MONTICELLO, NY — Ronald Royster, 30, of Monticello, was convicted by a jury before the Sullivan County Court on March 3 of Aggravated Criminal Contempt, Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, Aggravated Family Offense and Criminal Mischief in the Third Degree, all felonies, in connection with his conduct against a former paramour.

At trial, the jury determined that, on October 5, 2018, and March 1, 2019, Royster, in violation of an Order of Protection directing him to stay away from and not contact a former paramour, repeatedly attempted to make contact with her, including by ringing her doorbell and throwing a rock through the window of a car parked in her driveway. Following delays relating to Royster’s prosecution for possession of a loaded and operable firearm in Orange County, and delays relating to the pandemic, the trial commenced on February 28, 2022, and concluded this afternoon, with the jury deliberating for approximately one hour before returning its guilty verdicts.

Royster has previously been convicted of two misdemeanors and one felony Criminal Contempt for his conduct against the same victim. He is currently serving a 3.5-year sentence on his Orange County conviction and faces up to an additional 7.5 to 15 years at sentencing in this case.

“This defendant has repeatedly terrorized a hardworking member of our community who displayed tremendous courage in facing him in court this week,” Galligan said. She added, “He has demonstrated that he will stop at nothing to make contact with her, but Sullivan County’s law enforcement community will stop at nothing to protect her as well.” Galligan thanked the New York State Police for their commitment to this case and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for producing the defendant from prison for trial. She additionally praised the work of Assistant District Attorney Lisa Bondarenka, who prosecuted this case.

Royster remains incarcerated at the Upstate Correctional Facility. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13, before Sullivan County Court Judge E. Danielle Jose-Decker.