By:Alec Moore
A Somerset County jury found 23-year-old Woods Road resident Jennifer Frana guilty of one count of third-degree theft on Monday.
Ms. Frana, as well as 27-year-old Woods Road resident Dylan Levash and Lois R. Dering, 27, of Flemington, were indicted by a grand jury last year on additional charges of first-degree robbery and the second degree charge of conspiracy to commit robbery last year.
The indictments initially issued against Ms. Frana, Mr. Levash and Ms. Dering stem from a robbery that occurred in Bound Brook in 2000.
According to the Somerset County prosecutor, Mr. Levash, Ms. Frana and Ms. Dering robbed a man after devising a ploy. As part of their ploy, the trio posed as stranded motorists in need of assistance, but when the victim in this case stopped to offer assistance, he was tricked into getting into the car and then robbed at knife point. Ms. Frana is alleged to be the driver of the vehicle.
In September 2000, Mr. Levash pleaded guilty to the charges before him in exchange for 12 years in state prison, with 85 percent of his term to be served without eligibility for parole. Ms. Dering is awaiting trial for which no date has been set yet.
Somerset County Prosecutor Wayne Forrest said Ms. Frana is facing a potential sentence of three to five years in state prison. She is scheduled to be sentenced in approximately six weeks.
Following the jury verdict, the court reduced Ms. Frana’s bail amount to $10,000 with a 10 percent cash option. Ms. Frana’s trial lasted four days. Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Murphy prosecuted the case on the state’s behalf.
