County Prosecutor

June 21 Brandon Troche, age 19, of Dingmans Ferry, Pa., pled guilty to Robbery, a second-degree crime. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 3. He admitted to punching and biting a security officer who observed Troche shoplifting as he tried to exit the Montague Shop Rite. The security officer suffered a fractured cheekbone and nose. June 21 An indictment charges Michael W. Allard, age 28, of Highland Lakes, with Burglary, Conspiracy to commit burglary, both third degree crimes, and Fake Reports to law enforcement officials, a fourth degree crime, and Keith Morris, age 30, of Highland Lakes, with Burglary and Conspiracy to commit burglary, both third degree crimes. The case was investigated by Ptl. David Hering of the Vernon Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. An indictment charges Joseph S. Selobyt, Jr., age 38, of Branchville, with Eluding, a second degree crime, and Possession of Heroin, a third degree crime. The case was investigated by Police Officer Robert Fraser of Sparta Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R. Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. An indictment charges Brad M. McDermort, age 34, of Vernon, with Eluding, a second degree crime. The case was investigated by Ptl. David Hering of the Vernon Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R. Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. David Angus, age 18, of Newton, was sentenced to two years probation, $1,330 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on April 23 to the third degree crime of possession of Ecstasy, fourth degree failure to register under Megan’s Law and a motor vehicle ticket for failure to maintain lane. He admitted to that as a previously convicted sex offender, between Feb. 10 and Feb. 20, he moved from the Town of Newton to Andover and then to the State of Pennsylvania without notifying the Newton Police Department. He also admitted to possessing six Ecstasy pills after he was stopped for a motor vehicle violation by Sussex County Sheriffs Sergeant John Gray on Jan. 13 in Green Township. An indictment charges Edward Arens, d/b/a Ed Arens Drywall, age 48, of Blairstown, with two counts of Theft by Failure to Make Required Disposition, third degree crimes, and two counts of Theft by Deception, third degree crimes. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R. Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. June 22 Christopher Carr, age 19, of Sparta, was sentenced to two years probation. He must submit to a TASC evaluation and follow all recommendations made and is prohibited from a New York drug or substance abuse. He must pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on April 23 to theft, a third degree crime. On July 18, 2005 and July 27, 2005, he admitted to removing large amounts of the prescription drug Xanax from a prescription bottle that belonged to his father. Ryan M. Kylish, age 19, of Sparta, was sentenced to two days in the County Jail, 25 days in the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program, 18 months of probation, fines and ordered to submit a DNA sample. He pled guilty on April 17 to burglary, a third degree crime, and theft, a third degree crime. He admitted to stealing a shotgun, which was inside the garage of a Hampton Township residence. David Van Skiver, age 19, of Newton, was sentenced to two years probation, 90 days in the county jail, $955 m fines and a six months loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on March 19 to the fourth degree crime of distribution of marijuana. He admitted to distributing less than one ounce of marijuana to another individual who, in turn, sold it to an undercover detective assigned to the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force. Barid W. Thornton, age 56, of Newton, was sentenced to 164 days in the County Jail, fines and penalties and ordered to submit a DNA sample. He pled guilty on April 23 to receiving stolen property, a fourth degree crime. He was found to be in possession of an Apple I-POD, knowing it was stolen. June 25 Michael Benedicto, age 25, of Vernon, entered a guilty plea to an Accusation charging him with the fourth degree charge of violating the terms of his Community Supervision For Life and the fourth degree charge of violating the terms of Megan’s Law by failing to notify the police of an address change. Benedicto, a previously convicted sex offender, was ordered by the court to comply with the terms of Megan’s Law and Community Supervision for Life. Benedicto admitted to the court that between May 12-23 he had violated the terms of his Community Supervision for Life by failing to live at his address approved by Parole, by failing to obtain permission from his parole officer to move to a new residence, and by failing to report to his parole officer. Benedicto also admitted that he had moved from his approved address in Vernon to a new address in Vernon without first notifying the Vernon Township Police Department of his intention to move to a new address. Parole Officer Michael Marino and Det. Thomas Zabriskie of the Vernon Township Police Department investigated the case. Raul Cinto, age 22, of Newton, pled guilty to Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, a third degree crime. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 10. Rene A. Vega, age 21, of Hopatcong, pled guilty to Eluding, a third degree crime. Sentencing is scheduled for July 30. On Aug. 5, 2006, Vega was pursued by several Hopatcong police officers driving his vehicle at a high rate of speed. He eventually turned himself in to the Hopatcong Police Department. Flavio R. Montanez, age 32, of Newark, pled guilty to Falsifying/Tampering with Records, a fourth degree crime. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug.10. He was caught presenting a fictitious Social Security Card at The Division of Motor Vehicles in Newton. June 26 Jason A. Sneider, age 39, of Wantage, pled guilty to providing false information on a firearms application, a third degree crime. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 9. On Nov. 26, 2005, he gave false information regarding his criminal arrest record and use of controlled dangerous substances while applying for a firearms purchaser identification card. Joel Ortiz, age 21, of Jersey City, pled guilty to fraudulent use of a credit card, a third degree crime. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug.10. On June 2, he used a stolen Citibank Master card credit card to make purchases at Hampton Wal-Mart, Hampton McDonalds, Newton Shop-Rite and Newton Exxon. William T. Paladino, age 43, of Poland, Maine, pled guilty to receiving stolen property and two counts of burglary, all third degree crimes. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 9. On Aug. 30, 2006, he burglarized a liquor store in Wantage and a jewelry store in Hamburg. A jeep that was seen leaving the scene of the Hamburg burglary and was later found abandoned in Frankford contained items from both businesses. Jason Hiler, age 37, of Hampton, pled guilty to Child Abuse, a fourth degree crime. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug.3. June 25 Terrance Cooper, 42, of Newton, pled guilty to two counts of third-degree distribution of cocaine within 10 feet of a school. He is scheduled to be sentenced on. Aug. 10. He admitted that on March 26 and March 29, he distributed cocaine from his home on Main Street to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force. The distributions occurred within 1,000 feet of St. Joseph’s Elementary School. Evan Dorcas, 28, of Milford Pa., pled guilty on June 25 to the third-degree crime of possession of heroin, the disorderly persons offense of assault by auto and speeding. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 10. He admitted that on Feb. 21, he was driving north on Route 206 in Montague at 62 miles per hour in a 45 mph zone when he struck a school bus. He was also found to be in possession of 43 bags of heroin. The matter was investigated by Tpr. M. Verheeck of the New Jersey State police. June 26 Richard Jameson, 19, of Wantage, pled guilty to distribution of marijuana, a third-degree crime. Sentencing will be Aug. 3. On April 11, in Vemon Township, 158 grams of marijuana was found in his vehicle during a routine motor vehicle stop. On the same date, Jameson was also sentenced for a juvenile matter to three years probation and must serve 45 days detention. He will have to testify against any co-defendants in the matter, abide by a curfew and pay total fines and penalties of $50. He pled guilty on March 14, to accomplice liability to commit robbery, a second-degree crime. On March 19, 2006, he and two co-defendants drove to the Sunrise Mart in Vernon and attempted to take money from the attendant by force. June 27 An indictment charges Jason L. Crozier, 36, of Franklin, with resisting arrest, a third-degree crime. The case was investigated by Detective S. Gcddis of the Franklin Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R. Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. An indictment charges Margaret C. Decker, 42, of Newton, with burglary, a third-degree crime, theft of movable property, a fourth-degree crime, credit card theft, a fourth-degree crime, and fraudulent use of credit cards, a third-degree crime. The case was investigated by Detective Charles Zweigle of the Stanhope Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R. Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton wilJ he within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial An indictment charges Jason L. Crozier, 36, of Franklin, with terroristic threats, a third-degree crime, violation of a domestic violence final restraining order, a fourth-degree crime and stalking, a third-degree crime. The case was investigated by Detective S. Geddis of the Franklin Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R. Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial Stacey Zakrzewski, 33, of North Arlington, pled guilty to two counts of burglary and to possession of a controlled dangerous substance, all third-degree crimes. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Aug. 31. On March 23, Zakrzewski and a co-defendant entered a residence in Vernon and took electronic equipment and a jar of coins from the home. On March 28, they entered a residence in Wantage and took money and jewelry from that home. On March 30,, she was found to be in possession of Lorazapan while being lodged at the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility for the burglaries. An indictment charges Dennis P. Fastiggi, 18, of Hopa.tcong,, with two counts of burglary, one count of theft and one count of possession of a controlled dangerous substance, all third-degree crimes. The case was investigated by Detective C. Wojtack of the Hopatcong Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. An indictment charges Linda D’Agostino, 26, of Stanhope, with two counts of receiving stolen property, third-degree crimes. The case was investigated by Detective Joseph Salokas of the New Jersey State Police, Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will he within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial An indictment charges Michael Douma, 30, of Wantage, with theft, a third-degree crime. The case was investigated by Detective G. Lewis of the New Jersey State Police. A second indictment charges Douma with a passing a bad check, a fourth-degree crime. A third indictment charges Douma with theft by deception, a third-degree crime, and theft by failure to make required disposition, a third-degree crime. Arraignment will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury triaL An indictment charges two men Raymond D. Rossi, Jr., 19, of Trenton, and Kyle H. Shaw, 19, of Hamilton with burglary, a third-degree crime. The same indictment charges three men, Kyle E. Dempster, 19, of Trenton, Ryan S. Lake, age 26, of Lawrenceville, and Joao Pereira, 18, of Montclair, with conspiracy to commit burglary, a third-degree crime. The case was investigated by Officer Mark Mastandrea of the Sparta Police Department. This matter involves the attempted robbery of the Jewelers Workshop on Woodport Road in Sparta. Arraignment will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilty may be proved at a jury trial. June 28 Theresa Bea, 37, of Port Jervis, NY, pled guilty to the third-degree crime of possession of cocaine and the fourth-degree crime of hindering apprehension. She is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 3. She admitted that on May 7, 2006, she possessed crack cocaine and also swallowed a rock of crack cocaine before being stopped by Police Officer Adam Carberry on Route 15. June 29 A juvenile pled guilty to false public alarm, a third-degree crime. She was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, 15, of Sussex, was sentenced to 18 months of probation and 75 hours of community service. In addition, she must write a letter of apology to the school within 30 days. The juvenile wrote a note on a bathroom wall at High Point Regional High School threatening that the school would be blown up on a certain date, knowing that this was a false bomb threat. Albert C. Wester, 21, of Columbus, was sentenced to serve three years in State Prison after violating the conditions of an original sentence to probation imposed on April 23, 2004 with respect to a possession of heroin conviction. Wester was given 134 days jail credit. On May 29, Wester pled guilty to violating the terms of his probationary sentence by failing to complete an intensive outpatient program for substance abuse, submitting 11 separate urine samples which tested positive for opiates and failing to report as directed to the Probation Department.