Grand Jury Indictments, July 7

COURT HOUSE – Alex Gonzalez, 36, of Rio Grande was indicted by a Cape May County grand jury July 7 for burglary, third degree, theft, two counts, both third degree, and criminal mischief, third degree. On April 22, Gonzalez allegedly entered a residence on Indian Trail Road and took property valued in excess of $500. He then took the victim’s 1988 Honda Accord which was later damaged. Repairs for the damage were valued at $2,000.
Gonzalez was part of a high-profile arrest a month prior when the county regional SWAT team executed a search warrant on his residence in Rio Grande and charged him with possession of heroin and possession with intent to distribute, among other charges. In that incident Gonzalez was charged and released on his own recognizance.
Despite a clear signal to stop, three men from Downingtown, Pa. attempted to elude New Jersey State Police from Woodbine barracks May 24. The three then attempted to flee before their vehicle became disabled. Jonathan Oakman, 21, Brett Butler, 21, and Thaddeus Dais, III, 22, were indicted for conspiracy to elude, second degree, eluding police, second degree, resisting arrest, two counts, third degree, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance CDS, third degree. The CDS in was alprazolam, a Schedule IV drug.
Also indicted for attempting to elude police is Nathan A. Nieves who allegedly ignored a signal to stop May 30 in Wildwood. Nieves drove his car in a way that “created risk of death or injury to any person” before he was apprehended and arrested.
Matthew L. Turner, 32, of Ocean City was indicted for failure to notify, a third degree offense. Turner was convicted in August 2005 of sexual assault. As a convicted sex offender, Turner is required to register with local law enforcement upon change of address. Turner allegedly moved to an address in Ocean City and failed to perform the required notification.
Lance H. Schick-Albanese, 27, of Cape May was indicted for robbery second degree, and theft, fourth degree. Schick-Albanese allegedly “used force on (the victim)” and stole property valued in excess of $200. The incident, April 15, involved a morning purse snatching at the Cape May bus depot. Witnesses reported that Schick-Albanese stole the purse and ran when members of the public gave chase. The purse was dropped but money was found to be missing. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Schick-Albanese at his residence.
Liesel M. Spalding was indicted on charges of uttering a forged instrument, third degree, forgery, third degree, obtaining a CDS, third degree, and possession with intent to distribute a CDS, second degree. Spalding allegedly unlawfully obtained oxycodone, a Schedule II drug, by forging prescriptions on five different days ranging from February to August 2014. Spalding took unlawful possession of a blank prescription pad from doctors in Pennsylvania and allegedly forged prescriptions used to obtain the drug.
Osmond R. Garrison, 27, of Villas was indicted for theft, third degree, unlawful possession of a weapon, third degree, and fencing third degree. Garrison allegedly took property from the victim that was valued in excess of $500. He then attempted to deal in that property resulting in the fencing charge. The grand jury also indicted him for possession of a BB gun pistol for which he had no permit.
Lacey Beasley, 24, of Court House and Christian Sickernott II were indicted for conspiracy to commit theft, third degree, theft third degree, conspiracy to fence stolen property, third degree, and fencing, third degree. Over a month-long period from November to December 2014, Beasley and Sickernott conspired to steal and stole jewelry from the victim valued in excess of $500. The indictment alleges that Beasley actually stole the property with Sickernott present during the theft. Later Sickernott sold the property.
The grand jury indicted Sean P. Hillegass, 32, of Rio Grande for robbery, second degree, and theft fourth degree, related to a May 12 incident. The indictment alleges Hillegass “used force or threatened immediate bodily injury to” the victim and took property valued in excess of $200.
Middle Township Police weekly arrest report which listed Hillegass’ arrest for robbery and theft May 12 also shows that he was arrested again May 13 for shoplifting; again on the weekly arrest report for another shoplifting incident on May 21; another shoplifting arrest by Middle Township Police is listed May 24. Hillegass is the son of Thomas Hillegass, attorney and Lower Township municipal court judge.
The individuals are only charged with the offenses and are presumed innocent until proven guilty.