Sussex County Prosecutor

Jan. 23 John Dunn, 44, of Ogsdenburg, was sentenced to three years probation, 90 days SLAP and $1,205 in fines. He pled guilty on November 10, 2008 to the third degree crime of possession of cocaine. He admitted to possessing approximately two grams of cocaine that was seized during a course of a motor vehicle traffic stop. Jan. 26 Michael A. Royce, 21, of Newton pled guilty to theft, a third degree crime, and resisting arrest, a third degree crime. Sentencing is anticipated for March 6, 2009. Christian A. Catoggio, 19, of Hopatcong was sentenced to probation 45 days in jail with time served. He must undergo drug treatment, pay court costs and fines and $3,300 restitution to the PNC Bank. Catoggio pled guilty on October 28, 2008 to third degree forgery. He admitted to taking and writing checks from his mother’s checking account totaling $3,300.00. Nicolas A. Scalici, 18, of Vernon pled guilty to burglary and possession of heroin, both crimes of the third degree. Sentencing is anticipated for March 20, 2009. On September 9, 2008 in Vernon, he broke into a condominium unit through a window and was caught by an acquaintance of one of the residents of the condo. He later admitted his actions to police upon being questioned. On Nov. 3, 2008, again in Vernon, he was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a motor vehicle violation and was found to be in possession of two bags of heroin. Lisa J. Kennedy, 45, of Stanhope pled guilty to third degree theft and third degree forgery. Sentencing is anticipated for March 27, 2009. She admitted that between January 2005 and August 2007, while acting as Treasurer of the Lenape Valley Soccer Club, she used the checking account and debit card of the club to take approximately $50,000. Joseph M. Garofalo, 32, of Newton pled guilty third degree theft and third degree theft by deception. Sentencing is anticipated for March 20, 2009. He admitted to receiving stolen property belonging to Costco, which he knew was stolen and attempted to repackage the goods and sell them to third parties. In addition, he obtained money, having a value of more than $500 from two separate individuals by creating a false impression to those individuals. Jan. 27 Javier Torres, 26 and Melinda Torres, age 23, of 34 Cedar Drive, Franklin were arrested on January 27 by members of the Sussex County Guns Gangs and Narcotics Task Force and the Franklin Police Department. Melinda Torres was charged with two counts of third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, namely suboxone and Xanax. Javier Torres was charged with fourth degree possession of drug paraphernalia with the intent to distribute it. They were arrested as the result of the execution of a court ordered search warrant following a brief investigation. Glenn S. Gile, 45, of Byram was sentenced to two years probation, six days credit for time served, a substance abuse evaluation and treatment, $955 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on Jan. 27 to the fourth degree crime of possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana. He admitted to possessing a number of marijuana plants on his property which were seized on Aug. 4, 2008 by the Sussex County Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force. Anthony D. Bellina, 23, of Lake Hopatcong was sentenced to three years probation, 90 days SLAP, intensive outpatient treatment, $1,738 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on Dec. 1, 2008 to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and to driving while suspended. He admitted to possessing a small amount of cocaine during a traffic stop on June 24, 2008. Jan. 28 Adam Curry, 20, of Highland Lakes pled guilty to two counts distribution of heroin, possession of controlled dangerous substance, two counts burglary and four counts theft - all crimes of the third degree. Sentencing is presently anticipated for March 27. At two different times in 2008 Curry broke into a landscape trailer in Vernon and took several thousand dollars worth of landscape equipment and broke into a vehicle in Vernon taking stereo equipment. On another occasion in Vernon he also was found to be in possession of marijuana plants at his home. Curry admitted to entering a storage shed at Mountain Creek and stealing a TV, laptop computer and camera. He also sold heroin on two separate occasions. Jan. 29 A juvenile pled guilty to two counts third degree burglary and third degree theft. He was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, age 15, of Sussex was sentenced to 12 months probation with 30 days detention (nine days credit, balance suspended). He must also complete the Alternative to Detention Program, submit a DNA sample, undergo random drug testing, testify truthfully against co-defendant, pay $105 in court fines and $1465.75 in restitution to his victims. On three different occasions between July and October of 2008, in Wantage, the juvenile and co-defendant(s) entered a home, a motor vehicle and a storage shed, belonging to three different victims, taking various items including an ATV. Jan. 30 Thomas J. Roerich, 25, of Newton was sentenced to 164 days in the Sussex County Jail. In addition, he was ordered to pay $155 in monetary penalties. He pled guilty on Dec. 15, 2008, to one count of the fourth degree charge for a Megan’s Law violation for failure to notify law enforcement that he had moved to a new address. Under the provisions of Megan’s Law, Gardner was required to notify the local police that he was moving to a new address 10 days prior to his actual move. Roerich admitted to the court that between July 30, 2007 and September 20, 2007 he had failed to register his new address with the Newton Police Department. Steven Colfax, 21 of Pompton Lakes was sentenced to three years state prison with 142 days credit. Defendant must register under Megan’s Law, is subject to Parole Supervision for Life and must provide a DNA sample. Defendant must attend substance abuse and anger management counseling. He is also to have no contact with the victim or her family. Fines and costs are in the amount of $3,330. Defendant from June through August of 2008 had a relationship with an underage minor that included sexual contact. David Heisey, 24, formerly of Lancaster, Pa., now residing in Newton, was sentenced to four years probation, ordered to serve 90 days in the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program, pay various fines and penalties totaling $3,021 and suspension of his driver’s license for one year. Heisey pled guilty on July 31, 2008, to leaving the scene of an accident with resulting serious bodily injury, a fourth degree crime. He also pled guilty to the motor vehicle offenses of leaving the scene and failure to report an accident. Heisey admitted that on April 7, 2007 in the Borough of Sussex, he drove a vehicle and struck a pedestrian, Alexander Ezzo. Heisey then fled the scene. Ezzo sustained a fractured leg. Feb. 2 Howard L. Newton, 41, of Frankford pled guilty to aggravated assault, a third degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for March 6. On September 17, 2008 in Sussex Borough, the defendant got into a physical altercation with another individual, with the victim sustaining an injury to his face that required 16 stitches. Several witnesses confirmed to police that the defendant was the aggressor in the altercation. David M. Bryan, 28, of Vernon pled guilty to aggravated assault by throwing bodily fluids, a fourth degree crime, and to motor vehicle violations of driving while intoxicated and refusal to submit to a breathalyzer test. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 18. On Aug. 29, 2008 in Franklin, after responding to a call for someone continually calling and harassing a resident, police observed the defendant drive away from the residence, initiated a motor vehicle stop and arrested him for driving while intoxicated. While at the police station for processing he began spitting in the direction of several officers. Thomas Mackerley, 38, of Montague pled guilty to one count of a fourth degree charge for a Megan’s Law violation for failure to notify law enforcement that he had moved to a new address. Under the provisions of Megan’s Law, Mackerley was required to notify the local police that he was moving to a new address 10 days prior to his actual move. Mackerley admitted to the court that on October 8, 2008 he had moved to a new address in Montague Township without first notifying the Stillwater Township Police Department of the change in his address. Joshua Gardepe, 27, of Highland Lakes pled guilty to assault by auto, a fourth degree crime and driving while intoxicated. Sentencing is anticipated for March 20. Gardepe admitted that on August 17, 2008, in the Township of Stillwater, he drove his motorcycle recklessly thereby causing bodily injury to passenger Gemma Hammond. Khalif A. Rasul, 28, of Tobyhanna, Pa., pled guilty to third degree aiding escape and third degree hindering apprehension. Sentencing is anticipated for March 13. He admitted that on or about December 29, 2007, he provided Keith Garcia with a cell phone and transportation to assist in his escape from Mountainview Correctional Facility and then aided in his attempt to avoid apprehension. Feb. 3 Robert M. Farruggia, 47, of Netcong pled guilty to third degree theft. Sentencing is anticipated for April 3. He admitted that between June 6, 2004 and April 13, 2007, he stole approximately $35,000 from the treasury of The Lenape Blazers Girls Softball Team while he was the team treasurer and used the money to pay for his own personal expenses. Daniel G. Meshefsky, 37, of Lake Hopatcong pled guilty to theft of services, a third degree crime. Sentencing is anticipated for March 20. The defendant rented a dump trailer from a rental center in Andover Borough on June 2, 2008 using a Visa card and when the bill was presented for payment to Visa the card was denied.