Probation Violations Land Park Ridge Man in State Prison
By Mary K. Miraglia
HACKENSACK, N.J. (March 31, 2017) — A Park Ridge man with a history of drug abuse and pleaded guilty to several violations of probation, and was sentenced to three years flat in New Jersey state prison Friday by a fed up Judge Christopher Kazlau.
Richard Coquel, 38, clearly did not expect to go to prison. He came to court with an admission to drug rehabilitation at Integrity House in hand, and threw himself on the mercy of the court.
“I don’t want to be that person anymore,” Coquel told the judge. He said he has a 9-month old baby now, and “I want to be a parent, I want to be there for my kid.” Coquel said the 3-month program he was in previously was not long enough, and he believes the 6-month inpatient program at Integrity House is.
Defense attorney Ron Bar-Nadav of Hackensack said “Putting someone like Mr. Coquel in jail is not the answer. He walks in an addict, and he walks out an addict.”
“My client has numerous violations of probation,” Bar-Nadav said. “He’s a cocaine addict, and has been for many years. All these charges stem from his drug use. His cocaine use and alcohol have him in severe chaos.
“He has to be the one to fix it. He took the steps himself to get into Integrity House.”
Kazlau, though, has a history with Coqeul. He told the defendant, “You struck a nerve in me. Remember the conversation we had when I sentenced you?”
“Yes,” Coquel said, tearing up. “Give me another chance.”
The judge was not persuaded. He said he sentenced Coquel the three months probation last summer, and he responded by committing several violations of probation. His criminal record, Kazlau stated, includes seven arrests, three for aggravated assault, and a prior prison sentence. In addition, he has had six separate opportunities at probation.
“I do not think he is particularly likely to respond to probation at this point,” Kazlau said. Coquel previously pleaded guilty to possession of drugs as well as resisting arrest, both offenses that could carry five years in prison each.
Coquel pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and hindering in Hillsdale March 17, and criminal mischief in Woodcliff Lake, as well as probation violations including failing to report last Aug. 16, 2016 or anytime thereafter, testing positive for cocaine, failing to pay fines, and failing to complete intensive outpatient treatment, as well as other violations.
He told the judge he was not guilty of failing to provide proof of employment.
In pronouncing sentence, he said, “I am simply not convinced he is an appropriate candidate for probation any longer.”
“would you consider a motion for reconsideration,” Bar-Nadav asked.
“You can, but I’m not going to delay the sentencing,” Kazlau said.
Under parole guidelines, Coquel can be released in about nine months, less 45 days jail credit. It is expected that he will remain incarcerated for approximately seven more months.
