SUSSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE

Feb. 9Travis Vannatter, 24, of Sparta was sentenced to three years of probation. He was ordered to submit to a TASC evaluation and follow any and all recommendations made from same, complete 200 hours of community service work, submit to random urine screenings, attend NA/AA five times per week, obtain and maintain employment, and pay restitution totaling $839.94 and fines and fees totaling $310.
He pleaded guilty on Sept. 11, 2017, to conspiracy, shoplifting, and fencing, all fourth-degree crimes.
The defendant and his co-defendant agreed to and actually did take items valued at more than $200 from Weis and Walmart in Franklin on June 8, 2017, without paying for them. The defendant also was involved in the sale of stolen jewelry valued at more than $200.00 on August 5, 2017, in Franklin.
Steven R. Smith, 31, of Hamburg was sentenced to six years New Jersey State Prison subject to the No Early Release Act, was given credit for 132 days already served in the Keogh Dwyer Correctional Facility and he will be on mandatory parole supervision for five years once released. The defendant also received a two-year driver’s license suspension, must submit a DNA sample, testify truthfully against his co-defendant(s) if necessary and pay $1,255 in court fines and fees.
He pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2017, to Strict Liability for Drug Induced Death, a crime of the first degree.
The defendant distributed or dispensed heroin through a co-defendant to an individual in Wantage Township on August 21, 2015, whose death was a result of ingesting the heroin.
Ronald Gerstmann, 59, of Sussex was sentenced to three years in New Jersey state prison, along with three additional 18-month New Jersey State Prison terms, all to run concurrently. He must also submit a DNA sample, pay a total of $1,131.24 restitution to his victims and $530.00 in court fines and fees.
He pleaded guilty on Nov. 6, 2017, to third-degree theft of services, two counts of fourth-degree bad check and fourth-degree forgery.
On two separate occasions Gerstmann wrote checks to Michael’s Jewelers in Franklin and to Mobil Gas Station on Hamburg knowing the checks were drawn on a closed account. The defendant also drew up fake housing documents in an attempt to collect rent money that was not due to him.
Michael Kaprosch, 55, of Newton was sentenced to an aggregated total of ten years in New Jersey State Prison with credit for 511 days of time served. Kaprosch was ordered to have no contact with the victim, to submit a DNA sample, and to pay fines and fees totaling $735.
Kaprosch was convicted on Oct. 4, 2017, of burglary, theft, and criminal mischief, all third-degree crimes, after a jury trial presided over by Judge William J. McGovern III. The jury found that during the months of July and August 2016, Kaprosch entered the Newton National Guard Armory on South Park Drive on multiple occasions and removed copper piping and radiators, causing damage to the building and its equipment in excess of $2,000 in the process. Kaprosch took the copper piping and radiators to George’s Salvage where he sold the items for $1,489.15.
Kaprosch was sentenced to seven years in New Jersey State Prison for these three offenses that will run concurrently.
On Oct. 17, 2017, during the jury selection process, Kaprosch pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, both third-degree crimes, and unlawful possession of a weapon, a fourth-degree crime. In pleading guilty, Kaprsosch admitted that on Aug. 18, 2016, he struck an individual in the head with a squeegee at the Quick Check in Hampton Township and caused bodily injury to the victim. Kaprosch was sentenced to three years in New Jersey state prison for aggravated assault and 18 months in New Jersey State Prison for unlawful possession of a weapon to run concurrently with each other but consecutive to the sentence imposed in the National Guard Armory Burglary case.
Melissa Floystad, 48, of Dingmans Ferry, Pa., was sentenced to three years in New Jersey state prison to run concurrent with any sentence now being served in Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, with credit for 95 days already served. She must also pay $1,205 in court fines and fees.
She pleaded guilty on Dec. 19, 2017, to third-degree Possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
The defendant was found to be in possession of heroin as a result of a motor vehicle stop by New Jersey State Police.