New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

This story is a great example of how you can dig a hole 10 times deeper than the one you’re already in. Instead of hiring a competent New Jersey defense attorney to get him out of trouble and get the help he needs, Kyle Lewthwaite decided to do something he thought was very smart. He phoned in a bogus bomb threat to a neighborhood school to get out of a warrant for his arrest for failing to appear in court on a drug possession charge.

According to an article in the Daily Record , the 23-year-old Lewthwaite was charged with possession of heroin, possession with intent to distribute and other charges. This week, police stopped him for a seatbelt violation. Lewthwaite, who knew he was in trouble, picked up his cell phone when the officer was not looking, called 911 and called in the phony threat to distract officers.

His plan initially worked, but officers soon put two and two together and caught up with Lewthwaite. Now, he not only faces the original drug charges, but in addition has been charged with creating a false public alarm, a false 911 call and making terrorist threats. He is being held in jail on a $25,000 bail. Students at the middle school where Lewthwaite called in the threat were evacuated for about 10 minutes, the newspaper reported.

The Daily Record also reported that Lewthwaite was an exceptional student who had a love for science and electronics and even won a Coca Cola scholarship after graduating from high school. Clearly, this was a man who needed help. At Lependorf & Silverstein, we strongly believe that it is not only a New Jersey defense attorney’s job to get clients acquitted, but also to get the help they need.

What Lewthwaite needed was not time behind bars. He needed counseling and rehabilitation to kick his drug habit and get back into society as a productive citizen. Obviously, he did not get that help he so badly and desperately needed. Instead, in his attempt to get out of trouble, he ended up multiplying his troubles.

If you or a loved one has been charged of drug crimes or any other crime in the state of New Jersey, call Lependorf & Silverstein right away to discuss your case. It will cost you nothing to make that call. Instead, you have everything to gain. We will do what it takes to achieve the best possible result in your case and get you the help that you need.