Burglar charged with attempted murder

TOWN OF NEWBURGH – A City of Newburgh man, who allegedly broke into a woman’s home in the Town of Newburgh, has now been charged with attempted murder in the first degree. Sterling Banks, 55, allegedly broke into the woman’s home on Grand Avenue and struck her with a pole-like object. They also revealed Friday that he tried to smother the woman with a pillow while threatening to kill her.

Town Police arrested Banks of Liberty Street in Newburgh, on Tuesday evening. As officers talked to him, several credit cards belonging to the victim fell to the pavement. It was later determined that they were used throughout the day at several Newburgh businesses.

Banks was initially charged Tuesday with crimes connected to possession and use of those stolen cards.

On Wednesday morning, armed with a search warrant, police searched Banks’ home and found property stolen in the burglary.

He was charged Friday with attempted murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, robbery in the second degree and assault in the second degree.

The victim was treated at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital after the Tuesday morning incident.