County Prosecutor

March 8 Majeed Tajiddin, 29, of Newark, entered guilty pleas to charges contained in three indictments: resisting arrest, criminal mischief, hindering his own apprehension, aggravated assault on an officer and contempt of court. He admitted that on Aug. 14, 2003, he resisted arrest by officers from the Newton Police Department by having in his possession pepper spray. After being placed under arrest and placed in a Newton police car, Tajiddin admitted that he kicked out both of the rear passenger windows. He also admitted that on Aug. 15, 2003, he violated the terms of his bail conditions by having contact with the victim of a domestic violence matter. Tajiddin admitted that after being placed under arrest by Patrolman Scott King of the Newton Police Department, he spit saliva on Patrolman King while the officer was acting in the performance of his duties while in uniform. He also admitted that on Dec. 14, 2003, he hindered his own apprehension when he stole the cellular phone of an off-duty police officer who was attempting to call the Newton police. Tajiddin is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22. March 10 Thomas Kronyak, 33, of Stockholm, was sentenced to two years probation. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to possession of a machete as an unlawful weapon. Kronyak admitted that on Oct. 30, 2005, he had a machete in his possession during a domestic violence argument. As a condition of his probation, he was ordered to serve 23 days in jail, to follow the recommendations of the substance abuse evaluation and participate in anger management counseling, and to pay $155 in monetary penalties. Bruce D’Amore, of Newark, was sentenced to three years in state prison, six month loss of driver’s license and $1,280 in fines. He pleaded guilty on Jan. 30 to possession of a controlled dangerous substance and resisting arrest. D’Amore admitted to possessing two vials of cocaine in Vernon on May 29, 2005, and resisting being arrested by Vernon Police Sgt. Michael Burns. Nancy Christ, 41, of Milford, Pa., was sentenced to two years probation, $1330 in fines and a six-month loss of driver’s license. Christ pleaded guilty on Dec. 12 to theft of movable property and to possession of a controlled dangerous substance. She admitted that while working as a nurse at the Andover Sub-Acute and Rehab Center, she took pills such as Percocet, Vicodin and Oxycontin, which were prescribed for patients, and converted them to her own use. The matter was investigated by the center’s security department and Det. Taglialatela of the Andover Township Police Department. Phoebe Tinsman, 20, of Lumberville, Pa., was sentenced to two years probation,. $1205 in fines and a six-month loss of driver’s license. Tinsman pleaded guilty on Jan. 5 to third degree possession of heroin. She was found to be in possession of three bags of heroin following a motor vehicle stop by Sparta Police Officer Frank Schomp. Shawn Matthew, 27, of Vernon, was sentenced to three years probation, inpatient substance abuse treatment, 270 days in jail, $2,244 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. Matthew pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to possession of heroin and driving while suspended. The car he was driving was stopped by Vernon Township Police Officer Keith Curry on July 29, 2005. It was discovered that Matthew was driving while suspended and he was arrested on two outstanding warrants. Two bags of heroin were then found in his vehicle. Gregory Skyers, 29, of Whiting, was sentenced to three years probation, 364 days in the county jail, six-month loss of driver’s license and $2,244 in fines. Skyers pleaded guilty on Dec. 12 to possession of cocaine and driving while suspended. He admitted that he possessed five vials of cocaine in the men’s room of the Hess gas station on Oct. 29, 2004, in Stanhope, and that he had driven there while his license was suspended. The matter was investigated by Officer Joseph Indano of the Stanhope Police Department. March 13 Brian M. Dietz, 22, of Newton, was sentenced to pay fines and penalties totaling $405 and to submit a DNA sample at his expense. Dietz pleaded guilty on Feb. 7 to terroristic threats. On July 8, 2004, in Vernon, he threatened to kill a lake community security guard after being told by the guard to leave the area he was in and go home. Jason Ian Hackett, 23, of Newton, was sentenced to two years probation and must serve 180 days in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility. He must maintain gainful employment and attend AA meetings twice per week. He must also pay total fines and penalties of $230 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. Hackett pleaded guilty on Nov. 14 to burglary and to a violation of probation for theft of a motor vehicle. He also pleaded guilty on Feb. 14 to unlawful taking of a means of conveyance. Sentencing is concurrent on all charges. On July 4, 2005, in Montague, Hackett entered the victim’s garage and attempted to remove a scooter, telling police that he had been drinking and his friends had left him so he went into the garage to see if he could find some transportation. The violation of probation charge occurred Nov. 2, 2004, in Andover Township, where the defendant admitted to police that he had been drinking at the Lenape Lodge, left the bar and found a 1993 minivan with the keys in it, drove the van down Limecrest Road, failed to negotiate a curve and went off the road into a tree. The unlawful taking of a means of conveyance charge occurred on Nov. 22, in Andover Township, when he took a neighbor’s truck without the owner’s permission or consent. Ryan M. Manca, 23, of Franklin, was sentenced to five years in N.J. State Prison and was given credit for 165 days served. He must pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. Manca pleaded guilty on Jan. 30 to eluding. On June 22, 2005, in Sparta, during a motor vehicle stop for speeding, Manca struck an officer with his vehicle and then led Sparta officers on a high-speed chase for approximately 3.5 miles before being arrested.