Robbery Indictment Returned in Quick Chek Incident

Two Hopatcong men were indicted on second-degree robbery and two counts of theft charges, according to a report released Tuesday by the Sussex County Prosecutor's Office.

Brian Howell and Steven McCabe, both 25, are scheduled to be arraigned within the next few weeks.

The indictment stems from charges that the men allegedly struck a gas station attendant with their car in April after robbing a Quick Chek store in Hopatcong. Hopatcong police said McCabe approached a gas attendant from behind and took $289 cash from his hands. McCabe returned to the car, police said, and Howell, the driver, then allegedly struck another Quick Chek employee, Mike Smith, who had attempted to help the attendant. Smith, of Hopatcong, was taken to St. Clare's hospital with head injuries and later released.

Paterson police stopped the car they were driving in after seeing a smashed windshield. Police said the men were also found with 40 empty bags used to contain heroin and a hypodermic needle.

The drug charges were not reflected in the indictment, but McCabe and Howell were additionally each indicted in November on charges of fourth-degree aggravated assault.

Assistant Prosecutor Seana Pappas presented the case to a grand jury.