Long Valley Couple Charged In Heroin, Cocaine Bust: Police

LONG VALLEY, NJ - A Long Valley couple was swept up in a five-week drug investigation that ended with heroin and cocaine being found inside the Hackettstown home that they own, according to the Hackettstown Police Department.

Following an investigation into drug dealing in the Hackettstown area, the Hackettstown Police Department, Hackettstown's K9 Edo, New Jersey State Police, Mansfield Township Police Department, Pohatcong Township Police Department, Washington Township Police and the Warren County Prosecutor’s Office Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant March 4 at 14 Laurie Terrace in Hackettstown with the assistance of Warren County’s Tactical Response Team.

During the raid, authorities found 1,613 wax folds of suspected heroin and 47 small bags of suspected cocaine, police said. Five residents of the home, Maximilian Mueller, 25, Heather Hadgkiss, 32, David Durham, 27, Michael Carinci, 33, and Alec Baniel, 26, were arrested alongside homeowners Raymond and Maria Baniel who live in Long Valley.

Raymond and Maria Baniel, the home owners of 14 Laurie Terrace, were charged with maintaining a nuisance, a Disorderly Persons Offense

Alec Baniel was charged with maintaining a nuisance a Disorderly Person Offense.

Carinci was charged with count Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (cocaine), a third degree offense and released.

Durham was charged with count Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (heroin), a third degree offense and Possession of a hypodermic needle and released to the custody of the Morris County Sheriff's Office on outstanding charges in that jurisdiction.

Mueller was charged with the following offenses and held at the Warren County Correctional Center pending a hearing on the State’s detention motion:

• One count Possession with Intent to Distribute (heroin), a first degree offense;
• One count of Possession with Intent to Distribute (cocaine), a second degree offense;
• One Count of Conspiracy to Distribute CDS, a second degree offense;
• Two counts Distribution of CDS (heroin), a third degree offense
• Two counts Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), a third degree offense

Hadgkiss was charged as follows and held at the Warren County Correctional Center pending a hearing on the State’s detention motion:

• One count Possession with Intent to Distribute (heroin), a first degree offense;
• One count of Possession with Intent to Distribute (cocaine), a second degree offense;
• One count of Conspiracy to Distribute CDS, a second degree offense;
• Two counts Distribution of CDS (heroin), a third degree offense;
• Two counts Possession with Intent to Distribute CDS (heroin), a third degree offense;
• One count Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (methadone), a third degree offense;
• One count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a fourth degree offense

A First Degree offense carries up to 20 years New Jersey State Prison. Second Degree offenses carry a maximum of 10 years New Jersey State Prison, Third Degree offenses carry a maximum of five years New Jersey State Prison, Fourth Degree offenses carry a maximum of eighteen months New Jersey State Prison and Disorderly Person’s offenses carry a maximum of 180 days Warren County Correctional Center.

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