A homeless woman who begged a judge last month for early release from the Morris County Jail so she could tend to her children skipped her sentencing on Friday.
Superior Court Judge Stephen Taylor issued an arrest warrant for Casandrea West, 31, who probably would have gotten probation for her connection to a Morristown homicide if she had shown up.
Morris County Assistant Prosecutor Alyssa DiSturco, who had opposed West’s early release, was prepared to recommend three years’ probation with no fines as part of a plea deal.
West’s attorney and court officials said they have been unable to reach West, who tearfully beseeched the judge last month to let her await sentencing with her parents and children.
She pled guilty to hindering the apprehension of Robert Everett, 59, by denying knowledge of a June 13 altercation on Patriots Path, where 65-year-old Stanley Robinson was fatally struck. Hindering is a third-degree crime.
West also admitted to tampering with evidence, a fourth-degree offense, when she removed an empty bag of heroin from Everett’s body, which she and co-defendant Enrique “Flaco” Vega, 33, discovered the next day in an abandoned residence in Hanover.
DiSturco had agreed to drop a third count, endangering an injured victim. That third-degree charge stemmed from West’s alleged failure to contact authorities about Robinson’s grave injury.
The charges to which West pled carry combined maximum penalties of six-and-a-half years in state prison and $25,000 in fines. The plea bargain stipulated West undergo a drug evaluation and heed its recommendations. West also had been directed by the judge to stay with her parents in Sussex County, continue a methadone program in Morris County, refrain from any substance abuse, and seek employment.
“I beg you to be allowed to go home,” West said at last month’s hearing, choking up while reading aloud a letter to Taylor.
She cited health issues while in custody, and her lawyer, Tracy Denholtz, noted West has an autistic child who needs her. West also has custody battles with fathers of her three children and two stepchildren, the attorney noted at the time. West’s parents have been caring for some of the children, she said.
On Friday, Denholtz told Taylor she has been unable to reach her client. Two phone numbers West provided to the court’s pre-trial services division have turned out to be non-working, the judge said.
Vega, meanwhile, has applied for treatment through Morris County’s drug court. He faces drug, endangerment, burglary and theft charges.
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Sadly the judge apparently fell for this woman’s manipulation.
Could have told you this was going to happen. Another quality job by a judge and our criminal justice system.