County Prosecutor

February 22 An indictment charges Merrick Grayson, age 42, of Vernon, , with Impersonation and Theft of Services, both third degree crimes. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robert 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 Daniel R. Cabral, age 19, of Barryville, N.Y., with Burglary and Theft, both third degree crimes. The case was investigated by Trooper Cosh of the State Police. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robert 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 Michael J. Wancura, age 20, of Franklin, with Aggravated Arson, a second degree crime, Burglary, a second degree crime, Aggravated Assault, a second degree crime, and Criminal Mischief, a third degree crime. The case was investigated by the Franklin Police Department. On Aug. 24, 2006 Franklin Police responded to a reported fire at 340 Rutherford Avenue in Franklin. The fire was quickly extinguished. The defendant had allegedly entered the residence and started a fire while two juveniles were asleep in the residence. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Michael W. Briegel. 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 Rene A. Vega, age 20 of Hopatcong, with three counts of 2nd degree eluding and one count of 3rd degree resisting arrest. The case was investigated by Patrolman D. Kraus and Patrolman G. Mancuso of the Hopatcong Borough Police Department. The Grand Jury alleges that, on March 5, 2006, the defendant was pursued by several Hopatcong police officers, driving his vehicle at a high rate of speed, in one instance nearly causing a head-on collision with one of the patrol vehicles. He eventually turned himself in to the Hopatcong Police Department 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. February 23 Steven Gummerson, age 24, of Wharton, was convicted of fourth-degree Possession of an Imitation Firearm for an Unlawful Purpose after a two-day trial before the Honorable Thomas Critchley, J.S.C. The charge stemmed from Gummerson’s involvement in an altercation at a Ryerson Avenue residence on Nov. 5, 2006. Gummerson went to the residence to speak with his ex-girlfriend, and became involved in a verbal dispute with several people at the residence. As he was leaving, Gummerson removed an Air-Soft pellet gun from his car, cocked the gun, and stated “what’s up now” to one of the residents. The victim did not know if the gun was real and the police were called. Sentencing is scheduled for next month. Gurnmerson faces up to 18 months in state prison in connection with this conviction. An indictment charges Glen Alonzo Mays, age 33, formerly of Newton, with Attempted Murder, a first degree crime, Aggravated Assault, a crime of the second degree, Aggravated Assault, a crime of the third degree and Possession of a Weapon with the purpose to Use It Unlawfully Against the Person of Another, a crime of the third degree. The case was investigated by the Newton Police Department and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. On Sept. 16, 2004 Darrell Trent was stabbed in the chest, allegedly by Mays, sustaining serious injuries. A warrant for Mays’ arrest was immediately issued, however, Mays was not apprehended until November 2006 when he was arrested in Newport News, Va. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Michael W. Briegel. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next 6 weeks. Sheena Sanders, age 21, of Vernon, was sentenced to two years probation, five days SLAP, mandatory fines and penalties. She pled guilty on Jan. 8 to Removing Evidence, a fourth degree crime. She admitted to flushing drugs down the toilet as police responded to a 911 call regarding a possible overdose. An indictment charges Edward A. Mundt, age 37, of Elmwood Park, with Murder, a first degree crime, Desecration of Human Remains, a second degree crime, and Hindering Apprehension, a third degree crime. The case was investigated by the Vernon Police Department and the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. On June 16, 2006 the body of John E. Mitchell of Saylorsburg, Pa. was discovered near County Route 667 in Vernon Township by the Sussex County Road Department. The crimes allegedly occurred on June 8-9, 2006. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Michael W. Briegel. 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. Dale J. Corcoran, age 19, of Vernon, was sentenced to four years State Prison, was given credit for 88 days served and must serve 85 percent of his sentence under the No Early Release Act before being considered for parole. He must pay total fines and penalties of $205 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on July 31, 2006 to robbery, a second degree crime. On March 19, 2006 in Vernon, the defendant attempted to take a gas station attendant’s roll of money when the attendant asked for payment for gas purchased. February 27 The Sussex County Grand Jury handed up two indictments against Martin Gibbs, age 42, formerly of Sparta. The first charges Gibbs with the fourth degree crime of failing to comply with Megan’s Law by failing to re-register a change of address with the Sparta Township Police Department. It is alleged that on or about October 24, 2006, Gibbs moved from the Town of Newton to the Township of Sparta and failed to register as a convicted sex offender with the Sparta Township Police Department. The second indictment charges Gibbs with the fourth degree crime of failing to comply with Megan’s Law by failing to notify the Sparta Township Police Department that he was moving to new address. Gibbs was also indicted for two counts of the fourth degree crime of violating the conditions of a special sentence of Community Supervision for Life having been convicted of a sex offense requiring community supervision for life. It is alleged that between Oct. 31, 2006 and Nov. 16, 2006 that Gibbs moved from the Township of Sparta without first notifying the Sparta Township Police Department ten days prior to leaving as required by Megan’s Law. It is also alleged that Gibbs violated the terms of his community supervision for life by failing to report to his parole officer as required, failing to live at an approved residence, failing to obtain permission from his parole office prior to moving and failing to obtain permission from his parole officer prior to leaving the State of New Jersey. The case was investigated by Det. Lt. Michael Richards of Newton Police Department, Det. Terrence Mulligan and Det. Marc Rubino of the Sparta Township Police Department and Parole Officer Michael Marino of the Department of Corrections - Parole Divison. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robin Lawrie. 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.