County Prosecutor

March 31 Stacey L. Owens, 39, of Unionville, N.Y., was sentenced to two years probation. He must follow recommendations made in a TASC evaluation, obtain intensive out-patient treatment, perform 80 hours community service, and his driving privileges were suspended for six months. He must pay total fines and penalties of $294 and submit a DNA sample at his expense. Owens pleaaded guilty on Feb. 14 to terroristic threats, and to a motor vehicle violation for leaving the scene of an accident. He admitted to police that on Dec. 11, he ran his vehicle into the back of another vehicle at a McDonald’s drive-thru in Montague and, when the victim tried to get his license plate number in order to call police, he yelled at her to get out of the way or he would run her over. Joann Brown, 50, of NYC, was sentenced to one year probation, which will be transferred to the State of N.Y. She must pay restitution of $100 and perform 50 hours community service. She must pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at her expense. Brown pleaded guilty on Feb. 14 to forgery. She admitted to signing her employer’s name to a gift catalog order and ordering approximately $240 in merchandise. Dawn Wetzel, 31, of Killington, Vt., was sentenced to one year probation, which will be transferred to the State of Vermont. She must pay restitution in the amount of $1,982, maintain gainful employment and perform 25 hours community service. She must pay total fines and penalties of $155 and submit a DNA sample at her expense. Wetzel pleaded guilty on Jan. 17 to theft by deception. Between December 2004 and April 2005, while receiving public assistance from the Sussex County Division of Social Services, she failed to report a change in her income due to her being employed for that time period. April 3 Kenneth McCollum, 26, of last known address Lafayette, pleaded guilty to tampering with physical evidence. He admitted to attempting to hide several vials of cocaine when the police executed a search warrant at an apartment where he was staying on June 28, 2005, in Lafayette. He is scheduled for sentencing on May 19. Dawn Vahaly, 27, of Vernon, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and driving while intoxicated. She admitted to possessing four bags of heroin on Dec. 24 in Vernon, following a motor vehicle stop by Officer S. Carrell, and that she had been operating the vehicle under the influence of oxycodone. She is scheduled for sentencing on May 19. Michael Kzprosch, 43, of Lord’s Valley, Pa., pleaded guilty to possession of heroin and driving while intoxicated. He admitted to possessing eight bags of heroin following a motor vehicle stop on Nov. 5, 2004, in Sparta, by Officer Marc Rubino. He also admitted consuming heroin while driving. Kzprosch is scheduled for sentencing on May 19. Tracy Happe, 35, of Hamburg, pleaded guilty to possession of heroin. He was found to be in possession of 12 bags of heroin on Jan. 17 in Sparta, following a motor vehicle stop by Officer Robert Fraser. Happe is scheduled for sentencing on May 19, Stephen Killen, 25, of Hopatcong, pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. He admitted lo possessing a small amount of cocaine in his home on May 8, 2005, following an investigation by Hopatcong police officers Ryan Tracey and Megan McCluskey. Killen is scheduled for sentencing on May 19. Quentin Nicolai, 33, of Vernon, pleaded guilty to operating a premises used for manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of third- degree theft, one count of fourth-degree theft, one count of third-degree burglary and a violation of probation. Nicolai admitted to attempting to make methamphetamine on several occasions at his home. He also admitted to stealing property from the Mohawk House in Sparta while it was under construction. He admitted to taking movable property belonging to Polizzi Builders in Hardyston on August 16, 2004. He also admitted to taking property from Beazer Homes in Hardyston on April 1, 2005. Sentencing is scheduled for May 19. Anthony Versace, 19, of McAfee, pleaded guilty to distribution of more than 100 milligrams of LSD. He admitted to distributing 30 doses of LSD on Oct. 21, in Vernon to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force. Versace is scheduled for sentencing on May 19. Susan A. Davenport, 50, of Franklin, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft by deception. Between June 5, 2005, and Aug. 1, 2005, Davenport and a co-defendant wrote several checks to the Wal-Mart in Franklin, knowing there were insufficient funds in the bank account to cover those checks. Sentencing is anticipated for May 19. April 5 Kevin M. LaFlamme, 25, of Newton, pleaded guilty to a fourth-degree offense while on probation. On Dec. 25, 2004, in Hampton. LaFlamme punched and kicked another male hard enough for him to lose consciousness. Both claimed to be fighting over a girl. Sentencing is anticipated for May 19. Majeed Tajiddin, 29, of Newark, was sentenced to four and one half years state prison. On March 8, Tajiddin entered guilty pleas to the charges contained in three indictments, including resisting arrest, criminal mischief, hindering his own apprehension, aggravated assault on an officer and contempt of court. He admitted that on Aug. 14, 2003, he resisted arrest by officers from the Newton Police Department by having in his possession pepper spray. After being placed under arrest and placed in a Newton police car, Tajiddin admitted that he kicked out both of the rear passenger windows. He also admitted that on Aug. 15, 2003, he violated the terms of his bail conditions by having contact with the victim of a domestic violence matter. Tajiddin admitted that after being placed under arrest by Patrolman Scott King of the Newton Police Dept. he spit saliva, a bodily fluid, on King while the officer was acting in the performance of his duties while in uniform. Tajiddin also admitted that on Dec. 14, 2003, he hindered his own apprehension when he stole the cellular phone of an off-duty police officer who was attempting to call the Newton police. In addition to the state prison sentence, Tajiddin was ordered to pay restitution to the Newton Police Dept. for the unreimbursed damage to the police car. The court also ordered Tajiddin to pay restitution in the amount of $381.59 to the off-duty police officer whose cellular phone he stole. He was also ordered to pay a total of $655 in fines and penalities. April 6 Genevieve M. Benjamin. 36, of Phillipsburg, pleaded guilty to child abuse. While living in Franklin, Benjamin allowed her husband to hit the victim with a belt and observed him having sexual contact with the victim and failed to stop him. The case against Benjamin was investigated by Det. Jennifer Williams, of the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, and Det. Matt Gallop, of the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Sabrina M. Vivino, 28, of Franklin, was indicted and charged with possession of heroin. The case was investigated by Ptl. Marin of the Byram Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory R. Mueller. Vivino will be arraigned before the Superior Court in Newton within the next six weeks. April 7 Lawrence W. Wiese, 49, of Vernon, was sentenced to three years in state prison, six months loss of driver’s license, and must provide a DNA sample and register under Megan’s Law. He must pay fines and costs totaling $2,630. Wiese pleaded guilty on Feb. 6 to distribution of drugs to a minor and criminal sexual contact. During March and April of 2005, he provided cocaine to a female who was under 18 years of age and had sexual contact with her. Brianne H. Lutz, 23, of Newton, was indicted and charged with burglary and giving false information to law enforcement The case was investigated by Patrolman E. Danielson of the Andover Police Dept. The Grand Jury alleges that on Aug. 28, 2005, Lutz entered a doctor’s office and took a bag containing several items of baby necessities. She indicated to police that she did not enter the building and take the bag, it was a male friend of hers. Lutz will be arraigned before the Superior Court in Newton within six weeks. Thomas E. Clark, 39, of Newton, was indicted and charged with two counts of aggravated assault and with weapons possession. The case was investigated by Patrolman M. Wolanski of the Newton Police Dept. The Grand Jury alleges that on May 1, 2005, at a restaurant/bar in Newton, Clark deliberately struck another patron in the head with a glass, causing significant bodily injury to the victim. Clark will be arraigned before the Superior Court in Newton be within six weeks. Douglas C. Owen, 44, of Lafayette, was charged with receiving stolen property. The case was investigated by Detective E. Muller, of the N.J. State Police, Detective B. Jernick, of the Vernon Police Dept., and Detective D. White, of the Hardyston Police Dept. The Grand Jury alleges that between June 19, 2005, and December 16, 2005, Owen was in possession of several trailers, tractors, tools, lawnmowers and equipment, knowing it was all stolen or believing that it had probably been stolen. He will be arraigned before the Superior Court in Newton within six weeks. Darrin J. Springstead, 37, of Stockholm, was charged with criminal trespass. The case was investigated by Patrolman K. Kuzicki of the Vernon Police Dept. The Grand Jury alleges that on Aug. 12, 2005, he entered the home of a neighbor in Stockholm without the homeowner’s knowledge or consent, knowing he was not licensed or privileged to do so. Springstead will be arraigned before the Superior Court in Newton within six weeks. April 10 Joseph F. Murphy, 28, of Newton, was sentenced to eleven and one half years incarceration in state prison, with five years, nine months parole ineligibility, loss of his driver’s license for one year after release, restitution to the victims and various fines and penalties. Murphy pleaded guilty on Feb. 9 to 27 charges of burglary, theft, robbery, fraud, possession of CDS, obstruction and criminal mischief. Nicholas Zanetti, 25, of Newton, was sentenced to eight years incarceration in state prison, with three and one half years parole ineligibility, loss of his driver’s license for one year after release, restitution to the victims and various fines and penalties. He pleaded guilty on May 4, 2005, to two counts of receiving stolen property, three counts of theft by deception, two counts of theft by unlawful taking, one count of receiving stolen property, and possession of CDS. Zanetti was an accomplice to many crimes committed in Sussex County on various dates.