A grand jury decided Thursday that Samantha E. Chew, 18, and Gustavo S. Rodriguez, 19, should stand trial on four charges related to possession of marijuana in Leonardo.
Chew, of Fox Avenue in Belford, and Rodriguez, of Atlantic Avenue in Middletown, were both arrested on June 5, and have been charged with possession of more than 50 grams of marijuana with intention to distribute the drug within 500 feet of the Henry Hudson Trail, which is considered a public park, and within 1,000 feet of the Bayshore Middle School.
Possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute while within 500 feet of a public park is considered the most serious of the charges. It is a second degree crime, and a defendant may potentially face 5-10 years in jail if convicted under the law.
The grand jury's decision is merely a formal charge and not a conviction. The defendants are innocent until proven guilty under the law.
The pair also appeared in the Police Dept.'s August report after being arrested for robbery and marijuana distribution charges.
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