NORWICH – Two young men – 19 and 20 – appeared in Norwich City Court Thursday for a felony hearing following their arrest on drug charges July 20, 2015. At the conclusion of the proceedings, both were remanded to the local jail “until further proceedings.”

Javonte Schwartz, 19, and Jared S. Quackenbush, 20, were charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, a class B felony; criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, a class D felony; and loitering in the first degree, a class B misdemeanor. Schwartz was additionally charged with the class A misdemeanor of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree.

The purpose of a felony hearing is to show evidence and hear testimony to determine whether or not a felony was committed, and if the there is reasonable belief that the defendant/s committed said felony.

The arresting officers in the case took the stand as witnesses for the prosecution.

Schwartz was represented by Assistant Public Defender Aaron Dean and Quackenbush was represented by Assistant Public Defender Pat Mavady.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Bowen represented the prosecution.

The first witness called by Bowen was Norwich Police Department Sergeant Justin Carpenter. Carpenter said he has been employed with the NPD for nine years. After identifying both defendants in the courtroom, Carpenter explained how the arrest of the two ensued the night of July 20, 2015.