Christopher Banta and his wife Sondra Gannon were facing over 10 years in prison after Sussex County Prosecutors charged them with running a large scale drug operation back in 2016. This week the Wantage couple agreed to a plea deal that could have both of them out of prison in about a year. Banta agreed to plead guilty to one second degree drug distribution charge. While Gannon has agreed to enroll in the state's pre-trial intervention program for one year. If she completes the program she will avoid a guilty plea and have no criminal record. The Sussex County Prosecutors Office will ask the court to sentence Banta to 10 years in prison with five years of parole ineligibility. Banta's attorney will argue for a 7 year sentence. If that scenerio is approved by the judge. Banta could be released in a year. Based on time served and a recent directive from the New Jersey Attorney General which allows non violent offenders to receive no minimum sentence.
Source: New Jersey Herald