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TRENTON
– Attorney General Anne Milgram announced
that a New Jersey state trooper and a Newark
man were indicted today on charges that they
possessed heroin. The Newark man was also
charged with distributing the heroin.
According
to Criminal Justice Director Deborah L. Gramiccioni,
Jason J. Hanrahan, 32, of Newton and Jamal
Karon Bell, 33, of Newark, were each charged
with third-degree possession of heroin. Bell
was also charged with second-degree distribution
of heroin within 500 feet of certain public
property, as well as third-degree distribution
of heroin and third-degree distribution of
heroin within 1,000 feet of a school property.
The
state grand jury indictment alleges that on
Jan. 15, Hanrahan was in possession of less
than a half-ounce of heroin. An undercover
investigation determined that Bell distributed
the heroin to Hanrahan within 1,000 feet of
the Newark Christian School and within 500
feet of Boy’s Park in Newark. Hanrahan
and Bell were arrested on Jan. 15 immediately
following the alleged transaction.
Hanrahan
was suspended without pay on Jan. 16.
Members
of the New Jersey State Police coordinated
the investigation. Supervising Deputy Attorney
General Mark Eliades presented the case to
the state grand jury.
The
indictment is merely an accusation and the
defendants are presumed innocent until proven
guilty. Second-degree crimes carry a maximum
sentence of 10 years in state prison and a
criminal fine of $150,000. Third-degree crimes
carry a maximum sentence of five years in
state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
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