– Acting Essex County Prosecutor Carolyn A. Murray announced today that an Essex County jury has convicted Robert Kosch, 58, of Bloomfield of third unlawful possession of oxycodone and unlawful possession of adderall pills or its analogue, following a trial before the Honorable Bahir Kamil, Judge of the Superior Court.
Kosch was also found guilty of second degree possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute. Kosch represented himself. Oxycodone is a painkiller. Adderall is an amphetamine used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
According to authorities, on May 17, 2012, Belleville Police conducted a motor vehicle stop of Kosch and observed him with unlabeled pill bottles and a pill bottle with another individual’s name containing 699 oxycodone pills. They also discovered eight adderall pills, according to Assistant Prosecutor Nancy Hersh, who tried the case.
Sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 14. Because he has a significant criminal history, the state will ask that he be sentenced as a persistent offender. He faces 5 to 10 years on the drug conviction, which can be increased based on his persistent offender status.
Kosch’s prior convictions include theft, theft by deception, attempted theft by deception and uttering a forged check. He was sentenced to 20 years in Morris/Sussex County for offenses there. He must serve six years before he is eligible for parole on those charges.