SUNY Delhi Student in Hospital; Roommate Charged with Felony Assault

Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies have arrested a Middletown man and charged him with assault in the second degree, a Class D felony. His alleged victim is currently hospitalized at Albany Medical Center with a serious head injury.

On February 6, Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies investigated a motor vehicle accident on County Highway 18 in the Town of Delhi. Upon arrival at the scene, first responders found the driver unconscious in the vehicle still wearing a seat belt. Preliminary investigation revealed the driver had suffered an apparent medical crisis while driving, causing him to lose control of his vehicle.

The driver, SUNY Delhi student Joshua Kaplan, 22, of Clifton Park, NY, was initially transported to O’Connor Hospital by the Delhi Emergency Squad, then airlifted to Albany Medical Center by LifeNet helicopter. A passenger in the vehicle, SUNY Delhi student Andriana Senti, 20, of Port Crane, NY, although not injured, was also transported to O’Connor Hospital for evaluation.

Subsequent investigation seemed to reveal that Kaplan had been physically assaulted by his roommate, Jonathan Lora, 21, of Middletown, NY, earlier that evening at their Village of Delhi residence. Kaplan sustained a skull fracture and brain injury, presumably as a result of that assault, which led to the medical crisis he suffered while driving.

On Tuesday evening Delaware County Sheriff's Deputies arrested and charged Jonathan Lora with assault in the second degree, a class D felony, for intentionally causing serious physical injury to Kaplan.

Lora was arraigned in the Town of Stamford Court and was released on recognizance pending further court action.