County Prosecutor

December 19 Ryan Streiff, age 22, of Seymour, Conn., was indicted on ten counts alleging various offenses in Hardyston Township on April 8 and in Sparta on April 21. It is alleged that he committed the second degree crime of eluding arrest, the second degree crime of possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, third degree possession of a handgun without a permit, fourth degree unlawful possession of a knife and third degree possession of stolen property in Hardyston. It is also alleged that he committed the second degree crime of possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose, the third degree crime of possession of a handgun without a permit, fourth degree possession of a knife, third degree possession of heroin and third degree possession of stolen property in Sparta. The matter was investigated by Hardyston Police Officer Nicholas Colandra and Sparta Police Officer Mark Mastandrea. Theresa Bea, age 27, and Katie Pelton, age 19, both of Port Jervis, N.Y., were indicted for third degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance; Bea also was indicted for fourth degree tampering with evidence. It is alleged that on May 7 in Sparta, Pelton possessed heroin and Bea possessed cocaine, and also that Bea destroyed some cocaine by swallowing it before being arrested by the police. The matter was investigated by Sparta Police Officer Adam Carbery. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proven at a jury trial. January 2 William Carwile, age 23, of Franklin, pled guilty to the disorderly persons offense of being under the influence of a controlled dangerous substance. He is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 16. He admitted to consuming two bags of heroin on a return trip from Newark before he was stopped by members of the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force in Franklin on Oct. 4. Timothy Herd, age 19, of Sparta, pled guilty to the fourth degree crime of possessing a device adapted or designed to defraud the administration of a drug test. He is scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 16. He admitted to secreting a Visine bottle of urine inside of his pants when he reported to Sussex County Probation on Oct. 11 in order to attempt to defraud taking a drug lest as a condition of probation. The matter was investigated by Sussex County Sheriff Department Sgt. Larry Seller. January 3 Michael P. Hughes, age 35, of Sussex Borough, was sentenced to 18 months incarceration in state prison consecutive to a Rockaway Township Municipal Court sentence he is presently serving. Hughes was also sentenced to pay restitution, fines and penalties totaling $205. Hughes pled guilty on Dec. 4 to Criminal Trespass, a fourth degree crime.