County Prosecutor

June 1 Craig Rothacker, age 19, of Ogdensburg, was sentenced to two years probation on condition that he serve 180 days in the county jail, with credit for 29 days. He also must pay $800 restitution to the victim, submit a DNA sample and pay $280 in court fines and fees. He pled guilty on April 9 to third degree unlawful Possession of a Handgun and fourth degree Possession of a Prohibited Devices. In January the defendant purchased a stolen gun from a juvenile and was also in possession of hollow nose bullets. Nicholas V. Spano, age 48, of Staten Island, N.Y., was sentenced to two years probation. He must continue current medications and treatment until allowed to discontinue by the court. He must pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on April 9 to theft, a third degree crime. On Oct. 10, 2006 in Andover Township, he took a purse from the vehicle of a female after she refused to go home with him. Zachery Drake, age 21, of Newton, was sentenced to three years in prison, $2,205 in fines and a six-month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on March 19 to the second degree crime of distribution of Ecstasy within 500 feet of a public park. He distributed nine Ecstasy pills to an undercover to an undercover detective assigned to the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force on Dec. 5, 2006 while within 500 feet of the Sussex County Park. Rashaud Hamilton, age 19, of Port Jervis, N.Y., was sentenced to two years probation, 180 days jail time served, a substance abuse evaluation and treatment, $2,320 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on March 19 to two counts of distributing cocaine. He admitted to distributing crack cocaine on two occasions in Montague to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force. June 4 Alexander Kaiser, age 23, of Hopatcong, entered a guilty plea to an accusation charging him with third degree aggravated assault on Ptl. Meghan McCluskey. Kaiser also entered guilty pleas to the disorderly persons offenses of hindering his own apprehension and simple assault. Kaiser admitted to the court that on or about April 5, he had assaulted an adult female during a domestic violence incident. As a result of the simple assault charge filed against Kaiser, Hopatcong Police officers went to Kaiser’s residence in order to arrest him. Kaiser then gave a false name to the police, thus hindering his own apprehension. Kaiser then engaged in assault Ptl. McCluskey when the officer was attempting to place Kaiser under arrest. Barth Stewart, age 52, of Sandyston, 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, Stewart was required to notify the local police that he was moving to a new address 10 days prior to the move. Stewart admitted to the court that between April 4 and May 3 he had failed to notify the State Police that he was moving to a new address in Sandyston. The case was investigated by Trooper Kerrick of the State Police. Stewart is scheduled to be sentenced y on Aug. 3. Syed Ali, age 19, of Hamburg, pled guilty to three counts of the third degree crime of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance while within 1,000 feet of a school. He is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 3. He admitted that on Dec. 21, 2006 and Jan. 10, 2007, he distributed marijuana to an undercover detective with the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force, and distributed cocaine to the same detective on Jan. 16. All occurred within 1,000 feet of Hamburg Elementary School Syed Muhamed Ali, age 18, of Vernon, pled guilty lo the third degree crime of distribution of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school. He is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 3. He admitted to distributing a small amount of marijuana to a detective assigned to the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force in Hamburg on Dec. 27, 2006 within 1,000 feet of the Hamburg Elementary School. Jay Meyerhoff, age 25, of Milford, Pa., pled guilty to the third degree crime of accomplice liability for aiding another to possess heroin. He is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 3. He admitted that on April 13 in Sparta, he drove another individual to obtain heroin. The matter was investigated by Sparta Police Officer Robert Fraser. June 5 Richard V. Corby, Jr., age 37, of Netcong, was sentenced to three years probation. He was ordered to serve 364 days in the Keogh-Dwyer Correctional Facility and must submit to a TASC evaluation and follow all recommendations made. He must pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. He pled guilty on May 7 to burglary, a third degree crime. On Feb. 19 in Stanhope, Corby, in a highly intoxicated state, Corby knocked on the door of a residence asking the homeowner for a ride. When the homeowner refused, he entered the victim’s vehicle, which was parked in the driveway of the home. June 7 Brando Muley, age 24, of Vernon, pled guilty to the second degree crime of possession of a firearm while committing a drug distribution offense and the third degree crime of uttering a forged document, He is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 3. He admitted to that on March 30, he possessed a semi-automatic handgun while at the same time possessing cocaine that be intended to distribute, and that he also distributed counterfeit U. S. currency.