MONTICELLO – A Monticello man, convicted of attempted murder of a police officer, was sentenced to 40 years to life in state prison on Thursday.

Sullivan County Court Judge James Farrell sentenced Markell Jarrette, 30, following an eight-day jury trial in which he was found guilty of two counts of attempted murder, criminal use of a firearm, and menacing a police officer, all felonies, in connection with an incident on April 10, 2025.

The jury found that on April 10, 2025, Jarrette pointed a loaded and illegal gun at Deputy Sheriff Foertsch and fired it at pointblank range. The deputy was not struck and only sustained minor injuries, but the deputy fired back, shooting Jarrette and immediately applying medical aid to him.

Foertsch was responding to a larceny complaint at the time of the shooting.

Jurors heard from 24 witnesses and received over 50 exhibits entered into evidence.

District Attorney Brian Conaty called Jarrette a villain who represents “the most wicked and evil emotions amongst us.”

He said Jarrette judged Foertsch by “feeding into a broken and distorted narrative that the police are bad people and deserve to be mistreated or worse.”

Conaty said he “stands firmly with this community in condemning those beliefs and those actions,” saying police officers are human beings deserving of love, great respect and our gratitude.”