SUSSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR

Feb. 2 Thomas Lombardi, 25, of Roxbury pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of stolen property. Sentencing is presently anticipated for March 27. He admitted that on July 16, 2008 in Hampton he possessed a handgun knowing that it was probably stolen. Amber J. Decker, 19, of Montague pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 23. She admitted to possessing heroin on Nov. 24, 2008 in Hardyston. Cynthia A. Grau, 20, of Hamburg pled guilty to the fourth degree crime of possession of prescription legend drug. Sentencing is presently anticipated for March 27. She admitted to possessing numerous seroquel and klonopin tablets without a prescription in Newton on April 21, 2008. Carrie A. Sheehan, 26, of Tranquility pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. She admitted to possessing three bags of heroin in Newton on Sept. 13, 2008. The matter was investigated by Newton Police Officer Scott Vertetis. Feb. 3 Francis J. Boyle, 39, of Vernon pled guilty to third degree receiving stolen property. Sentencing is presently anticipated for April 3. Thomas Miller, 20, of Highland Lakes pled guilty to one count of conspiracy, one count of burglary, both crimes of the second degree and one count of third degree possession of a weapon with unlawful purpose. Sentencing is presently anticipated for April 3. On Oct. 16, 2007, Miller conspired with several other co-defendants and unlawfully entered a home and Miller and the defendants were armed and caused serious bodily injury to an occupant. Feb. 4 Rachael Swaynos, age 18 formerly of Hopatcong, was sentenced to three years probation. As a condition of her probation, Swaynos was ordered to serve 96 days in the Sussex County Jail with credit for the 95 days she has served in lieu of bail. Swaynos was also ordered to enroll in, and successfully complete, an intensive outpatient substance abuse program, undergo random drug testing, attend NA meetings and obtain an NA sponsor. In addition, she was ordered to pay $1,330 in monetary penalties and her driver’s license was suspended for a period of six months. She pled guilty on Dec. 15, 2008, to forgery, a third degree crime and possession of heroin, a third degree crime. She admitted that between Sept. 9 and 12, 2008, she had stolen numerous checks from an adult relative. She also admitted that she was in possession of heroin. Feb. 5 James A. Yurchak, age 45, of Hardyston indicted with murder, a first degree crime and possession of a weapon with purpose to use it unlawfully against the person of another, a crime of the second degree. It is alleged that on Feb. 19, 2008 James Yurchak purposely and knowingly caused the death of his wife, Dawn Yurchak, by shooting her in the head with a .45 caliber Ruger handgun. He then suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, was treated at a hospital and subsequently transferred to a rehabilitation facility before being discharged on April 3, 2008. The defendant is currently free on bail in the amount of $500,000 no 10 percent. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. Feb. 6 Brett Giammanco, 35, of Sparta, was indicted with terroristic threats, a third degree crime; possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, a third degree crime; unlawful possession of a knife, a fourth degree crime; criminal restraint, a third degree crime; witness tampering, a third degree crime; and contempt of court for violating the terms of an order entered under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, a fourth degree crime. Anthony Steccato, 58, of Newton,was indicted with three counts of criminal mischief, all third degree crimes. Andy DeLeon, 33, of Bronx, New York, was indicted with criminal trespass, a fourth degree crime. Martin Gibbs, 44, of Sussex was sentenced to serve 246 days in the Sussex County Jail and received 246 days jail credit. In addition, Gibbs is required to pay $530 in monetary penalties. He pled guilty on Dec. 2, 2008, to two counts of failure to notify law enforcement of a change of address, a fourth degree crime and two counts of violating the terms of his special sentence of Community Supervision for Life. Under the provisions of Megan’s Law, Gibbs was required to notify the local police that he was moving to a new address 10 days prior to his actual move. In addition, under the terms of his community supervision for life Gibbs was required to report to his parole officer, reside at an address that is approved by his parole officer, obtain permission prior to moving, and obtain permission prior to leaving the State of New Jersey. Feb. 6 Scott D. Verhage, 18, of Highland Lakes, was sentenced to two years probation, 62 days in jail with credit for time served, substance abuse evaluation and treatment and $2,330 in fines. He pled guilty on Dec. 15, 2008 to two counts of third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He admitted to possessing a large number of Xanax in Vernon Township on May 29, 2008. Fredrick J. Watts, 20, of Vernon, was sentenced to five years in prison with a one year period of parole in eligibility, $1,300 in fines and a six-month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on Dec. 15, 2008 to the third degree crime of distribution of marijuana and to the second degree crime of possessing a firearm while possessing a controlled dangerous substance with the intent to distribute it. He admitted that on Oct. 8, 2008 he distributed a quarter pound of marijuana to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Gang, Guns and Narcotic Task Force. He also admitted to possessing ten pounds of marijuana the following day with the intent to distribute it while at the same time possessing several firearms. Ashley L. Hutchinson, 26, of Warwick, NY was sentenced to one year probation, 61 days credit for time served in jail, substance abuse evaluation and $955 in fines. She pled guilty on Dec. 15, 2008 to the fourth degree crime of possession of marijuana. She had admitted to possessing more than 50 grams of marijuana on Oct. 16, 2008 in the Township of Vernon. Feb. 8 Sarah C. Schmidt, 23, of Columbia, NJ pled guilty to shoplifting, a third degree crime. Between Aug. 18, 2008 and Aug. 20, 2008, the defendant stole merchandise from Lowe’s in Hampton Township then returned the merchandise in exchange for Lowe’s gift cards. She admitted her actions to police both verbally and in writing. Feb. 9 Jonathan D. Wagner, 25, of Lafayette pled guilty to eluding, a third degree crime, and to a motor vehicle violation of driving while intoxicated. Sentencing is presently anticipated for April 3, 2009. On Sept. 27, 2008, the defendant led New Jersey State Police troopers on a high speed chase from Route 206 in Frankford Township to Route 15 in Lafayette Township. After running a red light at the intersection of Route 206 and Plains Road, passing another vehicle over the double yellow lines, and losing control of the vehicle and crashing into an embankment, the car finally came to a stop and the defendant was arrested. Daniel P. Morgan, 18, of Pompton Plains pled guilty to four counts of burglary, all third degree crimes. Sentencing is presently anticipated for April 3, 2009. On Dec. 1, 2008 in Newton, the defendant and a co-defendant burglarized two local businesses and parked vehicles, taking electronics, jewelry items and tools. Calvin Smith, 19, of Hamburg 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, Smith was required to notify the local police that he was moving to a new address 10 days prior to his actual move. Smith admitted to the court that on or about Aug. 20, 2008 he had moved to a new address in Hamburg without first notifying the New Jersey State Police of the change in his address. Robert Antonecchia, 21, of Highland Lakes pled guilty to third degree possession of heroin and fourth degree theft. Sentencing is presently anticipated for April 3, 2009. In November he was found to be in possession of heroin and in July of 2008 Antonecchia waited in a vehicle while a co-defendant took a leaf blower from a truck. He then sold the leaf blower. Feb. 11 Daniel Cabral, age 21, of Barryville, NY, was sentenced to three years probation. He pled guilty on April 9, 2007 to burglary and theft by unlawful taking, both third degree crimes.