on July 26, 2024 in which he was found in possession of a loaded firearm, is expected to add 15 years to his sentence when he appears in court on January 6, 2025.
Jenkins’ criminal history includes a guilty plea earlier this year in connection with a Sept. 2, 2023 armed robbery on Benkard Avenue, where he and his accomplices used handguns to steal money, an iPhone and a gold chain from a victim. He also admitted to discharging a loaded firearm during a separate incident on Broadway on July 6, 2023.
Jenkins’ conviction in October followed his failure to appear in court on the robbery and weapons charges in July, prompting a warrant for his arrest. He was taken into custody on July 26, 2024 when authorities discovered another loaded firearm in his possession, leading to the current plea deal.
District Attorney Hoovler commended the City of Newburgh Police Department for their efforts in arresting and prosecuting Jenkins and called the case an example of law enforcement’s commitment to reducing gun violence. “The arrest, prosecution and incarceration of this persistent repeat offender will make the streets of Newburgh safer,” Hoovler said in a statement.
Jenkins’ combined sentences serve as a stern warning to others considering becoming involved in violent or gun-related crimes, authorities said.