County Prosecutor

March 28 Brian Rowland, 24 of Sussex, was sentenced to probation for four years. As a condition of his probation Rowland is to serve 60 days in the Sussex County jail, pay $155 in monetary penalties, pay restitution in the amount of $4600.93, and undergo a substance abuse evaluation. He pled guilty on Jan. 28, to theft by unlawful taking, a third degree crime. He admitted that on or about July 13, 2007, he took a purse from a parked car and used a credit card he found in the purse to make purchases. He later sold the purchases for drugs in Newark. Brian Gardner, 24, of Newton, New Jersey, was sentenced to two years probation. As a condition of his probation, he was ordered to serve 180 days in the Sussex County jail and to pay $155 in monetary penalties. He pled guilty on Jan. 7, to one count of the 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, Gardner was required to notify the local police that he was moving to a new address 10 days prior to his actual move. Gardner admitted to the court that between Sept. 16, 2007 and Oct. 1, 2007 he had been residing in Andover Township and had failed to notify the New Jersey State Police that he had moved. March 31 Jakub Waclawski, 20, of Hopatcong, was sentenced to three years drug court probation, inpatient substance abuse treatment, 31 days jail credit, $1,205 in fines and a six month loss of driver’s license. He pled guilty on March 3, to the third degree crime of possession of heroin. The Hopatcong Police Department responded to his home on Nov. 12, 2007 in response to a call that he had overdosed. The defendant admitted that he had possessed two bags of heroin and there was heroin mixed with water in a syringe that was in his possession. The matter was investigated by Hopatcong Police Officer Paul Barta. Thomas Liddell, 50, of Highland Lakes pled guilty to two counts of first degree endangering the welfare of a minor, and two counts of second degree endangering the welfare of a minor. Sentencing is set for May 23. Between January 2000 and November 2001 engaged in sexual conduct with two minor children and also filmed the minor children engaging in prohibited sexual acts. Michael Kaloudis, 19, of Stanhope, pled guilty to the third degree crime of possession of psilocybin mushrooms. He is scheduled for sentencing on April 21. He admitted to possessing the hallucinogenic mushrooms on Nov. 16, 2007 in Stanhope following a brief investigation by Stanhope Police Officer R. Propelka. Thomas Forder, 27, of Branchville, pled guilty to the third degree crime of distribution of cocaine. He is scheduled for sentencing on June 6. He admitted to distributing five grams of cocaine to an individual cooperating with the Sussex County Narcotics Task Force. April 2 James Pappas, 55, of Hopatcong, entered a guilty plea to an accusation charging him with the fourth degree charge of possession of child pornography. Pappas admitted to the court that between May 20, 2003 and Sept. 1, 2005, he possessed numerous images of children engaged in prohibited sexual acts or in simulation of such acts and that he stored the images on his computer. The case was investigated by the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Hopatcong Police Department and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Pappas is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge N. Peter Conforti on Friday, May 30. April 3 An indictment charges Richard J. Dobrowolski, age 29, formerly of Vernon Township with seven counts of Megan’s Law violations. Dobrowolski was charged with five counts of violating the conditions of his special sentence of community supervision for life, all fourth degree crimes. Specifically, it is alleged that Dobrowolski failed to reside at a residence approved by his parole officer; failed to obtain permission from his parole officer prior to changing his residence; initiated, established or maintained contact with a minor; attempting to initiate, establish or maintain contact with a minor; and resided with a minor without permission of his parole officer. He was also charged with the third degree crime of failing to register his address with the Vernon Township Police Department and the fourth degree charge of providing false information to law enforcement concerning his place of residence. It is alleged that all of these offenses occurred between Sept. 7, 2007 and Oct. 2, 2007, in the Township of Vernon. The second indictment charges Dobrowolski with the fourth degree crime of failing to comply with Megan’s Law by failing to notify the New Jersey State Police that he was moving to new address and the third degree crime of failing to register his new address with the State Police. It is alleged that on or about Feb. 12, Dobrowolski moved from the Township of Wantage without first notifying the New Jersey State Police 10 days prior to leaving as required by Megan’s Law. It is also alleged that on or about Feb. 15, Dobrowolski moved to the Borough of Sussex and failed to register the Sussex Borough address with the New Jersey State Police. The case was investigated by Sgt. Thomas Accetta and Detective Aldo Leone of the Sussex County Prosecutor’s Office, Detective Thomas Zabriskie of the Vernon Township Police Department and Parole Officer Michael Marino of the Department of Corrections-Parole Divison. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robin Lawrie. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. April 3 An indictment charges Douglas J. Scherr, 27, formerly of Hopatcong and currently of Mt. Olive, with the fourth degree crime of failing to comply with Megan’s Law by failing to notify Hopatcong Borough Police Department that he was moving to Mt. Olive. As a registered sex offender, Scherr was required to notify the police department that he intended to move to a new address. The case was investigated by Sgt. Accetta and the Hopatcong Police Department. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Robin Lawrie. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial. An indictment charges Sherry J. Fiore, age 43, of Vernon, with four counts of third degree fraudulent use of a credit card. The case was investigated by Detective B. Jernick of the Vernon Township Police Department. The Grand Jury alleges that between Jan. 25, 2006 and May 15, 2007, the defendant used credit cards that did not belong to her to obtain money, goods and services at various businesses. The case was presented to the Grand Jury by Assistant Prosecutor Rachelle C. Jones. Arraignment before the Superior Court in Newton will be within the next six weeks. A Grand Jury Indictment is a charge only. The defendant is presumed innocent until guilt may be proved at a jury trial.