In State v. Lamond Bracy of Brooklyn, the State charged defendant in 1997 with shoplifting from Neiman Marcus merchandise valued at $173. After defendant failed to appear for his court appearance, the Court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.  Years passed, during which defendant had a clean record.  When the police in a neighboring township detained defendant on an unrelated matter, the police did a computer search and found that the 1997 warrant remained open.  Defendant was told that he must appear in the Millburn Municipal Court on the old charge. Defendant appeared in Court, pleaded …

Millburn Municipal Court handles cases once a week. Between this week and last, it handled seven chargers. In State v. Julio Lopez, of Middletown, New York, the State initially charged him with theft of 13 fur coats with an aggregate value of $42,000 from Schultz Furriers.  The Essex County Prosecutor's Office downgraded the offense against Mr.Lopez (who had no prior criminal history) to a disorderly persons offense.  Mr. Lopez pled guilty to the amended charge.  The Court imposed the maximum fine of $500, $33 in court costs, a $50 VCCO penalty, and a $75 safe neighborhood fee.  The State …