Sussex County Prosecutor

Oct. 14 Markus Castillo-Delacruz, age 28, of Sussex pled guilty to one count of lewdness, a fourth degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for December 5. Defendant admitted to exposing his genitals in front of a five-year-old child. Eric T. Budinger, age 31, of Hopatcong pled guilty to theft, a third degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for December 12. On May 14, 2005, he was found to be in possession of a handheld radio belonging to Andover Township Police Department. Several radios were discovered missing from the department in 2005, where the defendant worked as a dispatcher, and he gave a statement confessing to taking the one he was found to be in possession of. William Oguendo, age 23, of Newton pled guilty to possession of a metal baseball bat under circumstances not manifestly appropriate for lawful use, a third degree crime and terroristic threat, a third degree crime. Sentencing is presently scheduled for November 7. Oguendo admitted that on or about August 26, 2007 he was in possession of a metal baseball bat and he threatened to use the baseball bat during a domestic violence incident. Shannon Ernst, age 27, of Montague pled guilty to two counts of third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and motor vehicle tickets for an unsafe and uninsured vehicle. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Nov. 3. She was admitted that the vehicle she was driving in Sparta on June 13 had front end damage and no insurance, and that she possessed 36 bags of heroin and several suboxone pills. Oct. 15 Titus S. Valentin, age 19, of Hopatcong, was sentenced to two years probation. He must pay restitution in the amount of $7,302.75, joint and several, was ordered to perform 250 hours of community service, pay total fines and penalties of $405 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on August 4 to criminal mischief and attempted theft, both third degree crimes, and resisting arrest, a fourth degree crime. Between August 8, 2007 and March 18 in Hopatcong, Valentin and two co-defendants spray painted property at Hopatcong State Park. He admitted his actions to police when his car was pulled over for a motor vehicle violation and a notebook cover with the words that were spray painted at the park was in plain view in the vehicle. On June 3 in Hopatcong, a homeowner called police to report suspicious activity at his neighbor’s home. When police arrived and attempted to arrest the defendant and two co-defendants for attempting to take parts from a vehicle at that home, Valentin took off on foot and ignored repeated orders to stop. Christine E. Snyder, age 37, of Hackettstown pled guilty to one count of third degree issuing bad checks and one count of fourth degree issuing bad checks. Sentencing is presently anticipated for December 12. She admitted to issuing checks to both The Plumbing Store in Stanhope and Hamburg Plumbing Store knowing that her bank account was closed. Latasha Best, age 25, formally of South Daytona Beach, Florida, was sentenced to three years state prison with 1.5 years of parole ineligibility, $1,205 in fines and a six-month loss of driver’s license. She pled guilty on July 28 to the third degree crime of possession with the intent distribute a controlled dangerous substance within 1000 feet of school. She admitted that on June 12 she possessed cocaine with the intent to distribute while at 160 Spring Street, Newton, which was within 1000 feet of Saint Joseph’s Elementary School. Paul E. Pease, age 27, of Mine Hill, was sentenced to three years probation and three days in jail. He must attend counseling and obtain gainful employment. In addition, he must pay $1,400.00 restitution to his victims. Pease pled guilty on June 9 to two counts of third degree burglary, one count of third degree theft and one count of fourth degree theft. He admitted to entering two Andover Township homes, one under construction and another abandoned and removing copper. Jerry L. Vandermark, age 28 of Franklin, was sentenced to 18 months in jail. He must pay court costs and he must pay approximately $630 in restitution to his victims. Vandermark pled guilty on June 9 to fourth degree credit card theft, and a disorderly person offense of criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and theft. He admitted to entering the apartment of a Franklin resident and removing cash and jewelry from a safe. In a separate incident, he took a cell phone and a debit/credit card from another Franklin resident and used that debit/credit card to withdraw money from the victim’s bank account. Oct. 16 A juvenile pled guilty on October 16, to third degree possession of a weapon. He was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, age 16, was sentenced to 12 months probation and time already served in detention. He must also attend school every day and follow all home and school rules, submit a DNA sample, undergo random drug testing, have no contact with the victim or victim’s family, pay $75 in court fines and restitution to the victim. The juvenile was recently in possession of a homemade weapon and used this weapon to harass the victim and damage their property. At approximately 6 a.m. on October 16, law enforcement officers with the Sussex County Gangs, Guns and Narcotics Task Force, the Vernon Police Department and New Jersey State Police, executed a search warrant at 6 Steamboat Drive, Unit 2 in Vernon. They seized approximately ten pounds of marijuana, five firearms and more than $66,000 in cash. Frederick Watts, age 20, was charged with third degree distribution of marijuana which occurred on October 10 . He and Ashley Hutchinson, age 26, were charged with second degree crimes of possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm while in the course of committing a drug distribution offense. Both were committed to the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000. Oct. 17 Sean R. Mitchell, age 30, of Sussex, was sentenced to three years probation, 270 days county jail, $1,205 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on July 14, to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He admitted that on February 8 he was in possession of 11 bags of heroin when Vernon Police Officer William Mutz responded to a call regarding the defendant’s overdose. Anthony R. Carlson, age 27, of Pine Brook, was sentenced to three years probation, 90 days county jail and $ 1,205 in fines. He pled guilty on August 4, to the third degree crime of attempted to defraud a drug test. He admitted on May 21 he attempted to defraud a drug test at the Sussex County Probation Department by trying to empty a latex condom full of urine into a test cup. Michael Ruzzano, age 37, of Lyndhurst, was sentenced to four years New Jersey State Prison with 261 days credit and 24-month driver’s license suspension. He must also pay restitution to the victim and $1280 in court fines and fees. He pled guilty on June 9, to third degree receiving stolen property, third degree possession heroin and fourth degree criminal mischief. The defendant and co-defendant knocked on the door of the victim. When she didn’t answer, they broke into the home (with the victim inside). After the victim heard a bang she looked out and asked them if they were trying to break in. They said no they were lost. They caused $500 worth of damage to a garage entry door. After Ruzzano was arrested, heroin was found on him when he was searched. Oct. 20 Thomas Blaine, age 27, of Shawanese, Pennsylvania pled guilty to one count of third degree burglary and two counts of third degree theft. Sentencing is presently anticipated for December 12. He admitted to entering the home of a Wantage resident and taking coins and currency, clothing, video games and a bronze medallion. Thomas A. Iaderosa, age 31, of Bangor, Pennsylvania, pled guilty to burglary, a third degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for December 12. On or about June 27 in Byram, the defendant broke into the supply yard of a former employer and stole spools of wire and multiple drill bits. He admitted his actions to police, claiming he believed he was entitled to additional pay upon his termination of employment. Brian P. Walsh, age 22, of Hewitt, pled guilty to aggravated assault, a third degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for December 12. On June 14 and/or June 15 in Vernon, the defendant had an altercation with the victim at a house party both were attending, punching him multiple times in the face causing a fracture to his jaw bone that needed to be surgically repaired. The victim also suffered multiple cuts and lacerations to his face that required sutures. Kelly A. Williams, age 34, of Hamburg, pled guilty to fourth degree shoplifting. Sentencing is presently anticipated for December 12. She admitted to taking cigarettes and hair items from Franklin WalMart while employed there.