Man Arrested for Assaulting a Teen After Car Crash
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.
Even though the penalties issued by a judge may impose serious consequences upon a person’s life, the ramifications of an arrest may also jeopardize a person’s future. For instance, will employers look at you differently if they believe you have a temper reflected in a criminal past? Can a minor misunderstanding lead to social and professional difficulties? It is important to have a Princeton criminal defense lawyer present to help you understand your rights in such cases.
An experienced New Jersey defense attorney can help protect your future by having your charges reduced or by even having your case dismissed entirely. The criminal defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein are ready to defend you and protect your rights. Call us today at 609-240-0040 for a free consultation.
Source: http://www.nj.com/news/local/index.ssf/2010/03/mount_olive_police_arrest_newt.html
