Jury convicts Middletown man in toddler's 2022 death

A jury in Goshen convicted 26-year-old Gionni Sellers of second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter on Jan. 16 in the death of 3-year-old Xavier Johnson, a case that has reverberated across Orange County. The verdict came less than two hours after jurors were sent to deliberate by Judge Craig Brown.

Prosecutors told the court that Sellers was caring for Xavier at his girlfriend’s apartment in the town of Wallkill in May and June 2022 when he inflicted blunt-force trauma to the child’s head and torso, causing damage to the toddler’s brain and ultimately his death. Testimony in the trial began the previous week, and during opening statements prosecutors highlighted internet searches they said Sellers made in the days before the boy died, including "why do men want to hurt babies" and "baby breathing heavy after being shook."

The case was investigated by the Wallkill Police Department with assistance from New York State Police and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center. Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler issued a statement after the verdict, saying, "The conduct of this defendant, as proven beyond a reasonable doubt to a jury of his peers, showed that this defendant’s depraved and wicked actions caused the senseless death of a vulnerable child. It is through the dedication and hard work of both police and prosecutors that this defendant has been held to account for his horrendous crimes."

Sellers faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison when he is formally sentenced on March 10. The conviction resolves a case that drew intense local attention and raises difficult questions for families, caregivers, and law enforcement about child supervision and the warning signs of abuse.

For Orange County residents, the case underscores local public safety responsibilities and the role of community agencies in protecting children. Parents and caregivers in Middletown, Wallkill and surrounding towns have expressed shock at the loss of a young life and an expectation that the criminal justice process will deliver accountability. The collaboration between municipal police, state troopers, and regional crime analysis highlights how local investigations now routinely draw on broader law enforcement resources.

The conviction does not erase the tragedy, but it marks a pivotal moment for the family and the community as the county prepares for sentencing in March. The outcome may prompt renewed attention to child welfare practices and community supports for at-risk families as Orange County seeks to prevent similar tragedies.