County Prosecutor

August 28 Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the entry of a guilty plea to an accusation before the Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., JSC at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on Aug. 28, by Daniel C. Pfeil. Pfeil, age 20, of Newton, pled guilty to two counts of third degree theft. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Sept. 19. Pfeil participated in the burglary and theft of Dow Tire in Wantage. He also was involved in a scheme to steal money from Walmart in Newton. Pfeil was represented by Ronald Nicola, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller. September 1 Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the sentencing of David Rivera before the Honorable Thomas J. Criichley, Jr., J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on Sept. 1. Rivera, age 40, of Newton, was sentenced to two years probation, 120 days in the county jail, a substance evaluation and treatment, $1205 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on May 1 to the third degree crime of possession of cocaine. He admitted being in constructive possession of several vials of crack cocaine following a motor vehicle stop on March 11 by Sparta Police Officer Scott Elig. Rivera was represented by Kevin McLaughlin, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Reed. Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the sentencing of Allan Linden before the Honorable Thomas J. Crilchley, Jr., J.S.C, at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on Sept. 1. Linden, age 40, of Tafton, PA, was sentenced to two years probation, three days credit for time served in jail, $1,205 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on June 20 to the third degree crime of possession of heroin. He admitted that on October 29, 2004, he cooperated with his co-defendant, Robert Monahan. in traveling to Orange, N.J. to obtain heroin and that he possessed one bag of heroin as they returned from there to Pa. The matter was investigated by Sparta Police Officer Robert Fraser. Linden was represented by Kevin McLaughlin, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Reed. Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the sentencing of Frank Bruner by the Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on Sept. 1. Bruner, age 28, of Sussex, was sentenced to four years state prison with 15 months of parole in eligibility, $1205 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on May 30 to the third degree crime of possession with the intent to distribute more than one ounce of marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school. He admitted to possessing marijuana in his home on March 9 and that he intended to sell a portion of it. His home was located within 1,000 feet of the Sussex Middle School. The matter was investigated by members of the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force and the New Jersey State Police. Bruner was represented by Alexander Pagano, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Reed, Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the sentencing of Norman Killingback by the Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on. Sept. 1. Killingback, age 23, of Hamburg, was sentenced to two years probation, 30 days in county jail, 60 days S.L.A.P, $845 in fines and a two year loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on June 21 to the fourth degree crime of throwing bodily fluids at a police officer and to driving while intoxicated. On May 15, in Sparta, after being stopped for speeding, he became hostile, refused to exit his vehicle after being told to do so by officers, threatened harm to the officers and their families and spit on one of the officers. Killingback was represented by Robert Warmington, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Reed. Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the sentencing of Joseph Marion by the Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on Sept.1. Marion, age 35, of Newton, was sentenced to two years probation, 363 days in county jail, time served, $1,205 in fines, a substance abuse evaluation and treatment and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on July 10, to third degree possession of heroin. He admitted to possessing a bag of heroin in Newton on Feb. 10. Marion was represented by Robert Mania, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Thomas Reed. September 6 Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the entry of a guilty plea to an accusation before the Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., JSC at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on Sept. 6, by Evan Alexander. Alexander, age 20, of Lafayette pled guilty to one count of Endangering the Welfare of Children, a 3rd degree crime. During the month of May the defendant was watching adult movies and allowed a minor under 16 years old to enter the room and view the movie. Also during the month of May the defendant on one occasion came out of the shower with only a towel on and began to horseplay and dance with a minor boy under the age of 16 and during this time the minor touched the defendant’s erect penis. The case against Alexander was investigated by Det. Matthew McCurry, New Jersey State Police and Det. Joseph Costello formerly of the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. Alexander was represented by Kevin McLaughlin, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Koch. September 7 Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced the entry of a guilty plea to an accusation before the Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., J.S.C. at the Sussex County Courthouse in Newton on Sept. 7 by Robert J. Verwers. Verwers, age 36, of Branchville, pled guilty to shoplifting, a 4th degree crime. Sentencing is presently anticipated for Nov. 3. On Nov. 30 and December 4, he shoplifted over $51,000 worth of items from the A and P in Wantage. Both instances were captured on the store’s video camera. Verwers was represented by Steven Insley, Esq. and the State was represented by Assistant Prosecutor Michael Briegel. Sussex County Prosecutor David J. Weaver announced that the Sussex County Grand Jury handed up an indictment to the Honorable Thomas J. Critchley, Jr., JSC, at the courthouse in Newton on Sept. 7. The indictment charges Kelly Cogswell, age 40, of Wharton with 2nd degree Theft by failure to make required disposition, 3rd degree theft, 3rd degree witness tampering, 3rd degree forgery and 4th degree contempt. The case was investigated by Del. Todd Duffy of the Byram Police Department and Lt. Diane Hemschot of the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office. Ms. Cogswell befriended an 82-year-old gentleman and began living with him in 2003. Over the next year, it is alleged that she defrauded the victim, who has since been declared incompetent to manage his finances, of more than $75,000 in money and property. The Honorable Karen D. Russell ordered Cogswell to return all money and property to the victim, however she has not complied with that order.