SENTENCING IN SHOOTING CASE

DELHI — Delaware County District Attorney Shawn J. Smith announced that Robert K. Trago Jr., 62 of Hancock, appeared in Delaware County Court on December 9, in front of the Honorable John L. Hubbard and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment for sentencing on his conviction of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D Violent Felony.

In September of 2024, New York State Police were dispatched to a residence on State Highway 268 in the Town of Hancock for shots fired with injuries.  It was eventually determined that Trago shot at his neighbor while the neighbor was walking his dog in front of Trago’s residence.  The investigation revealed that Trago shot the victim in the arm with a 22-caliber.  The victim was transported to Albany Medical Center by helicopter but was later released after the bleeding stopped. The New York State Police Forensic Identification Unit conducted a thorough and comprehensive investigation of the crime scene.  The State Police Lab was able to match the bullet recovered from the victim’s arm with a firearm possessed by the defendant.  

On December 9, 2025, the defendant and his attorney appeared in court for sentencing.  District Attorney Shawn Smith argued that the defendant should receive the maximum State Prison sentence because the crime, shooting at his neighbor, deserved nothing less than the maximum sentence.  Defense Counsel argued that the defendant should be placed on felony probation supervision because he was 62 years old and had no previous felony convictions.

After hearing arguments, the Honorable John L. Hubbard determined a State Prison sentence was necessary but decided against imposing the maximum term.  Judge Hubbard ordered that the defendant serve five years in State Prison, and the defendant was immediately taken into custody by the Delaware County Sheriff's Office to begin his sentence.

District Attorney Shawn Smith commended the New York State Police, including Investigators Jacob Genthner, Olivia Okun, and Michael Little for their thorough investigation into this case.  Smith stated, “We will not tolerate violent crimes being committed in Delaware County.  I am proud of the work done by the New York State Police Investigators and their Forensic Analysts.  Their scientific comparison of the firearm and the bullet fragments recovered from the victim’s arm allowed us to conclusively establish the identity of the shooter.”

Shawn J. Smith

District Attorney

Delaware County