ENGLEWOOD — An elderly man arrested in a drug and prostitution sweep that made the city’s senior housing complex a punch line for TV talk show hosts has pleaded guilty to all charges, but will go to an assisted living facility rather than jail, police said.
James Parham, 75, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a nuisance for purposes of engaging in unlawful conduct. Parham allegedly admitted providing prostitutes — mostly young women with crack cocaine habits — to some of his younger neighbors in the building, police said.
As part of the Oct. 17 plea, Parham can never return to the senior building at 111 West St. He also is barred from living in any building owned by the Englewood Housing Authority and must pay more than $1,500 in fines.
“All in all, I think it was a fair plea,” Englewood Detective Capt. Tim Torell said. “Hopefully he’s getting the help he needs.”
A social services agency had arranged temporary living quarters for Parham after he was evicted from his fifth-floor apartment at the Vincente K. Tibbs Senior Citizen Building this summer. Parham has been accepted into an assisted living facility in upstate New York, Torell said.
The sting operation that ensnared Parham, his 66-year-old neighbor and a school crossing guard made national headlines and became joke fodder for late-night comedians. Englewood police have maintained 24-hour patrols in the lower-income senior building since late April that residents say have kept out vagrants and other unwelcome guests.
The two women who also were arrested in the sweep pleaded guilty to similar charges in August.
Cheryl Chaney, 66, was accused of bringing drugs into the building and pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped charges of cocaine possession.
Selma McDuffie, will be allowed to apply for a drug intervention program for first-time offenders. If she is accepted into the program and stays drug-free and out of trouble for six months, the court will dismiss the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
McDuffie, a 54-year-old fired school crossing guard, was caught in the senior building with a crack pipe, police said.
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James Parham, 75, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a nuisance for purposes of engaging in unlawful conduct. Parham allegedly admitted providing prostitutes — mostly young women with crack cocaine habits — to some of his younger neighbors in the building, police said.
As part of the Oct. 17 plea, Parham can never return to the senior building at 111 West St. He also is barred from living in any building owned by the Englewood Housing Authority and must pay more than $1,500 in fines.
“All in all, I think it was a fair plea,” Englewood Detective Capt. Tim Torell said. “Hopefully he’s getting the help he needs.”
A social services agency had arranged temporary living quarters for Parham after he was evicted from his fifth-floor apartment at the Vincente K. Tibbs Senior Citizen Building this summer. Parham has been accepted into an assisted living facility in upstate New York, Torell said.
The sting operation that ensnared Parham, his 66-year-old neighbor and a school crossing guard made national headlines and became joke fodder for late-night comedians. Englewood police have maintained 24-hour patrols in the lower-income senior building since late April that residents say have kept out vagrants and other unwelcome guests.
The two women who also were arrested in the sweep pleaded guilty to similar charges in August.
Cheryl Chaney, 66, was accused of bringing drugs into the building and pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. In exchange for her plea, prosecutors dropped charges of cocaine possession.
Selma McDuffie, will be allowed to apply for a drug intervention program for first-time offenders. If she is accepted into the program and stays drug-free and out of trouble for six months, the court will dismiss the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
McDuffie, a 54-year-old fired school crossing guard, was caught in the senior building with a crack pipe, police said.
– See more at: http://www.northjersey.com/englewood/Englewood_man_75_charged_in_drug_prostitution_sweep_pleads_guilty_.html#sthash.CHExfCps.dpuf
