GOSHEN – A 25-year-old Town of Wallkill man was convicted by an Orange County Court jury of murder for hiring another man to kill his neighbor.

When sentenced in July, Enoch Lowe faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

It was alleged at trial that Lowe hired Damante Stansberry, 24, of Middletown to kill his neighbor with whom Lowe had a long-standing animosity.

At trial, prosecutors argued that Lowe promised Stansberry $15,000 to kill the neighbor and that Lowe would act as a lookout, informing Stansberry as to when the victim was alone, outside, and vulnerable to be attacked.

On October 30, 2022 at around 5 p.m., Stansberry arrived at the home of the 53-year-old victim and stabbed the man as he was repairing a fence in his backyard.

Evidence at trial established Lowe sent text messages to Stansberry immediately before Stansberry left to commit the murder, and had spoken to Stansberry on a cellphone as soon as Stansberry returned from committing the murder.

On March 30, 2023, Stansberry pled guilty to murder and is awaiting sentencing.