Plea copped in crime spree

A string of unrelated crimes caught up with a Springfield man on Tuesday.
Joshua Morgan, 21, was sentenced in district court to three to six months' probation after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of consuming alcohol as a minor, one misdemeanor count of giving alcohol to a minor, one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct and one count of possessing deer out of season. In addition, Morgan pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of simple assault.

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Plea copped in crime spree
By Josh O'Gorman Herald Staff - Published: February 6, 2008

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — A string of unrelated crimes caught up with a Springfield man on Tuesday when he pleaded guilty to charges ranging from giving alcohol to minors to possession of deer out of season.

Joshua Morgan, 21, was sentenced in district court to three to six months' probation after pleading guilty to two misdemeanor counts of consuming alcohol as a minor, one misdemeanor count of giving alcohol to a minor, one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct and one count of possessing deer out of season. In addition, Morgan pleaded no contest to one misdemeanor count of simple assault.

"The issue is not just his choice of actions, but the choice of people he associates with," said Deputy State's Attorney David Cahill.

According to affidavits filed with the court, Morgan's most recent legal troubles began on Aug. 10, 2007, when the property manager for the Black River Overlook Complex in Ludlow contacted the Department of Fish and Wildlife after finding the remains of a deer in a vacated apartment.

An investigation by Warden George Scribner found that Morgan and roommate Ricky Bemis had lived in the apartment during the fall and winter of 2006. Scribner said when he questioned Morgan and Bemis separately, each told him that they had found the deer in the middle of Route 103 in Mount Holly.

Scribner said their stories did not agree after that. Scriber said Bemis told him the deer was a three-point buck and they had picked it up while heading south. Scribner said, by Morgan's account, the deer was a doe and the two had picked it up while traveling north.

Scribner said the only thing certain was, the deer had been taken illegally and Morgan was charged with possession of deer out of season.

According to an affidavit from the Springfield Police Department, on Aug. 25, Sgt. Gregory Molgano responded to a complaint that someone had thrown a large stick at a passing car on Olive Street, Morgan's street of residence. Police said they spoke with the victim, who was acquainted with Morgan and identified him as the person who had thrown the stick. The victim had two minors in the vehicle who also identified Morgan as the assailant, police said.

Molgano said he was called away to assist other officers before he could find Morgan, but he was able to question Morgan on Sept. 9 when police responded to a dispute at a residence at Windy Hill Acres in Springfield.

Shortly after midnight, police stopped a vehicle containing suspects believed to have been involved in the dispute. Molgano said he asked Morgan to step out of the vehicle so he could answer questions about the stick-throwing incident on Aug. 25.

Molgano said he could smell alcohol on Morgan's breath. At the time, Morgan was 20 years old. Police said a blood-alcohol test confirmed Morgan had been drinking and with two prior convictions for possessing alcohol in 2005, Morgan was placed under arrest.

Springfield Police again arrested Morgan on Dec. 22 following a fight in the parking lot of the McDonald's on Chester Road. Police said Morgan was one of four men who attacked a McDonald's employee as he came on his shift following a verbal exchange between the victim and his attackers.

Police said all four attackers smelled of alcohol and, of the four, only Morgan was older than 21. Police said the attackers all confirmed they had been drinking and Morgan admitted he had provided the alcohol.

Judge M. Kathleen Manley ordered Morgan to restrict his associates as ordered by his probation officer, to observe a curfew if imposed by his probation officer and to complete a Restorative Justice Program.