Heroin Bust Yields Six Arrests at Hopatcong Home

Five men and one teen girl were arrested and charged with possession of heroin Wednesday after authorities from three different agencies descended upon a Hopatcong home, Lt. Thomas Kmetz said.

Hopatcong and Roxbury police, along with the Sussex County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit, conducted a search warrant on a home owned by Eleanor Leonard after a joint investigation suspected the residence had heroin in it, Kmetz said.

When authorities arrived, they found Hopatcong residents Joseph Leonard, 28; John Leonard, 25; John Mckevitt, 23; and Chelsea Pruden, 19, all in the home and in possession of 33 folds of heroin, Kmetz said.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Joseph Leonard, Kmetz said.

After conducting a search of the home, authorities were unable to find one more suspect with an arrest warrant, Scott August, 32, of Hopatcong, Kmetz said. Authorities had information of the vehicle August may be driving in, and found it being operated by Stephen Sabtello, 21, of Ogdensburg, Kmetz said.

Ogdensburg had just returned with 10 bags of heroin in his possession, Kmetz said, but August was not in the car with him.

Later in the day, however, August was found at the Leonard residence and arrested, Kmetz said.

Eleanor Leonard is being charged for maintaining a nuisance at her residence.

Joseph Leonard is charged with three counts of possession of heroin, two counts of possession with intent to distribute heroin, two counts of distribution of heroin, conspiracy to possess heroin, and conspiracy to possess heroin with the intent to distribute. He was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

John Leonard was charged with possession of heroin and lodged in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Scott August was charged with possession of heroin, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, distribution of heroin, conspiracy to possess heroin with intent to distribute, conspiracy to distribute heroin, and resisting arrest. He was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail.

John Mckevitt was charged with possession of heroin and resisting arrest. He was lodged in the Sussex County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

Chelsea Pruden was charged with possession of heroin on a summons complaint.

Stephen Sabtello was charged with possession of heroin on a summons complaint.

For questions about this post, email jason.koestenblatt@patch.com.