Inside the Tarrytown Courthouse: Guilty Plea in Heroin Case, Exoneration in Another

Here's a look at what happened during Tarrytown Court's June 29, 2011 session.

Coploff Pleads Guilty, Exonerates Co-Defendant

Nicholas Coploff pled guilty on Wednesday to a reduced charge of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7th Degree.

As part of his plea, he exonerated co-defendant George Theodoropoulos, of Irvington.

Coploff, of North Broadway in Tarrytown, was arrested in December in a bizarre drug raid that involved his father and Theodoropoulos. Coploff was charged with possessing about $500 worth of heroin. The .

Coploff was also arrested with Brett Furtado on Nov. 3 for alleged heroin dealing and attempting to flee officers. Furtado was later arrested in Ossining for possessing illegal firearms. Furtado's case has left the local courts and is in control of the county.

As part of his guilty plea, Coploff will serve a period of six months in jail. The sentence will satisfy all cases and charges against him in Tarrytown. He has another drug-related offense pending in Irvington, he is expected to plead guilty in that court as well to receive a concurrent jail sentence. His jail time won't being until August.

Reduction for McQuaid, Charges Dropped against Larusso

Quincy McQuaid pled guilty to a reduced charge of Attempted Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance, a B misdemeanor. As part of his plea, he exonerated co-defendant Lia Larusso. 

Both were originally arrested on November 19, 2010, on White Plains Road and were found to be attempting to possess a quantity of heroin.

McQuaid will receive a one-year conditional discharge and will have to pay a $125 surcharge.

Jimenez Confined to Jail

Ascension Jimenez will remain in jail until his case is concluded.

Jimenez is charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the 3^rd degree (a felony) and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the 7^th degree (a misdemeanor). He faces similar charges in Greenburgh and Dobbs Ferry.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Docherty noted that the felony charge would supersede Jimenez's misdemeanor charge, but noted that no offer had been extended to the man.

Oliphant May get Joint Dispostion

Antoine Oliphant made his second appearance after being arrested on June 21 for allegedly getting into a fight in front of the Tarrytown Stop and Shop and attempting to steal from the business.  He is charged with Attempted Petit Larceny. Oliphant is being held in jail since he also has to deal with a bail jumping and controlled substance charge in New Rochelle.

The ADA raised the possibility of a joint disposition that would allow Oliphant to plead guilty to a charge that would satisfy all the cases against him.

Guilty Plea in DWI Case

Luis Araballo pled guilty to one count of Driving While Intoxicated on Wednesday. Araballo was arrested on White Plains Road in Tarrytown on March 10, 2011.

As part of his plea, the man will have to pay $900 in fines and surcharges, and will have to install an interlock device on any vehicle he has available to him. Araballo said he wouldn't be driving in the near future, and he won't be legally able to for at least six months – the duration of his license revocation order.

Other Cases

Khiam Kramer was before the court for an update on his progress in the Treatment Alternatives for Safer Communities (TASC) program. The court noted his excellent attendance record and the likelihood that he would only have to pay a small fine to satisfy the charges against him.

Marcus Attaway was restored to probation on Wednesday. Attaway had violated his probation after he was arrested in Sleepy Hollow with a quantity of marijuana.

Donovan Sherrod Jr. made his second appearance in court on charges on Petit Larceny and Burglary in the 2^nd degree (a C Felony).  He was arrested after an investigation into an incident reported on May 15, where a YMCA resident had $500 worth of syringes stolen from his locked room. He remains in jail on $2,500 cash $5,000 bond bail. His case was pushed back to mid-July.