John Scarffe, Nederland. Judge David J Thrower called the Nederland Municipal Court into session at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 19, 2020, at the Nederland Community Center. Before entering the courtroom, each person was required to sign in, their temperature was taken, and they received a document informing them of their rights.

A 54-year-old woman was charged with theft, obtaining an object belonging to someone else with the intent to keep it. The incident occurred on March 25, 2020, at 3:15 p.m. at Lakeview Drive. 

The prosecution offered deferred sentence for one year if she pleads guilty and has no other violations. She also must attend Making Better Choices classes and would be fined $150 with $100 suspended. 

After talking to the prosecution, the woman agreed to take the deferred sentence. The judge said this is a very serious crime and affects everyone. She must pay the fines and attend the class.

A man was charged for criminal mischief for an incident on September 29, 2019, at Lakeview Drive, #102. The prosecution offered a $300 fine with $200 suspended. With court costs, the total fine would be $215. He also much attend the Making Better Choices classes.

The man pleaded no contest, and the judge said using a permanent marker was not a good choice. He gave him until July to pay the fine as long as he doesn’t do that again.

A woman was charged with passing on the right and driving on the sidewalk on January 24, 2020, on Highway 119 and Hendricks. The prosecution offered dismissing driving on the sidewalk, which would result in four points off her license. She pleaded guilty and the judge imposed a fine of $200 by July 10.

A woman faced charges for an animal-at-large, no tags and a vicious animal after an incident on March 26 on Jackson Street. The prosecution offered to dismiss the tags and animal-at-large if she pleaded guilty to the vicious animal charge as long as she got a muzzle and a town-issued tag. 

After talking to the prosecutor, the woman agreed to get a license and muzzle for the dog, and she pleaded guilty to the vicious animal charge. The judge accepted the plea with a deferred sentence and the other charges dismissed. 

He advised that it would be a good idea to get the dog checked out at the Humane Society to see if they recommend a muzzle. If this happens again, the dog could be euthanized. He set July 10 for a date when the Humane Society review should be completed.

A woman received a ticket for driving 44 mph in a 25-mph zone on March 26, 2020, on Highway 119. Prosecution offered reducing the charge to a defective vehicle and from four points to two points on the license.

After talking to the prosecution, she accepted the offer and pleaded guilty to a defective vehicle. The Court accepted the plea and dismissed the speeding charge. He imposed the fee and court costs, suspending $100 for a total of $100 due by September 11.

A juvenile and his father appeared as a result of a possession of marijuana charge. The juvenile has not been able to complete his required classes due to the COVID virus. The judge said he can complete the substance abuse classes online and gave him to July 10 to complete them.

A woman appeared on a warrant for failing to have insurance, but she didn’t get her fine paid. She no longer drives and doesn’t need insurance. The judge ordered her to pay $50 a month and to complete the payments by November 13.

A man who was arraigned on February 14, 2020, for harassment, pleaded guilty for a dispute with his roommate. The judge fined him $300 with $200 suspended for 12 months with no further violations and taking the Making Better Choices class.

The man said, “That sounds fine to me.”

(Originally published in the June 25, 2020, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)