Law and Order

Sparta Police April 8 At approximately 12:10 a.m. Sparta Police Patrolman Kurt Morris observed a vehicle traveling north on Sparta Avenue crossing over the double yellow lines. After stopping the vehicle, further investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver, Robert Knol, 24, of Vernon. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving and failure to keep right. He was released pending a mandatory court appearance in Sparta. April 10 At approximately 10 a.m. Patrolman Robert Fraser observed a vehicle traveling northbound on State Highway Route 15. The operator of the vehicle was not wearing a seatbelt. After stopping the vehicle, further investigation resulted in the arrest of the driver, Philip Hahn, 18, of Sparta. He was charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving, not wearing a seatbelt, having an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle and not having a driver's license in his possession. He was released pending a court Appearance in Sparta. Byram Police March 23 While running radar check on Route 80 a Byram Township officer observed a vehicle traveling at 49 mph a 65 mph zone. The officer stopped the vehicle and during the stop a plastic bag containing under 50 grams of marijuana, rolling papers and a small scale was observed in the glove compartment. The driver, Michael Kennedy, 31, of Easton, Penn., stated the marijuana and other items belonged to him. He was placed under arrest, and transported to Byram Police headquarters where he was processed and released pending a municipal court appearance. Kennedy was charged with possession of under 50 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, impeding the flow of traffic and possession of a controlled substance in a motor vehicle. April 1 After receiving a report of a possible drunk driver on Route 206, Officer Marin located and stopped the vehicle. A field sobriety tests resulted in the arrest of the driver, Michele Ross, 42, of Pen Argyl, Penn., for driving while intoxicated. After being placed in the rear of the patrol car, Ross began trying to kick out the right rear passenger door window, damaging the window frame. At police Headquarters she was administered two Breathalyzer tests which she failed. Ross was charged with driving while intoxicated, failing to exhibit the vehicle's registration, failing to exhibit the vehicle's insurance card, having an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle and criminal mischief for damaging the patrol car window. Her husband, John V. Ross, a passenger in the vehicle, was charged with possession of an open alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle. Both were released to a friend pending a municipal court appearance. The vehicle was impounded for 12 hours as required by state law. April 2 Byram police responded to a 9-1-1 call in which the caller hung up. When he arrived at the residence police determined that James Nasi, 36, of Byram had struck a female resident. When police investigated the officer detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana and located a small quantity of marijuana and wood pipe used to smoke it. Nasi was placed under arrest for domestic violence, possession of under 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Nasi was transported to police headquarters, where he was processed and released pending a municipal court appearance. Franklin Police April 5 At 4:40 p.m. Patrolman Nevin J. Mattessich stopped a vehicle for tailgating. Further investigation resulted in the arrest of Donald P. Gainer JR., 36, of Sussex. Gainer was found to have several outstanding motor vehicle and criminal warrants from Wantage, Patterson, Butler, Rockaway, and Wanaque totaling $4,977. He was charged with tailgating, reckless driving, and driving on the revoked list. After being processed and issued motor vehicle summonses, Gainer was turned over to the New Jersey State Police. Hamburg Police March 29 At 5:09 p.m., a 1990 Dodge Ram that was being operated by Michael G. Andro, Jr., 27, of Montague, was stopped on Route 23 by Patrolman Erik Aronson after a random mobile computer inquiry revealed there was an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and after observation of an inspection violation. He was transported to the Hamburg Police Station, to post $120 bail on the traffic warrant from the Newark Municipal Court. It was also discovered that Andro had failed to notify law enforcement of a change of address as a sex offender. He was charged with failing to notify law enforcement of an address change, a crime of the fourth degree. In addition, he was issued traffic summonses for failure to make repairs, maintenance of lamps, and failure to report motor vehicle address change. Bail was set at $2,500 with a 10 percent option, and he was released pending an appearance in Municipal Court. March 30 At 6:03 a.m., a 1999 Plymouth Voyager that was being operated by Louis Fejes, 41, of Vernon was stopped on Route 94 by Patrolman David McNulty after a random mobile computer inquiry revealed that the vehicle registration was suspended. In addition, it was also learned that his driving privileges were suspended and that there was a warrant for his arrest from the Bass River Municipal Court. He was arrested, and transported to the Hamburg Police Station. He was issued summonses for driving with a suspended registration and driving while suspended. He was released after posting $260 bail and is scheduled to appear in the Hamburg Municipal Court. Patrolman Jason Eben assisted with the arrest. At 8:25 p.m., a 1994 Saturn that was being operated by Paul A. Roberts, 20, of Newfoundland, was stopped on Route 23 by Patrolman Erik Aronson after a random mobile computer inquiry revealed there was an outstanding traffic warrant for his arrest from the Franklin Municipal Court. It was also discovered that there was an additional warrant from the Vernon Municipal Court. Roberts was arrested, and was transported to the Hamburg Police Station. He was unable to post $1,150 bail on both warrants and was turned over to the Franklin Police Department for lodging in the Sussex County Jail. He was also issued summonses for having an obstructed view, and for violating his provisional drivers license. Patrolman Paul Demott assisted with the arrest. April 5 At 11:56 p.m., Miranda E. Rielley of Hamburg was arrested by Ptl. D. McNulty of the Hamburg Police Department on outstanding warrants from Dunellen Borough and West Milford. Miranda was released R.O.R. pending municipal court dates in both jurisdictions At 8:07 p.m., Fawzi Qalagari, 54, of Hardyston, was arrested in the parking lot of the Hamburg Municipal Building after it was learned that a warrant was issued for his arrest due to his failure and refusal to appear in the Hamburg Municipal Court for a prior DWI charge that was scheduled for 5:30 p.m. that evening. After being arrested on the warrant, he was taken to the Hamburg Police Station, where he became disorderly and attempted to punch one of the officers. He was charged with disorderly conduct, aggravated assault on police, and two counts of terroristic threats He was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in default of $59,000 bail. Patrolman Erik Aronson investigated the incident and was assisted by Patrolman Roger Titus. April 7 Ptl. D. McNulty of the Hamburg Police department was dispatched to a report of a male slashing tires on a vehicle in the Heritage Lakes section of Hamburg Borough. Investigation led to the arrest of Frank Fiorvante, 48, of Franklin Borough. Fiorvante was charge with Criminal Mischief and released pending a Hamburg Municipal Court date. At 4:45 p.m., Hamburg Police were dispatched to a report of a possible violation of a court order on Winding Brook Road. Investigation led to the arrest of Kenneth A. Sauls, 64, of Hamburg after he violated a "no contact" order. Sauls was charged by Patrolman Paul Demott with contempt of court, disorderly conduct, and harassment. He was also charged by Patrolman Erik Aronson with driving while intoxicated and refusal to take a breathalyzer test. He was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in default of $2,500 bail, and is scheduled to appear in the Hamburg Municipal Court. County March 24 A juvenile, 17, of Montague, pled guilty to 10 counts of burglary, third-degree crimes, and two counts of sexual assault, second-degree crimes. Sentencing is presently anticipated for June 10. He admitted to entering into 10 separate automobiles in Newton without permission or authority of the owners with the intent to commit acts of theft. He also admitted to committing two separate acts of sexual contact with juveniles under the of thirteen. At the time of both offenses, he was at least four years older than both victims. Matthew Angus, 32, of Vernon, was sentenced to 16 years in state prison on a charge of aggravated sexual assault. He was also sentenced to a concurrent 9 year state prison term for other charges of endangering the welfare of children. He pled guilty on December 13 to aggravated sexual assault and endangering the welfare of children by exhibiting child pornography to a minor. These are first- and second-degree crimes respectively. Angus admitted to committing an act of sexual penetration upon a juvenile that was at least 13 but less than 16 years of at the time of the act. Furthermore, Angus admitted to exhibiting to the same juvenile, who was under the of 16 at the time, photographs and/or reproductions of children engaging in prohibited sexual acts and/or simulations of prohibited sexual acts. March 28 Joseph H. Thompson, 18, of Marienville, Pa., pled guilty to eluding, a third-degree crime, and to a motor vehicle charge of reckless driving. Sentencing is scheduled for June 10. He admitted to taking his father's car without the father's knowledge or consent and driving himself and his girlfriend to New Jersey. When a State Trooper attempted to pull him over for driving in an unsafe manner he did not stop right away and the vehicle ended up getting stuck in a snow bank. This occurred in Branchville on Feb. 2. Joseph Yuelling, 44, of Andover, pled guilty to theft by deception, a fourth-degree crime, and to violating probation. Sentencing is set for June 10. Between September 3 and September 16 last year, he took checks from a neighbor's home, forged the victim's signature, and cashed them. The total amount of cash he received from those checks is $375. March 29 Mitchell Powell, 33, of Ringwood, was sentenced to three years probation. He was ordered to serve 364 days in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility and was given credit for 17 days served. He must submit to a mental health and a TASC evaluation and follow any recommendations made, pay joint and several restitution in the amount of $10,099.55, pay total fines and penalties of $280, and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on Jan. 3 to theft and burglary, both third-degree crimes. Powell, along with two co-defendants, went on a crime spree involving a total of five burglary and theft victims on May 11 and May 12 of 2003 in Vernon Township. He admitted his actions to Vemon Police in a taped statement. March 30 An indictment was presented charging Robert A. Gannon, 24, of Parsippany, with fourth-degree possession of a prohibited weapon. The grand jury alleges that, on Nov. 1 of 2003, while being served with a temporary domestic violence restraining order by the Hopatcong Police Department, a search of his person revealed a five-inch gravity knife in his rear pant pocket. A juvenile, 17, of Newton, was sentenced to one year of probation, required to perform 100 hours of community service, and write a letter of apology to the victim. Furthermore, he was required to pay $60 in restitution, $75 in mandatory fines, and successfully complete the Alternative to Detention Program. While employed at the Halstead Middle School in Newton, the juvenile admitted to taking a Sony camcorder valued at over $500 and a Dell laptop computer valued over $500. He did not have permission or authority from the school to take those items. A juvenile, 17, of Hopatcong, was sentenced to one year of probation, required to perform 50 hours of community service and cooperate with the State in the prosecution of his co-defendant. Furthermore, he is responsible to pay $938 in restitution to the victim, pay $45 in mandatory fines, write a letter of apology to the victim, obtain a part-time job and successfully complete the Alternative to Detention Program. He pled guilty to burglary, a third-degree crime. He was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the Court. He had acted as a lookout for his co-defendant, who entered Josie's Diner in Hopatcong without permission or authority to do so with the intent to commit theft therein. By acting as a lookout, he was an accomplice to the burglary.