SUSSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR

June 30 Barid Thornton, 58, of Newton pled guilty to theft, a third-degree crime, and aggravated assault, a third-degree crime, for an incident that occurred in Newton on March 7. Sentencing is anticipated for Aug. 7. Jessika Carcano, 20, of Hopatcong, was sentenced to four years probation, 143 days jail, a substance abuse evaluation and treatment, $450 in restitution, $1,330 in fines and a six-month loss of driver’s license. She pled guilty on April 6 to fourth-degree theft and third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. She admitted that on Nov. 12, 2007 she helped to sell a stolen X-Box game. She also admitted to possessing a small amount of heroin on Nov. 18, 2007. Zachery Pedersen, 22, of Montague pled guilty to the third-degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is anticipated for July 27. He admitted to possessing 15 bags of heroin in Sparta on Jan. 24, 2009. Shaun M. Wagner, 23, of Budd Lake pled guilty to the third-degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is anticipated for July 27. He admitted to possessing one full bag of heroin and numerous empty bags of heroin in Byram on April 16. Jonathan M. Cepeda, 21, of Nutley pled guilty to the third-degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is anticipated for Sept. 11. He admitted to possessing three bags of heroin in Lafayette on Dec. 25, 2008. Daniel J. Van Orden, 25, of Hamburg pled guilty to the third-degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is anticipated for July 27. He was found in possession of 27 bags of heroin in Newton on March 12. July 2 A juvenile pled guilty to third-degree burglary. He was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, age 13, of Franklin, was sentenced to 12 months probation on condition that he complete 20 hours of community service, attend school every day and follow all home and school rules, undergo random drug testing, submit a DNA sample, tour the Juvenile Detention Center, have no contact with the victim or co-defendant, testify truthfully against co-defendant, pay $45 in court fines and $440.45 restitution (joint and several) to the victim In April, the juvenile and a co-defendant broke into the home of an Ogdensburg resident and caused damage to a sliding door and a television. July 6 Christopher J. Schick, 45, of Newton pled guilty to the third-degree crime of fraudulent use of a credit card and the third-degree crime of burglary. Sentencing is anticipated for Aug. 3. He admitted to possessing and using a stolen credit card in Newton in Jan. 6, 2008. He also admitted entering a home in Sussex for the purpose of stealing property inside of it on Feb. 21, 2009. Kevin W. Puza, 22, of Franklin, was sentenced to three years drug court probation, outpatient substance abuse treatment, 30 days jail, $285 in fines and restitution in the amount of $5,150. He pled guilty on June 8 to the third-degree crimes of attempted burglary and receiving stolen property. He admitted to attempting to enter a home in the Borough of Franklin. He also admitted to selling property that he knew to be stolen. Kaitlyn Tarsa, 21, of Wantage was sentenced to four years drug court probation, 20 days jail, inpatient substance abuse treatment, $1,830 in fines and a one-year loss of license. She pled guilty on April 6 to the third-degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous, driving while intoxicated and illegal parking. She admitted that on Jan. 1 she possessed 45 bags of heroin and was driving under the influence of Xanax and heroin during a course of a motor vehicle stop by Vernon Police Officer Shaun Fitzgerald. John J. Vesota, 36, of Vernon pled guilty to two counts of third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is anticipated for July 31. He admitted that on April 23, 2008 in Vernon he possessed 20 bags of heroin in his motor vehicle. He also admitted that on July 2, 2008 he possessed a small amount of heroin in his home. July 10 Harry Martyn, 46, of Easton, Pa., was sentenced to 180 days jail and one year probation. He pled guilty on April 27 to receiving stolen property, a third-degree crime. July 13 Shannon Stone, 28, of Vernon, pled guilty to possession of demerol and burglary, both crimes of the third degree, and to a motor vehicle violation of littering. Sentencing is anticipated for Sept. 3. On Feb. 12, in Vernon, Stone was pulled over for a cigarette being thrown out of the vehicle he was driving and, after stepping out of the vehicle at the officer’s request, a small white pill (Demerol) was observed on the floorboard of the vehicle between the driver’s side door and seat. On March 9, also in Vernon, the defendant was caught breaking into a vehicle by the owner of that vehicle. Joseph E. August, 25, of Hopatcong, pled guilty to burglary, a third-degree crime, and to a violation of probation. Sentencing is anticipated for Sept. 2. On June 10, in Hopatcong, he kicked in the door to his landlord’s portion of the residence he was living at, stole a computer and flat screen TV and then sold the items to a pawn shop. He confessed in a statement to police. He was serving a probationary term in Essex County at the time of his arrest for this incident. James Conklin, 29, formerly of Hopatcong, entered a guilty plea to an accusation charging him with the fourth-degree charge of violating the terms of his Community Supervision For Life. Conklin, a previously convicted sex offender, was ordered by the court to comply with the terms of Community Supervision for Life. Conklin admitted to the court that on or about Sept. 30, 2008, he had violated the terms of his Community Supervision for Life by testing positive for THC (marijuana). Conklin is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 2. Christopher M. Pappa, 27, of Jefferson, pled guilty to burglary, a third-degree crime. Sentencing is anticipated for Sept. 2. On March 10, 2008 in Branchville, he broke into an auto repair shop and stole cash from a cabinet. His DNA was identified by a blood stain left in the area of where the cabinet was. Christina L. Peck, 29, of Milford, Pa., Heather C. Martin, 20, of Port Jervis, N.Y., and Nicholas J. Mann, 28, of Port Jervis, N.Y., all pled guilty to third-degree attempted burglary and third-degree attempted theft. Sentencing is anticipated for Sept. 3. They admitted to attempting to enter a Montague residence on May 27, with the intention to commit a theft from a resident who was home at the time. All three defendants remain incarcerated at the Sussex County Jail for failure to post the bails established by the court. Alphonse Coppola, 47, of Kearny, pled guilty to theft by deception, a third-degree crime, and unlawful taking of a means of conveyance, a crime of the fourth degree. He was previously enrolled in the Sussex County Pre-Trial Intervention Program but was terminated on Sept. 12, 2006 due to non-compliance. Sentencing is anticipated for Sept. 2. On May 13, 2005 in Wantage, the defendant and a co-defendant received money for supplies to do plumbing repairs at a residence, spent the majority of the money and then went to Atlantic City to gamble the rest of it. On June 9, 2005, he took the vehicle belonging to the co-defendant without her consent or permission. Michael McDowell, 23, of Hopatcong, was sentenced to three years Drug Court Probation, 14 days credit for time served in jail, attendance at a halfway substance abuse treatment facility, $2,080 in fines, restitution in the amount of $1,330.48 and a six-month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on May 26 to the third-degree crime of using a stolen credit card, fourth-degree resisting arrest and the disorderly persons offense of failure to turn over a controlled dangerous substance. He admitted that on Nov. 19, 2007 in Hopatcong he used a stolen credit card to obtain goods. He also admitted that on March 26, 2008 he failed to turn over a small amount of heroin to Stanhope Police Officer Christopher Bork. Finally, he admitted to resisting arrest in Hopatcong on Feb. 11, 2009 when Sussex County Sheriff’s Detective Michael Yanko attempted to take him into custody for an outstanding bench warrant. Jackie DeGraaf, 23, of Sparta, pled guilty to the third-degree crimes of burglary and unlawful taking of a motor vehicle and the fourth-degree crime of making a false statement to the police. Sentencing is anticipated for Aug. 10. She admitted to burglarizing a motor vehicle in Sparta on March 28, 2008 and that a month later she stole another vehicle in Sparta and later lied to the police about it. Breanna E. Nutto, 20, of Hopatcong, pled guilty to the third-degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is anticipated for Aug. 3. She admitted to possessing a small amount of heroin in Hopatcong on Nov. 23, 2007. July 16 James W. Ziniewicz, 32, of Sussex pled guilty to one count of sexual assault, a second-degree crime, and one count of endangering the welfare of children, a third-degree crime. Between May 1, 2008 and July 25, 2008 the defendant had sexual intercourse with a minor under the age of 16.