Montclair Man Seeks to Withdraw Guilty Plea

Tresor Gopaul, is accused of  stealing $82,981 from Glen Ridge borough over a three year period, occurring between 2010 and 2013.

When people went into the Glen Ridge borough offices to obtain birth certificates, death certificates and marriage certificates, Gopaul was allegedly stealing the money collected during the processes.

Gopaul was scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday July 16 however, according to The Star Ledger, his attorney, Thomas Ashley, said that a motion had been filed, seeking to withdraw the Gopaul’s guilty plea.

The Star Ledger reports that, Superior Court Judge Peter Ryan has scheduled a hearing to review the motion for September 15.

Gopaul was charged with theft in February of this year.

On April 17 he pleaded guilty to the charges, in hopes of receiving less prison time than he might have if he was convicted of the charges. According to the Star Ledger, “Gopaul feared that, if he were convicted, he would receive a sentence of five years in prison without the chance of being released on parole.”

The theft came to light in August of 2013 when Gopaul took a day off of work, and the deputy registrar was covering for him.