The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 35

The Courier-News B-l Inside Classified Pothole patrol B-2 B-3 Obituaries B-2 Saturday, January 23, 1999 LOCAL BRIEFS SDUU DfD(51Uini DvD California police suspect murder in Vacaville. At 10:30 the next morning, his partially clothed body was found about three-quarters of a mile from the spot police found his car. Vacaville police said Keller died from blunt trauma to the head. No suspects have been identified. "We're working pretty hard on it.

There wasn't a lot of evidence," Vacaville police Detective Scott Wright said Friday. Eric Keller moved to California in October 1997 to work section of Branchburg before buying a home in Readington in 1994. When Eric Keller found a job in San Jose, his wife decided to stay in New Jersey. "She didn't want to move to California," Horn of Stroudsburg, said. Karen Keller would travel to California about once a month to be with her husband, Horn said.

She had planned to spend time with him to celebrate his 42nd birthday last week, Horn said. for a computer company in San Jose. He was laid off when the company went bankrupt, but recently found work at Silicon Graphics, a computing-systems company based in Mountain View, Calif. Eric and Karen Keller met more than 12 years ago when both lived in Lancaster, Horn said. Eric Keller had worked as a salesman for Siemens Medical Systems in the Iselin section of Woodbridge.

The couple lived in Hight-stown and the Neshanic Station Karen Keller shared a home with her husband in the White-house Station section of Read-ington, but Eric Keller spent most of his time in California, where he worked. Police in Vacaville, where the body was found, said Eric Keller on Jan. 9 planned to drive from his condominium in San Jose, to the Lake By DAVID HILGEN Staff Writer California police are seeking clues in the death of a Reading-ton man they say was murdered. Eric Keller's body was found Jan. 11, a day after his wife, Karen, reported him missing.

orou Bridging the generations Qu COp anned from -7- I 1 4b .1.... 1 Tahoe area to ski. He was to call his wife when he returned that evening, but never made the call, police said. "He likes to ski," said Robert Horn, Karen Keller's father. "He was going up there, and he never got there." Police found Eric Keller's dark blue Saab about noon Jan.

10, parked on the side of a road 4 Once a month, students from Gill SL Bernard's School in Peapack-Gladstone visit senior citizens at Plainfield Senior Center. The students also served lunch to the senior citizens Friday. In the photo above, students Sara Bad, left, and Laura Fedoryk listen as Tony Carella tells them about his grandchildren and discusses the Super Bowl. At right, student Rachel Are sty shares a smile with Emily Washington, left, and Gladyce Sullivan. STAFF PHOTOS BY KATHY JOHNSON Police search nets five drug arrests FRANKLIN (Hunterdon) A family of four and another adult face drug charges after police searched their home in the Pittstown section, authorities said Friday.

Anthony T. Riccardo, 58, Loretta Anne Riccardo, 46, and their son, Michael Thomas Riccardo, 19, all of 51 Old Franklin School Road, were each charged Thursday with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said. A second son, Anthony James Riccardo, 21, also of 0d Franklin School Road, was charged with possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana, possession with the intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was being held at Hunterdon County Jail on $25,000 bail, police said. Also charged was Lisa Ann Mellott, 22, of 38 Peddlers Lane, Phillipsburg, with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana.

Lynn Ducey YoutJis charged in three incidents RARITAN TOWNSHIP Several juveniles face various charges in connection with incidents at two local schools, police said Friday. On Thursday, a Hunterdon Central High School student was charged with theft. The youth was found with about $100 worth of cash and property that had been stolen from three lockers during a gym class, police said. Also Thursday, a 15-year-old was charged with criminal mischief and harassment at Sandhill School. The student is accused of kicking a hole in a wall and threatening a school employee, police said.

A 15-year-old Hunterdon Central student also faces ding charges after authorities found the youth with Ritalin, police said. Police went to the high school about 10 a.m. Wednesday and found the youth with 15 pills of a substance believed to be Ritalin, which is considered a controlled dangerous substance, police said. The youth was charged and released to a parent, police said. Lynn Ducey Flooding possible during weekend Residents in low-lying areas are advised to tune to local weather reports about potential flooding, officials said Friday.

The National Weather Service is expecting heavy rains today through Sunday night. The rainstorms may include heavy downpours and thunderstorms. Rising water levels in streams and rivers combined olice By ANNA FARNESKI Staff Writer A South Bound Brook police officer convicted of pointing his 9 mm pistol at a young couple in a fit of road rage was permanently banned Friday from police work in New Jersey, but he was spared a jail sentence. Despite a petition signed by 103 borough residents and a direct plea from the chief of police, state Superior Court Judge Leonard Arnold concurred with prosecutors who found that Daniel J. Gray took advantage of his position in June 1997.

Authorities charged that Gray, an officer who at the time had two years of experience, furiously erupted at another motorist while he was off duty and driving in Middlesex Borough. Gray pursued the young man, Kevin Puckrein, to Bound Brook, where he drew his duty weapon and pointed it at Puck-rein and his pregnant girlfriend, Janette Brito. Puckrein crashed into a tree when he tried to flee. Gray testified during his trial that Puckrein was driving erratically and said he felt duty- ''J .2 i ft 1, -A Judge scraps deal for repeat burglar work STAFF PHOTO BY KATHY JOHNSON Former South Bound Brook Officer Daniel Gray listens Friday as Judge Leonard Arnold bans him from police work. bound to stop him.

A jury exonerated Gray of the most serious charges but found him guilty of two counts of simple assault. The conviction automatically leaves him unfit to remain a police officer or hold any government job. The Somerset County Prosecutor's Office allowed Gray to remain at his desk job at police headquarters until Friday. In a series of letters See BANNED on page B-2 jail, with at least 3 12 years to be served before he could apply for parole. But that sentence was too light, according to Mr.

Torok, who delivered his victim-impact statement from the prosecution table. Mrs. Torok sat in the courtroom's spectator section. Horton, 26, has previous criminal convictions for burglary, theft, attempted burglary and criminal trespass. Mr.

Torok said stress from the break-in may have contributed to a life-threatening illness that has afflicted his wife. "My family wants retribution," he said. Mr. Torok later said that he was never consulted about the plea deal and just recently told of the impact it would have on Horton's sentence. Mrs.

Torok declined to discuss her illness. Arnold appeared swayed by Mr. Torok's complaints. He ordered the plea deal scrapped and the case returned to the trial calendar. No date has been set.

UPDATE first-time offenders. Assistant Deputy Public Defender Randall Westreich argued that the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office went overboard in demanding that Buranich testify against Michael Alicea, calling the request "unconscionable." The two were arrested following a traffic stop in Franklin on July 22, 1998. They were 1 MiiMiiiii Dowden wants new municipal complex By ANNA FARNESKI Staff Writer A state Superior Court judge scuttled a plea deal Friday after victims in a burglary case complained the agreement between prosecutors and the defense was too lenient. "Whatever happened to three strikes and you're in?" John Torok asked angrily during a planned sentencing hearing in Somerville for George Horton. Horton pleaded guilty to burglarizing Torok's Hillsborough home on Jan.

2, 1998. His wife, Enid Torok, returned home to find the doors pried open and $89,000 worth of possessions much of it jewelry missing. The items had been taken out of a safe-deposit box for the holidays. Horton was slated to be sentenced Friday under a plea deal already accepted by Judge Leonard Arnold. Under that deal, Horton, who has six previous criminal convictions, faced an extended prison term of seven years in 1 fwwwi" tinue to operate in the state we're in.

The courtroom is an abomination for a community this size," Dowden said. Dowden also said the township needs a new municipal building. "The ideal would be to build a single complex and to take care of the administration, police and courts at the same time," Dowden said. The mayor said he's investigating the costs and benefits of building such a complex and expects to release preliminary figures soon. Dowden also said he expects to increase the size of the police force by at least five lowed Buranich into the program.

Anna Farneski CLUES SOUGHT: Plain-field police are still hoping someone will come forward with information on Catherine Cos-grave's final hours before her body was found last week on Prospect Avenue. The Rahway resident had By WESLEY YANG Staff Writer BRIDGEWATER Mayor James Dowden said he expects to begin searching this year for a permanent solution to the cramped police and Municipal Court building. Dowden said the township will either design a new building, divide the department into substations or discuss merging the police department with other communities' forces. "We're talking about at least a new police building. That's a given.

We can't con crunch, we'll keep adding to our force at the same rate," the mayor said. Councilman Frank D'Ascen-sio said the council should hold off on any investments in new police or buildings until the final form of Dowden's proposed regionalization efforts becomes clear. Dowden has invited officials from Somerville, Warren, Raritan Borough and Bound Brook to consider further shared services and a possible merger. "We should be careful not to spend money before we know what's happening in the long term," he said. police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call Plainfield Detective Richard Gallagher at (908) 753-3054 or Tracy Diaz of the Union County Prosecutor's Office at (908) 527-4500. Information may also be phoned in anonymously at (908) 654-8477 (TIPS). Bernice Paglia 77iis column appears members each year for the next five years. A five-year plan issued by the department calls for 47 additional members. Dowden said the recommendation is based on a state formula that yields the ideal amount of police protection for a community.

Dowden said the township has boosted its department by at least five members over the last five years. There are now 68 officers on the force. "If we could match the state's recommendations, that would be great, but I don't think anybody's up to par. Unless we get into a budget bruises on her body when it was discovered partially clad Jan. IS on snow-covered ground in the 1500 block of Prospect Avenue, near Rahway Road.

A police officer reported seeing tire tracks that indicated a vehicle had backed up onto the road, then moved forward once the body was pushed from the rear of the vehicle. Cosgrave was separated from her husband and had been staying with relatives, with the saturated ground may contribute to flooding along river beds, low-lying areas and roads, officials said. Residents in such areas are advised to monitor local weather reports about the potential of flooding in their area. Lynn Ducey GOT A TIP? For questions or comments, you can e-mail us at or call Metro Editor Joe McDonald at (908) 707-3121. You can also call our Hunterdon County bureau at (908) 782-2300 or fax (908) 782-2366.

Or write to us at 122 Main Flemington, N.J. 08822. THIS SECTION Pages in this section were designed and edited by Jason Alt, Mark Correa, Barrie Dawson, James Kwasnik and Kerrylee Nadeau. Wife doesn't have to testify against husband not married at the Prosecutors time Aiicea was demanded that Tara- wanted on an out- standing warrant, jean DUTaniCh testify and police allege against her husband ESZS. to be admitted Wo a probationary A state Superior Court judge in Somerville on Friday reversed a prosecutor's decision to bar a Franklin, Somerset County, woman from the state's pretrial intervention program after finding that authorities placed an unfair demand on the woman.

Prosecutors demanded that Tarajean Buranich, who is pregnant, testify against her husband in his upcoming trial in order to win admission to the probationary program for Buranich was charged with third-degree cocaine pos program. session. Police said they found two packets of the drug in her wallet. Judge Leonard Arnold agreed with Westreich and al.