POUGHKEEPSIE, NY – A Dutchess County jury delivered a partial guilty verdict on Wednesday in the high-profile case of Jan Michael Deere, 37, accused in the fatal shooting of Jaquan Fryar on Main Street. After more than a day of deliberations, the jury found Deere guilty of manslaughter and two gun-related charges, but not guilty of murder.
This trial marked Deere’s second time before a jury—his first trial, held in early May, ended in a mistrial. That proceeding also involved co-defendant Joseph Gonzalez, 45, who was present at the time of the shooting.
Deal Offered, But Only One Took It
Following the mistrial, the Dutchess County District Attorney’s Office extended plea deals to both Deere and Gonzalez. Gonzalez accepted the deal, pleading guilty to assault and criminal possession of a weapon. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision—a significantly lighter punishment than the potential 20+ years he faced if convicted of murder or manslaughter.
Deere, however, refused the plea deal and opted for a second trial, putting his fate in the hands of another jury.
The Shooting on Main Street
The incident occurred in an illegal bar operating on Main Street in Poughkeepsie. According to testimony, Jaquan Fryar initially pistol-whipped Gonzalez, then left the scene—only to return shortly afterward. Deere, claiming he feared Fryar was returning to do further harm, fired a gunshot that struck Fryar in the head, killing him.
Deere testified that he fired the shot in self-defense, saying he believed Fryar posed a threat to both himself and Gonzalez. But prosecutors argued that the use of deadly force was not justified and that Deere’s actions were criminal.
Criminal History & Surveillance Footage
Deere, a convicted felon already on parole at the time of the shooting, acknowledged during testimony that he had violated several conditions of his release, including missing curfew and possessing a firearm, which is illegal for felons.
In the first trial, Deere also admitted he initially lied to detectives, saying, “I didn’t want to go back to jail.” What he didn’t realize at the time was that surveillance footage from the neighborhood captured the incident, undermining parts of his original story.
Sentencing & Maximum Penalty
Now convicted of first-degree manslaughter and two counts of criminal possession of a weapon, Deere faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison. One of the gun charges will run consecutively with the manslaughter sentence, potentially adding up to 15 additional years, while the second weapons charge will be served concurrently.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on August 8, 2025, by Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin.
Legal Teams
Deere was represented by criminal defense attorneys Phil Sayles and Kelley Enderley. The prosecution was led by Assistant District Attorneys Anthony DeFazio and Andrea Long from the Dutchess County DA’s Office.
This case has drawn community attention not only for its violent nature but also for its underlying issues involving illegal weapons, parole violations, and the use of deadly force in self-defense claims. With sentencing approaching, the final chapter in this long legal battle will be written in just a few short months.
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