County Prosecutor

Dec. 20, 2007 Bryan Graves, 24, of Franklin, pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and driving while suspended. He is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 8. He admitted to possessing a bag of heroin following a motor vehicle stop on November 5, 2006 by Vernon Police Officer William Fischer, and that his driving privileges were suspended at the time. Dec. 21, 2007 Ronald Baumann, 30, of Hampton, was sentenced to 4 years drug court probation, 47 days county jail, inpatient substance abuse treatment, $155 in fines and $2,535 in restitution. He pled guilty on Sept. 10, 2007, to the third degree crime of receiving stolen property. He admitted that during April of 2007, he received stolen checks and cashed them without permission of the account holder. The matter was investigated by the New Jersey State Police. Jan. 4 Theresa Gallo, 21, of Wantage, was sentenced to 3 years probation, 22 days credit for time served in jail, intensive outpatient substance abuse treatment, NA/AA meetings three times per week, $1,205 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. She pled guilty on Sept. 24, 2007, to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. She admitted that she had taken possession of Percocet tablets that had been prescribed to a family member in Frankford Township on August 21, 2007. The matter was investigated by New Jersey State Police Trooper M. Buchell. James Hunter, age 38, of Paterson, was sentenced to 7 years state prison with 31 months of parole ineligibility, $1,205 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on Oct. 22, 2007 to the third degree crime of distribution of cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school. He admitted that on July 10, 2007, he distributed cocaine to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force and that the distribution occurred within 1,000 feet of St. Joseph’s Elementary School. Amanda Reph, age 27, of Danielsville, Pa, was sentenced to 2 years probation, $1,571 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. She pled guilty on Dec. 3, 2007 to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and two motor vehicle tickets for failure to maintain lamps and possessing an expired driver’s license. She admitted that on July 10, 2006, she constructively possessed heroin in a motor vehicle that was stopped by Sparta Police Officer Marc Rubino. Joseph Osborne, age 33 of Franklin, was sentenced to four years incarceration in State Prison and various fines and penalties. He pled guilty on Dec. 11, 2007, to one count of arson, a third degree crime. On Oct. 13, 2006, Osborne purposely started a fire at 143A Main Street in Franklin Borough thereby recklessly placing other persons, who were inside the residence, in danger. A juvenile pled guilty to third degree Possession of Heroin. She was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, age 17, was sentenced to 12 months probation on condition that she serve 25 hours community service, have no contact with co-defendant, attend school everyday and follow all home and school rules, submit DNA sample, undergo random drug testing, 6 month driver’s license suspension and pay fines totaling $1070. The juvenile and a co-defendant was in possession of 5 bags of heroin while at school. Jan.7 A juvenile pled guilty third degree burglary. He was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, age 16, was sentenced to 12 months probation on condition that he pay restitution of $615 joint and several, complete 40 hours of community service, have no contact with co-defendant, attend school every day and follow all home and school rules, submit a DNA sample, continue counseling, testify truthfully against co-defendant, undergo random drug testing and pay $45 in court fees/fines. The juvenile and two co-defendants broke into the Branchville Country Market several times over a period of two months. Donald S. O’Brien, 38, of Wantage, entered a guilty plea to an indictment charging him with two counts of distribution of child pornography, a second degree offense. O’Brien admitted to the court that on July 29, 2005 and July 30, 2005, he had used his computer and the Internet to distribute numerous images of children engaged in a prohibited sexual act. The case was investigated by Det. I Charles Allen of the New Jersey State Police-Digital Technology Unit after receiving a cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) a federally mandated clearinghouse for child exploitation referrals. Michael P. Barker, 42, of Franklin, pled guilty to joyriding, a fourth degree crime. Sentencing is set for March 7. In December 2006, the defendant borrowed a 2001 Ford motor home with the understanding that it would be returned to the owner by the end of February 2007. On March 21, 2007, when the motor home still had not been returned and no contact had been made by the defendant to the owner, a complaint was filed with the Franklin Police Department. Erik R. Jeromin, 29, of Milford, Pa pled guilty to theft, a third degree crime. Sentencing is set for March 14. On Sept. 25, 2007, while employed at Home Depot in Newton, Jeromin admitted to taking items from the store totaling $2,600. He returned all items to the store after being interviewed by police and admitting his actions. Brian Gardner, 23, of Andover, entered a guilty plea to an accusation charging him with 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, Gardner was required to notify the local police that he was moving to a new address 10 days prior to his actual move. Gardner admitted to the court that between Sept. 16 and Oct. 1, 2007 he moved to a new address in Andover Township without first notifying the New Jersey State Police of the change in his address. The case was investigated by Detective Eric Danielson of the Andover Township Police Department and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. Gardner is scheduled to be sentenced on March 7, 2008. Jacklyn Barretto, 27, of Hamburg, pled guilty to fourth degree credit card theft and fourth degree shoplifting. Sentencing is set for Feb. 15. She admitted to applying via Internet to Chase Bank for a credit card in a relative’s name. In another incident, she admitted to taking $266.84 worth of video game controllers and other electronics from the Hampton Walmart. John W. Morehouse. 28, of Hamburg, pled guilty to third degree eluding as well as driving while suspended. Sentencing is set for March 14. He admitted to refusing to bring his vehicle to a complete stop after having received a signal from a Hardyston Police officer to do so and driving while his license was suspended. Jan. 8 Richard L. Copeland, 24, of Lake Hopatcong, was sentenced to four years probation, which will be transferred to Passaic County for supervision. He was ordered to serve 34 days in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility and was given credit for 34 days served. He must follow the recommendations of a recent TASC evaluation by submitting to a mental health evaluation and following those recommendations, submit to random urine monitoring, attend AA/NA three times per week, maintain employment and his driving privileges will be suspended for 24 months. He must pay total fines and penalties of $1,646 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on December 10, 2007 to eluding, a third degree crime, the disorderly persons offense of possession of drug paraphernalia and motor vehicle violations of driving with a suspended driver’s license and reckless driving. On Aug. 24, 2007 in Byram Township, the defendant passed a police officer while driving a motorcycle at 55 miles per hour in a 30 mph zone. The officer attempted to stop him but he kept driving recklessly, ran a red light and passed several vehicles before crashing the motorcycle. An indictment charges Daniel Lee, 31, of Effort, Pa., with second degree burglary and third degree theft. The case was investigated by Detective H. Bisl of the New Jersey State Police. The Grand Jury alleges that on Oct. 2, 2006, the defendant took two leaf blowers and a .22 Marlin rifle from a garage and trailer at a residence in Montague. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robert L. Klingenburg. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next 6 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 Donald Finklea, 47, of Newton, with third degree burglary. The case was investigated by Lt. M. Richards of the Newton Police Department. The Grand Jury alleges that on Aug. 8, 2007, the defendant took an envelope containing $100.00 from a cash box in an office in Newton that was not open to the public at the time of the incident. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robert L. Klingenburg. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next 6 weeks. An indictment charges Joseph Rubino of Hampton, with two counts of third degree theft by failure to make required disposition. The case was investigated by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. The Grand Jury alleges that on two separate occasions in 2004 the defendant, doing business as Big Boar Custom Cycles/Big Boar Motorcycles LLC, accepted money from two individuals to purchase a motorcycle and motorcycle parts but never provided the service to either. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robert L. Klingenburg. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next 6 weeks. A Grand Jury Indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. Jan. 10 A juvenile pled guilty on Jan.10, to third degree burglary. He was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, age 17, was sentenced to continue current probation. As conditions of this probation he must pay restitution totaling $485.00, complete 30 hours community service and submit a DNA sample. The juvenile broke into a vehicle and removed several items of electronic equipment. Jan.11 Troy R. Green, 27, of Stockholm, was sentenced to three years probation. He must perform 100 hours of community service, maintain employment, submit to random urine monitoring, attend AA/NA three times per week, pay restitution in the amount of $896.66, pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on Nov. 5, 2007 to theft, a third degree crime. He had previously been enrolled in the PreTrial Intervention Program with respect to the charge but was terminated from the program for non-compliance prior to the entry of his guilty plea. He admitted to taking a 37” television from Wal-Mart in Franklin on December 24, 2007. Michael R. Knaust, 21, of Frankford, was sentenced to two years probation. He was ordered to serve two days in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional facility and was given credit for two days served. He must perform 150 hours of community service, continue counseling, submit to random urine monitoring, pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. His bail was exonerated. He pled guilty on Dec. 3, 2007 to unlawful possession of a weapon, a 3rd degree crime. He admitted to police that he took a handgun from a neighbor’s home on July 5, 2007 and later sold it to someone else.