County executive issues statement on conviction in Josef Kucher murder

Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus released the following statement on March 24 after Dennis McBee, 30, was convicted of the murder of Josef Kucher, a 77-year-old Port Jervis shop owner, on Nov. 7, 2014. McBee faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison for the murder charge.
In addition to murder in the second degree, McBee was charged with assault in the first degree, robbery in the first degree and tampering with physical evidence. Josef Kucher had been a Port Jervis shoemaker for 40 years and was the proprietor of Kucher’s Shoe Repair and Orthopedic on Front Street, where the robbery and beating took place. Kucher was an Austrian immigrant, a military veteran, and a prominent figure in the community.
I want to thank District Attorney David Hoovler and his prosecution team for their work in this case. Josef Kucher lived the American dream, coming to this country as an immigrant, and becoming a staple in the Port Jervis community. As a small business owner, Mr. Kucher worked hard and was a proud family man. He was the victim of a horrible crime by a horrible person. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Mr. Kucher’s family. The full arm of the law will be executed when this criminal is sentenced.
McBee is next scheduled to appear in Orange County Court on May 4, at which time he will be sentenced by Orange County Court Judge Nicholas De Rosa. McBee faces up to 25 years to life in state prison for the crime of murder in the second degree and an additional one and one-third to four years in state prison for the felony of tampering with physical evidence.
Steven Neuhaus
Orange County Executive
Goshen, N.Y.