Sheriff DuBois and Judge Onofry are Sworn In

GOSHEN – On Thursday, January 3rd, during the first Legislative Session of the year, Sheriff Carl E. DuBois and Judge Robert A. Onofry, were both sworn in to their new terms by the Orange County Clerk Annie Rabbitt.

Orange County Sheriff Carl E. DuBois was sworn in to his unprecedented fifth term as Sheri ff, and Judge Robert A. Onofry to his second term as Surrogate Court Judge. Onofry will only serve one year of his ten year term as he has reached the mandatory age restriction to serve. He said he is extremely proud and honored by his accomplishments, and although it is a bittersweet transition, he was happy to have done all he could.

Sheriff DuBois started his law enforcement career with the City of Middletown Police Department, working his way up the ranks and achieving the rank of Lieutenant before retiring after twenty-three years of service. After retirement he served as Police Commissioner of the Town of Mt. Hope from 1996 to 1998 and then went on to become the Village Justice in Otisville in 1998 and Town Justice of Mt. Hope in 1999. He retired from both Justice positions when he entered his name for Orange County Sheriff in 2002, winning the election and assuming office January 1, 2003. During the preceding four terms, Sheriff DuBois has led the Office to Law Enforcement Accreditation from the Department of Criminal Justice Services, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Corrections Accreditation from the New York State Sheriff’s Association, Corrections Accreditation from the American Corrections Association and the Medical Accreditation from the National Commission on Corrections Healthcare. Sheriff DuBois is the longest serving Sheriff in the history of Orange County.

Judge Robert A. Onofry’s distinguished judicial career is well known and respected in the Hudson Valley. He was elected Orange County Surrogate Judge in November of 2008 after 32 years in private practice and after having served 12 years as Port Jervis City Court Judge, and as Acting Court Judge for both the cities of Middletown and Newburgh, by special assignment from the Office of Court Administration. In January of 2009, within days of assuming office, he was appointed Acting Supreme Court Justice for the Ninth Judicial District, where he has shared civil trial duties for nine years with the four full-time Orange County Supreme Court Justices.

Orange County Legislator Stephen Brescia was selected by fellow lawmakers on Thursday to be chairman for another year, making him the second longest serving leader in the body’s history.