Medford woman gets 3 years for cocaine

SALEM – A Medford woman caught nearly two years ago with almost two ounces of cocaine in her vehicle will spend the next three years in state prison.Sarah Jean Casarano, 44, last known address of 185 Fulton St., Medford, was allowed to plead guilty in Salem Superior Court to a reduced charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine in connection with her arrest in August 2006.Casarano was sentenced to serve three years in state prison by Judge Howard J. Whitehead.The judge agreed to follow the recommendation jointly proposed by the prosecutor and defense.The confession to a reduced charge spared Casarano a minimum mandatory punishment of five years in state prison.She also pleaded to another charge of possession of marijuana in connection with the case.Assistant District Attorney John B. Brennan said he was prepared to show at trial that on the afternoon of Aug. 2 State Police Trooper John Sullivan stopped her in her vehicle on Ballard Street for driving an automobile with an expired registration.At the time, Casarano also did not have a license on her person.A search of the vehicle revealed a backpack in the back seat containing three bags of cocaine, a little over 50 grams, as well as baggies, two scales and a quantity of marijuana.Although Casarano had a male passenger in the vehicle, she admitted to the police the narcotics were hers.The judge credited Casarano the 16 days she spent in jail awaiting trial.