MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp, Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Acting Chief of Investigations Chris Kimker, and Chief Stephen Beecher of the Mount Olive Township Police Department announce the sentencing of Casey R. Powers, 35, of Morris Township. The sentence stems from a 2015 residential burglary involving stolen firearms in Mount Olive Township.
Powers was sentenced on Tuesday, July 2, by Hon. Donald G. Collester, J.S.C. (retired and temporarily assigned on recall) to an aggregate sentence of 15 years New Jersey State Prison, with 13-and-one-half years that must be served before he becomes eligible for parole.
On April 22 a Morris County jury returned guilty verdicts on counts of second degree Burglary, second degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, four counts of third degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon, six counts of third degree Theft, fourth degree Criminal Mischief, third degree Possession of CDS, and disorderly persons Hindering Prosecution. Due to a previous conviction for robbery, defendant was also found guilty of five counts of first degree Unlawful Possession of a Weapon and five counts of second degree Certain Persons Not to Possess a Firearm. This verdict followed a seven-day jury trial before the Judge Collester.
The charges stem from a residential burglary that occurred on December 2, 2015 in Mount Olive Township. The defendant forcibly entered the home through a rear deck window and stole various items of jewelry, one handgun, two shotguns, and two rifles. During the course of the investigation, some of the jewelry, two rifles, and one shotgun were recovered.
Assistant Prosecutor Tara Wang and Supervising Assistant Prosecutor Christopher Schellhorn, both assigned to the Major Crimes Unit of the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, represented the State during the trial and sentencing.
