A father and son snared in unrelated drug busts both pleaded guilty Monday in county court to drug charges, but under terms of their plea bargains neither will serve any time in prison.
Joseph L. Kucharski Sr., 45, of Route 5, St. Johnsville, pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal possession of marijuana before Montgomery County Court Judge Felix J. Catena, who set sentencing for Jan. 18. Under terms of the plea bargain, Kucharski would serve five years’ probation and participate in the county drug court program.
He was arrested by state police Oct. 22 on a charge of first-degree criminal possession of marijuana: 16 pounds of dried and processed marijuana.
State police said they were investigating an unrelated matter when they discovered the marijuana in Kucharski’s attic. Troopers said the marijuana was evenly divided among 32 Ziploc bags, but there was no indication the marijuana had been grown on the premises.
Officials said Kucharski had no previous drug arrest record. He faced a possible maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Also Monday, his son, Joseph L. Kucharski Jr., 21, of Brower Road, Palatine Bridge pleaded guilty to fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
He was one of six people arrested by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department April 15 after a two-month investigation that resulted in the seizure of 5 ounces of marijuana and 63 bags of heroin.
The drugs were recovered in two locations including the younger Kucharski’s vehicle, investigators said.
He is scheduled for sentencing Sept. 13, when under terms of the plea agreement he will get five years’ probation and be fined $2,000.
In other cases Monday prosecuted by Montgomery County District Attorney James E. “Jed” Conboy:
Steven M. Smith, 61, of Old Trail Road, Johnstown was sentenced to one year in jail on his June 6 guilty plea to failure to register as a sex offender.
Joshua W. Blakeslee, 20, of Goewey Road, Fultonville pleaded guilty to second-degree vehicular assault and misdemeanor driving while intoxicated in connection with a Jan. 29 accident in the town of Mohawk. Two passengers in Blakeslee’s vehicle were injured.
He is scheduled for sentencing Jan. 18. Under terms of his plea bargain, he would serve five years’ probation and a pay a $2,000 fine.
Categories: Schenectady County
