SUSSEX COUNTY PROSECUTOR
Dec. 15, 2008 Frederick J. Watts, age 20, of Vernon pled guilty 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. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 6. He admitted that on Oct. 8, 2008 he distributed a quarter pound of marijuana to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Gang, Gun and Narcotic Task Force. He also admitted to possessing 10 pounds of marijuana the following day with the intent to distribute it while at the same time possessing several firearms. Evan S. Schwartz, age 37, of Hopatcong pled guilty to the fourth degree offenses of obstruction of justice and contempt of a court order. He admitted that on Sept. 27, 2008 he obstructed justice by hiding evidence from the Hopatcong Police Department and that the following day he violated a temporary restraining order. Ashley L. Hutchinson, age 26, of Vernon pled guilty to the fourth degree crime of possession of marijuana. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 6. She admitted to possessing more than 50 grams of marijuana on Oct. 16, 2008 in the Township of Vernon. Dec. 16, 2008 Henry J. Boucher, age 28 of Branchville was indicted with fourth degree possession of a prohibited weapon. The grand jury alleges that on Jan. 20, 2008, while a passenger in a car pulled over in Sparta, Mr. Boucher had a dagger in his possession. Van R. Gilliland, age 50 of Mount Vernon, New York was indicted with third degree receiving stolen property. The grand jury alleges that on March 30, 2008, Mr. Gilliland was stopped in Sparta driving a vehicle previously reported stolen. Dec. 17, 2008 Justin M. Brown, age 25, of Franklin pled guilty to resisting arrest, a third degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 20. On May 28, 2008 in Franklin, while being arrested for a domestic dispute at his home, the defendant tried to unholster an officer’s firearm. He was ultimately pepper sprayed and subdued. Antonio Laboy, age 25, of Montague pled guilty to burglary, a third degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 20. On July 31, 2008 in Montague, Laboy and a co-defendant took a vehicle belonging to a former employer of Laboy’s without the owner’s consent or authorization. A serious motor vehicle accident involving the vehicle initiated an investigation into the matter. Dec. 18, 2008 A juvenile, age 16, of Vernon, was sentenced to 18 months probation with 14 days in the Juvenile Detention Center and a six month loss of his driver’s license. He must also attend school every day and follow all home and school rules, submit a DNA sample, undergo random drug testing, testify truthfully against co-defendants, pay court fines of $75 and pay a total of $4447.66 to his victims, joint and several. In November he place a note in the Vernon High School bathroom saying the “school goes boom at noon.” On a different occasion he shot paintballs at a residence and vehicles parked in the driveway. Dec. 19, 2008 Michael Wancura, age 22 of Franklin pled guilty to violating his probation and was sentenced to three years in state prison (credit for 380 days). Defendant must also continue with counseling. He pled guilty to violating his probation by failing a drug test. Eric T. Budinger, age 31, of Hopatcong was sentenced to two years probation. He must serve 150 hours community service, pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He is barred from future paid employment with public entities. He pled guilty on Oct. 14, 2008 to theft, a third degree crime. 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. Eric Manno, age 24, of Hamburg was sentenced to three years probation on condition that he serve 60 days in the county jail or complete 60 days in the Sheriff’s Labor Assistance Program. He must also undergo random drug testing, have TASC evaluation and follow all recommendations, submit a DNA sample, pay $155 in court fines and $3000 in restitution to the victim, joint and several with his co-defendants. He pled guilty on Oct. 27, 2008, to third degree theft. On May 20, 2008, Manno and three co-defendants (one was a juvenile) broke into townhouses that were under construction, causing damage to the townhouses and taking copper piping that was to be used for plumbing/heating. They sold the copper piping for cash. Michael Walter, age 24, of Milford, Pennsylvania was sentenced to three years probation, 30 days county jail, $1,205 in fines and a six month loss of license. He pled guilty on Oct. 6, 2008 to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He admitted that on February 20, 2006 he possessed nine bags of heroin and five bags of cocaine following a motor vehicle stop by Sparta Police. Kaarhera Bourgeois, age 47, of Hopatcong was sentenced to three years state prison, $2,030 in fines and a two-year loss of drivers license. He pled guilty on Sept. 8, 2008 to the third degree crime of possession of cocaine and to driving while intoxicated. He admitted that on May 14, 2008, he possessed a small amount of crack cocaine after being stopped by Hopatcong Police. He also admitted that he was driving under the influence of Phencyclidine. John M. Shaker, age 20, of Hopatcong was sentenced to three years probation, inpatient substance abuse treatment at Strait and Narrow, a six-month loss of drivers license and $1,205 in fines. He plead guilty on Oct. 27, 2008 to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He admitted that on Jan. 24, 2008 he possessed three bags of heroin in the bedroom of his home. Dec. 22, 2008 Christopher J. Tetelman, age 24, of Stanhope was sentenced to 270 days in jail and four years probation. He must submit his DNA and pay court costs and fines. He must also undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation. Tetelman pled guilty on Sept. 8, 2008 to one count of third degree burglary, two counts of third degree receiving stolen property, one count of third degree unlawful use of a credit card and one count of fourth degree of theft of a credit card. In one incident, he admitted to being in possession of property stolen from a Stanhope Borough residence. In another incident he admitted to entering two vehicles in Sparta and taking personal items and using the credit cards to make several purchases at area stores. In a third incident, he admitted to being in possession of stolen vehicle rims and an intake manifold stolen from the back of a pick-up truck located in Byram Township. Thomas Netzer, age 20, of Newton was sentenced to four years probation, 180 days of jail, a substance abuse evaluation and treatment, six month loss of licenses and $1,205 in fines. He pled guilty on Oct. 22, 2008, to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. He admitted that on Oct. 5, 2007 in Newton he possessed three bags of heroin. A juvenile pled guilty on Oct. 23, 2008 to third degree burglary. He was adjudicated a juvenile delinquent by the court. The juvenile, age 15, of Newton was sentenced to a 12-month suspended sentence in the custody of the Juvenile Justice Commission and two years probation. As conditions of probation he must follow all recommendations of a substance abuse evaluation, complete an intensive outpatient rehabilitation program, submit a DNA sample, undergo random drug testing and attend AA/NA meetings. In September, the juvenile and an adult co-defendant defendant broke into the home of the victim taking a digital camera and drinking a bottle of wine in the home. Tara E. Fletcher, age 21, of Sparta pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 20. She admitted to possessing approximately 20 bags of heroin with a friend in Sparta on Oct. 6, 2008. Stephanie Szescila, age 35, of Franklin pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and to a motor vehicle ticket for a cracked windshield. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 20. She admitted to possessing 12 bags of heroin during a motor vehicle stop in Sparta. Daniel R. Brinkworth, age 21, of Newfoundland, Pennsylvania pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 27. He admitted to possessing, along with his co-defendant/girlfriend, approximately 200 bags of heroin during the course of a motor vehicle stop on March 3, 2008 by Sparta Police. Dec. 23, 2008 Cindi E. Outer, age 52 of Port Jervis, New York was sentenced to 12 months in jail. She must also provide her DNA, pay court costs and pay $200 restitution to her victim. Outer pled guilty on Dec. 2, 2008 to fourth degree possession of a stolen credit card. She admitted to using a credit card stolen from a Sparrowbush, New York resident who was shopping at the Montague ShopRite to purchase cigarettes and other items at the Montague Citgo. Jan. 5 Christian Villarreal, age 21, of Hamburg was sentenced to four years drug court probation, 120 days county jail, intensive outpatient treatment, $1,205 in fines and a nine-month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on Dec. 8, 2008 to the third degree crime of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance. He admitted to distributing a small amount of heroin to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force in Hardyston Township on Oct. 23, 2007. Jan. 6 Robert Levy, age 49, of Branchville pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Feb. 20. He admitted to possessing 23 bags of heroin in his home on Aug. 20, 2008.