Township police executed search warrant at Ridgewood Avenue residence Saturday, following a six-month investigation
By John Tredrea, Staff Writer
A 16-year-old Hopewell Township boy has been charged with dealing cocaine and marijuana and an 18-year-old Hopewell Township woman has been charged with dealing marijuana following a police raid Saturday night at the township residence where the boy lives.
The house is on Ridgewood Avenue, near Route 654 and Van Dyke Road. Police are not disclosing the numerical portion of the home’s address or the identity of the homeowner because the boy is the only person living there facing any charges in the case.
The woman charged with dealing marijuana was identified as Corin Boranian, of Orchard Avenue.
In the same case, Paul Stephens, 20, of Taylor Terrace, Hopewell Borough, and a 17-year-old Hopewell Township girl were charged with possession of marijuana. The pickup truck the girl was driving when she was arrested has been seized by the police. Mr. Stephens was a passenger in the truck when they were arrested. Township Detective Tom Puskas would not disclose who owns the truck or whether the vehicle had been used to deal drugs.
”It’s part of the investigation,” was all Detective Puskas would say about the seizure of the truck by the authorities.
Township police executed a search warrant at the Ridgewood Avenue residence at 6:15 p.m. Saturday, following a six-month investigation, aided by the Mercer County prosecutor’s office’s special investigations unit. The warrant was issued by the state Superior Court in Trenton.
”Detective Dan McKeown and Officer Michael Sherman conducted the investigation, documenting several purchases of controlled dangerous substances marijuana and cocaine from that residence,” township Lt. Lance Maloney said Tuesday.
At the time of the search warrant execution Saturday night, Mr. Stephens and the 17-year-old girl left the residence and entered a 2000 silver Ford pickup. The vehicle was immediately stopped by police. A small quantity of marijuana was found inside the vehicle and both were charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. The girl, who was driving the pickup, also was charged with possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle. She was released to her parents. Mr. Stephens was released after posting bail for an outstanding warrant.
The 16-year-old boy, who was the target of the investigation, was present in the residence at the time of the search warrant execution, along with Ms. Boranian. The boy’s parents were not home at the time.
The search yielded trace amounts of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and about $200 in cash. The cash was seized and, along with the pickup truck, is the subject of pending drug forfeiture proceedings.
Ms. Boranian was released on her own recognizance. The boy was sent to the Mercer County Youth Detention Facility.
The investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending.
In late December 2006, Ms. Boranian was charged with possession of fireworks, possession of marijuana, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. According to Hopewell Township Municipal Court records, those charges were sent to the Mercer County prosecutor’s office. Ms. Boranian, according to police Chief George Meyer, “has entered the pretrial intervention program. No disposition is presently available.”
On Jan. 30, 2007, Ms. Boranian was charged with possession of marijuana (under 50 grams), speeding, reckless driving, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle. These charges were dismissed, according to Chief Meyer.