Matthew Sheridan pleased not guilty to possession of cocaine during a hearing held Friday, May 6, 2016.
SOMERVILLE -- Matthew Sheridan, who was arrested for possession of cocaine hours after the death of his parents, John and Joyce Sheridan, on Sept. 28, 2014, in what authorities ruled a murder-suicide, pleaded not guilty to the possession charge Friday in Somerset County Superior Court.
Matt Sheridan (Somerset County Prosecutor's Office)Matthew Sheridan, 41, who lived with his parents in the Skillman section of the township, was indicted on a charge of third-degree possession of cocaine on March 17 by a Middlesex County grand jury.
The case, which was originally transferred to Middlesex County to avoid a conflict of interest, has been transferred back to Somerset County, where it will prosecuted by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office.
Acting Somerset County Prosecutor Michael Robertson has said that a change of venue in the case was never requested.
Middlesex County First Assistant Prosecutor Christopher L.C. Kuberiet made a plea offer to Matthew Sheridan of a disorderly persons offense, which carries no jail time.
Family: State promised not to prosecute
Matthew Sheridan's attorney, Newark-based Henry Klingeman of Krovatin Klingeman, rejected the offer. He told the court he plans to file a motion to suppress the evidence found in Matthew Sheridan's vehicle and any comments he made after the evidence was discovered.
Klingeman charged that investigators illegally searched Matthew Sheridan's vehicle, which was parked outside his parents' home, when police were questioning the family inside the home.
Klingeman and Mark Sheridan also claim Somerset County Assistant Prosecutor Robert Hawkes promised that the state wouldn't prosecute Matthew Sheridan in the wake of his parents tragic deaths and said he plans to file a motion to enforce the agreement.
Lawsuit alleges evidence mishandled
Somerset County Superior Court Judge Yolanda Ciccone set June 15 to hear the motions.
Mark Sheridan has alleged that the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office is prosecuting his twin brother because the family has challenged the office's ruling that their parents was a murder-suicide.
"In October of 2014, Prosecutor (Geoffrey) Soriano called to inform me that the Somerset County Prosecutor's Office had decided it was not going to prosecute Matt," said Mark Sheridan. "This message was also conveyed by Assistant Prosecutor Robert Hawkes to (Matt's attorney) Henry Klingeman.
"It wasn't until we challenged the conclusions of their investigation and attacked their work that they reneged on their promise and decided to prosecute Matt."
Sheridan, who was driving home from New York on the day his parents were found dead, was released on his own recognizance following his arrest.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.