Monticello, NY - On April 30, 2026, Sullivan County District Attorney Brian P. Conaty announced that Markell Jarrette, 30, of Monticello, was sentenced to 40 years’ to life incarceration in State Prison by Sullivan County Court Judge James R. Farrell upon his convictions for Attempted Murder in the First Degree, a Class A-I Felony; Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, a Class B violent Felony; two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, Class C violent Felonies; Criminal Use of a Firearm in the First Degree, a Class B violent Felony; and Menacing a Police Officer, a Class D violent Felony, stemming from a violent attack on an on-duty, uniformed law enforcement officer.
Jarrette’s convictions followed an eight day jury trial where the jury found that on April 10, 2025, Jarrette attempted to murder Sullivan County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Foertsch by pointing a loaded and illegal firearm at him at point-blank range and shooting at Deputy Foertsch multiple times. Deputy Foertsch was responding to a recent larceny complaint but instead was confronted with the potential loss of his life. Thankfully, Deputy Foertsch was not struck by the gunfire and only sustained minor injuries.
Throughout the course of the trial the jury received testimony from 24 witnesses and further received over 50 exhibits that were entered into evidence including surveillance footage, police radio transmissions, firearms, spent shell casings, a spent projectile, DNA evidence linking Jarrette to the trigger and magazine of the illegal firearm, and ballistics evidence linking the spent shell casings and projectile to Jarrette’s illegal firearm. This case was prosecuted at trial by District Attorney Brian P. Conaty with the assistance of Assistant District Attorney James McGlashin while Sullivan County Court Judge James R. Farrell presided over the trial.
Conaty said: “This society and this community will never stand for an attack on a member of law enforcement. Deputy Andrew Foertsch is an excellent and dedicated police officer who overcame significant challenges in his life to obtain the honored position he now holds. Deputy Foertsch did not take his experiences for granted, but instead has used those experiences to better serve the members of his community in Sullivan County. Deputy Foertsch is a shining example of what someone can do under extremely difficult and unfortunate circumstances growing up here. He is now, and was then, entitled to return home to his loving family. Deputy Foertsch and every police officer in this community, in this state, and around this country get dressed and put their lives on the line for a cause greater than themselves, to protect and serve. Deputy Foertsch was a sterling representation of that credo when he quickly acted after striking the defendant with a bullet and then immodesty began applying medical aid to save Jarrette’s life. The juxtaposition of this image is something to behold. Deputy Foertsch rushed to the aid of this villain who just tried to take his most valuable asset, his life. Mr. Jarrette’s actions represent the most wicked and evil emotions amongst us. Judging a person not for who they truly are and represent, and instead feeding into a broken and distorted narrative that the police are bad people and deserve to be mistreated or worse. I stand firmly with this community in condemning those beliefs and those actions. Police Officers are human beings deserving of love, great respect, and our gratitude. I want to extend my gratitude to Deputy Andrew Foertsch, his family, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, and supporting law enforcement agencies who were essential in obtaining convictions in this case. I also wish to thank all of the law enforcement personnel that attended today’s sentencing proceeding for demonstrating, in full force, that such violent actions taken on their members will not be tolerated in Sullivan County.”
