New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

The New Jersey Star-Ledger reports that a 44-year-old man from Wharton has been arrested for sexual assault against a minor. This is the second time the man from Morris County is facing sex crime charges in this case. This same case was previously dropped during the investigation when the girl recanted her allegations. Now years later, the girl has reaffirmed her prior allegations. She claims that her family was under duress during the previous investigation. The accused man is currently being held on a $150,000 bail and faces a second-degree charge of sex assault and child endangerment.

New Jersey sex crimes have serious consequences. Convictions for sexual assault carry lengthy prison sentences, fines and the stigma of being labeled a sex offender. Convicted sex offenders must register as a New Jersey sex offender in a database and usually carry that title with them wherever they go.

When a sex offense case is dropped and then reopened, it typically brings into question the validity of the allegation. It also raises questions about the credibility of the person who is making the allegation. False allegations in sex crime cases can be almost just as damaging to the accused as a conviction for the offense. Often in these cases, schoolteachers, babysitters and even parents can find themselves facing charges over assumptions and misinterpretations.

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A mother and daughter from New Jersey have been indicted in a mortgage fraud and money-laundering scheme. Cape May County Herald reports the two women were arrested in June of last year. The women allegedly bought condos by lying about their finances and employers to obtain mortgages. The 29-year-old daughter and the 45-year-old mother were indicted on 10 charges. They were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two counts each of wire fraud, one count conspiracy to commit money laundering and two counts each of money laundering exceeding $10,000.

Money laundering is a serious white-collar crime that carries with it great penalties. A conviction can result in significant jail time and heavy fines. In addition to the court penalties, a convicted white-collar criminal may face a lifetime of difficulties. Future employers may have a tough time seeing beyond past offenses to give someone a second chance. It’s important to have proper legal representation to protect your rights. A criminal conviction can ruin your chances of having any type of job or career in the future, which is why speaking with an East Brunswick white-collar crime defense attorney may be in your best interest.

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A Bayonne resident was arrested on suspicion of stealing $125 worth of liquor. The Jersey Journal reports that when officers arrested him, they also found cocaine in his possession. He is currently being held in Hudson County Jail. He was charged with shoplifting and possession of a controlled, dangerous substance.

Shoplifting is a relatively minor offense in New Jersey compared to possession of a controlled substance. The Garden State has a record of being extremely tough on drug crime charges. New Jersey drug laws can be severe even when the possession involves only small quantities of drugs and may have only been intended for personal use. First-time offenders pay fines as low as $1,000 and as high as $150,000 for multiple offenses. The nature and severity of drug charges in New Jersey depends on the quantity of drugs possessed, type of drugs and whether they were intended for sale.

Once convicted of a drug offense in New Jersey you may face jail time, probation, restrictions on your living arrangements and heavy fines. A conviction may affect your livelihood, your ability to get a new job and your finances. It is important to know your rights. You have a right to contact an attorney before speaking to any law enforcement official.

The New Jersey defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein are experienced in defending those charged with serious drug crimes from drug possession to transportation and sale of narcotics. Contact us at 609-240-0040 for a free consultation. Do not talk to anyone or enter a plea before first talking to an experienced criminal defense lawyer.

A 32 year-old man was indicted for allegedly having sex with a female high school student. The Courier Post reports that the alleged sexual assault took place between September 2008 and April 2009. The high school teacher faces one count of official misconduct and four counts of sexual assault.

New Jersey sexual assault charges, particularly when they involve minors, can have serious consequences. A person accused of a sex crime or sexual assault may face jail time, fines and social repercussions. Often in cases involving teachers and minors, the accused may lose their livelihood over accusations that may not even be valid. Accused teachers may lose their job and even those found innocent may have difficulty finding another job in the future. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help minimize the damage these cases can have on your career and livelihood.

New Jersey Criminal Code section 2C: 14-2 defines sexual assault as a second-degree criminal offense. Children under the age of 16 cannot give consent and those under the age of 18 cannot consent to sexual activity with someone in a supervisory position. This means that any sexual activity between a teacher and underage student is a serious crime. Even a false accusation can cost a teacher his or her career.

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A 30-year-old police officer was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Manhattan. Police arrested her after she refused to take a Breathalyzer test. The Jersey Journal reports that this was her second DWI offense. Previously, she crashed into the back of her date’s vehicle during an argument. The assault charges from that incident were dropped when she agreed to undergo an alcohol intervention program. She may be facing much harsher penalties for her second offense.

In New Jersey, a first DUI offense could result in loss of driving privileges for 12 months. First-time DUI offenders may also face a number of fines, potential jail time and insurance penalties. For two-time offenders, the fine, jail time and length of license suspension are all much more severe. The jail time becomes mandatory and could be up to 90 days. Community service and instructional courses are required. Driving privileges will usually be suspended for two years.

Continue reading "Hudson County Sheriff's Officer Arrested for Second DUI" »

A 70-year-old resident of Beachwood has been found guilty of accepting bribes. New Jersey Real-Time News reports that an FBI informant posed as a developer who offered to bribe officials for building permits. The former head of the Ocean County Democratic Party accepted $6,500 from the informant. He is now serving one year of home confinement, three years probation and a $10,000 fine.

How can someone continue in politics or in business after a guilty plea? Professionals can spend their whole lives working their way to the top only to have their hopes and dreams shattered by scandal. Just being associated with a crime such as bribery can ruin your business associations and your political aspirations. Even in cases where you are found innocent of crimes, the accusation alone may be enough to hurt you financially, professionally and socially.

A skilled New Jersey criminal defense lawyer will have a long history of protecting the rights of those charged with white-collar crimes.

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A 36-year-old man from Newton was arrested for hitting a teenager. According to a New Jersey Local News Service report, a 17-year-old rear-ended the Newton resident’s vehicle. Both exited their vehicles after the minor accident and then had an altercation. Allegedly, the 36-year-old man then hit the teenager in the back of the head. He was charged with simple assault and has a pending court appearance.

Simple assault in New Jersey is when a person causes bodily harm or puts a person in fear of bodily harm. If convicted, a defendant faces a maximum penalty of six months in jail and/or a $1,000 fine. In this case, it is not clear if the charges will be more severe due to the alleged victim being a minor. The details of what brought on the altercation and what really happened are important in the defense. Did the attack actually take place? Was the teenager hurt? If so, how seriously was he or she hurt? Did the teen provoke the attack? These are all important questions to ask in this case.

Continue reading "Man Arrested for Assaulting a Teen After Car Crash" »

Pitching legend Dwight Gooden was charged with driving under the influence of drugs and leaving the scene of an accident in New Jersey, according to a news report in USA Today. He told officials that he left the scene of the accident to drive his child to school. There have been no reports as to what drugs Gooden may have been using and no charges of drug possession have been filed. Gooden has faced prior drug charges. Most recently, he served seven months on probation after using cocaine. In 2005, he fled from police during a drunk driving stop. When he was still playing baseball, Gooden broke the major league drug policy and entered rehabilitation.

Whether or not you are a celebrity, a long history of drug use can hurt any new criminal case that happens to arise. Your reputation and history can follow you for the rest of your life. In addition, a driving under the influence conviction can result in heavy fines and potential jail time. Repeat offenders face even stiffer penalties. It is important to know your rights and to have a New Jersey DUI defense attorney on your side.

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