New Jersey Criminal Defense Blog

On August 4, 2007, three people were shot and killed execution-style in a school yard in Newark, according to The Associated Press. One more victim, who survived, was sexually assaulted, shot in the head and slashed with a machete.

On September 21, 2010, the 21-year old defendant who was accused of committing the three murders pleaded guilty. He will be sentenced in early November. According to the article, the slayings were an initiation into the Central American gang, MS-13. The defendant was one of a group of suspects who allegedly committed the murders with one suspect being sentenced to over 200 years in prison on 17 felony charges.

Murder charges are serious and can carry long prison sentences. For someone who is facing charges of murder in New Jersey, a prison sentence is a life altering event that can have a devastating effect on one’s life, especially if the accused person did not commit the crime. There are instances where innocent people get caught in the crossfire and are charged for crimes that they had nothing to do with. In this case, it’s critical for someone to get in contact with a competent New Jersey criminal defense attorney.

If you or a loved one has been charged with murder or another crime in New Jersey, you need the best representation you can find. The experienced Princeton murder defense lawyers at Lependorf & Silverstein will meticulously examine every circumstance surrounding your case and build a strong defense in order to garner you the best outcome possible. A prison sentence not only affects the life of the accused person, but it also affects the lives of their family. Call Lependorf & Silverstein at (609) 240-0040 today to learn how we can defend your rights.

A National Night Out event in Patterson, NJ turned deadly when one man, age 39, was shot in the head and killed during an argument with another man on August 3, according to NorthJersey.com. Eyewitnesses say the two men were arguing loudly when the shooting occurred. Ironically, the National Night Out event, which is held in various cities across the country, is an anti-violence gathering which is meant to heighten awareness about crime prevention.

The suspect, a 30 year old male, turned himself in after finding out there was a warrant for his arrest. The suspect has been charged with murder and other weapons offenses. The reason the suspect allegedly shot the 39 year old block party attendee is not yet known and police have yet to recover the firearm used in the crime.

Murder charges are very serious in the state of New Jersey and nationwide. If someone is convicted of murder, they will be sentenced to serve significant time in prison. Depending on the circumstances of the case, the crime may carry a life sentence without the chance of parole.

Continue reading "New Jersey Murder at Anti-Violence Block Party" »

A man was beaten and killed as he sat on a park bench, enjoying his evening in downtown Summit, New Jersey. The man, well-known in the community, was a Salvadorian immigrant who had moved to the United States 13 years ago. According to the New York Times, a group of teenagers allegedly approached the man, covered his face with a white cloth, and hit him repeatedly in the face while one teen videotaped the act on his cell phone. The man later died from a brain hemorrhage at the hospital. To add insult to injury, the on-staff nurse allegedly stole the last $600 from the man’s wallet.

Five teenagers are now facing charges related to the New Jersey violent crime. Originally, three of the teens were charged with manslaughter, which has been raised to felony-murder. The other two teens were charged with being lookouts. The boy who recorded the violent act was not charged and the nurse who allegedly stole the deceased man’s money has been fired and charged with stealing.

Continue reading "Small New Jersey Town Rocked by Honduran Man's Killing" »

According to an article on NJ.com, the Trenton police found the dead body of a male, when responding to the scene of a car accident. The accident occurred at an overpass located at the junction of Route 29 and Market Street.

Officials say that the man was shot three times as his car waited at a stop light. The police matched the victim with one of the names in the gang database. He had previously been arrested for possession of drugs and racketeering, and served over 2 years in prison. The police suspect the murder was motivated by gang activity.

The victim had been released in May 2009 and was allegedly considered as a top member in a faction of the Bloods that once consisted of a population of an estimated 200 members in the Trenton area.

Although police say the numbers of gang members have been reduced in the area as a result of stringent prison initiatives, police admit that gangs still exist.

New Jersey murder charges, especially those considered to be gang-related, require the legal representation of highly skilled and competent attorneys. A wrongful conviction for a murder offense can have detrimental consequences for an innocent individual. Each of our attorneys at the New Jersey criminal defense law firm of Lependorf & Silverstein have almost 20 years of experience defending the rights of clients accused of violent crimes, including murder and assault. Let our attorneys ensure that you receive a fair trial and aggressive legal representation against serious criminal charges. For a free consultation, please contact our office today at 609-240-0040.

Four suspects have been arrested for the alleged murder of a DeVry University recruiter. According to an article the New Jersey Star-Ledger, the university recruiter was kidnapped while driving her BMW convertible, after stopping for dinner at a Newark soul food restaurant.

Later that same evening, the police discovered her body in her burning car. Allegedly, one of the four suspects gave a Gucci handbag as a gift to a woman. The woman discovered the victim’s business card inside the purse.

The police used a tip from an anonymous caller to identify the four suspects. They had no leads on the case for nearly two years. The police believe that the four suspects had a motive to kill the victim allegedly because of her wealth. The victim’s boyfriend had been out on bail awaiting sentencing for drug distribution and living at her house at the time of her murder. He told police that a man driving the victim’s car aimed a gun at him as pulled into the victim’s garage.

The police used cell phone records to determine that the suspects all made calls from the same location on the night of the victim’s murder. All physical evidence had been destroyed by the fire. The case has no eye witnesses to the victim’s murder.

Continue reading "Suspects Accused of University Recruiter's Murder" »

Although New Jersey’s overall crime rate for 2009 will not be determined until next summer, preliminary homicide reports have shown a decline for the third straight year. Based on a dailyrecord.com report, preliminary murder statistics in New Jersey show a downward crime trend that may be attributed to a state plan combating violent crimes. Other credited crime prevention tactics include advanced surveillance and security systems, more intelligent deployment of police resources, stronger drug and gun laws, and harsher sentencing guidelines.

According to the Uniform Crime Report, the number of violent crimes in New Jersey decreased by 1 percent. Even though this decline is small, it shows that the number of incidents have decreased seven years in a row. The report also shows that there were 26 crime victims for every 1,000 residents last year, which is up from 25 per 1,000 in 2007.

Continue reading "Homicides Down in New Jersey for Third Straight Year" »

A recent pressofatlanticcity.com report discusses how Atlantic City is safer than most people realize. An Atlantic City Police Chief stated that he does not believe the public perception matches appropriately with the statistics. According to the report, violent crimes increased by 27% in the U.S. from 1978 to 2008, but only jumped 4% in Atlantic City. While thefts dropped 4% across the nation in the same time frame, theft decreased 43% in Atlantic City. All of these decreases were seen even though Atlantic City has an immense influx of visitor and commuters mostly drawn to its casinos and resorts.

So why the falling numbers? Apparently, casinos throughout Atlantic City have enhanced in-house security. Also helping lower crime is the growth of police forces within the area. In addition, there seems to be greater concern regarding comprehensive studies of what crimes happen where and when, whether victims and perpetrators know each other, and whether or not they are residents.

Although the flow in crime-patterns is in Atlantic City’s favor, especially with thefts being the lowest in 2008 (2,927 incidents) since casinos opened, crime did rise in the first 10 years of casino operation. It is promising though that within the last 20 years, crime has fallen. Some other reasons for this decline include an increase in recreational outlets for at-risk children, low-income neighborhoods being destroyed, and casinos working more diligently to recruit job applicants from low-income neighborhoods.

Continue reading "Violent Crime Decreases in Atlantic City, but the Battle Isn't Over" »

There has been much discussion lately regarding retired NBA star Jayson Williams and his postponed hearing. According to a recent report, the Somerville hearing, in which Williams was expected to enter a plea for a 2002 shooting death of a hired driver, was indefinitely delayed.
One source stated that the delay is partly related to travel issues experienced by Williams in getting to New Jersey from South Carolina. It is also being said that he will plead guilty to aggravated assault. If Williams does in fact plead guilty to the assault charge, he will face a minimum 18-month sentence due to a gun being involved in the driver’s death.

The former NBA player was acquitted in 2004 for aggravated manslaughter, but was convicted of covering-up the shooting, which took place at his mansion in New Jersey. In awaiting a second trial for reckless manslaughter, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence, the jury deadlocked on the reckless manslaughter count.

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A heated topic of discussion lately has been the recent arrest of a Chatham church janitor who is accused of killing a parish priest whose body was found in the church rectory. Apparently, law enforcement in Philadelphia has been looking for the janitor since 1988 due to an alleged indecent assault of a minor. In addition to the charges that he stabbed and killed the priest at Saint Patrick Church, the 64-year-old man is also accused of having more than two aliases and using various social-security numbers and identifications within the years to cover up his past.

According to an nj.com article, the arrested man had been working for the church as a janitor since 1992. Authorities are saying that he became very upset during a discussion with the priest regarding his continuous employment. Even though reports state that the case against this man is “very strong”, a case involving homicide or murder requires precise and accurate procedures relating to investigation, evidence collection, interrogation, and much more.
Having past criminal charges can play a determining factor in an individual’s case when punishment is being decided, especially if this past has been the reason for a person being considered a fugitive. However, even when an accused has a history of criminal charges, he or she is innocent until proven guilty and has the right to a fair trial and legal representation.

As it is defined in New Jersey State Law 2C:11-2, an individual is guilty of criminal homicide if:

• He or she purposely, knowingly and recklessly causes the death of another human being

• Criminal homicide is murder, manslaughter or death by auto

Continue reading "Chatham Church Janitor Charged with Parish Priest's Murder" »

At 2 am on August 17, 2009, a 14-year-old boy died after being shot once in the back in what the boy’s mother is calling an act of retribution. According to a story, authorities are only saying that the violent crime was gang-related. The young teen was a member of the Bloods street gang despite his family’s efforts to dissuade him from joining the gang. Apparently, the teen had been in a fight prior to his murder, which occurred while he was standing with a group of friends on the side of the street.

The boy’s mother told news reporters, “This gang stuff has got to stop…these kids are getting younger and younger.”

Police are currently searching for two suspects in New Jersey for this murder.

As one of New Jersey’s six largest urban centers with a population close to 2 million, Newark is a “Major Urban” city that saw an increase from 154 murders in 1998 to 222 murders in 2007, according to a 2007 New Jersey Uniform Crime Report. The penalties for committing a violent crime in New Jersey are severe and can affect a person’s life indefinitely. Based on the magnitude and nature of the violent crime, an individual could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted of murder.

Continue reading "Newark Gang-Related Shooting Kills 14-Year-Old" »

Law enforcement and government officials are considering implementing a mandatory curfew for people of all ages in Paterson, New Jersey, due to an influx in homicides and gun-related crimes seen so far this year. According to a newjerseynewsroom.com report, Paterson, as largely populated city in New Jersey, has experienced 30 shootings already this year, including 6 New Jersey homicides. If the measure gets approved after the City Council reviews it on September 1, the curfew would last for two months and dissuade individuals from loitering outside from midnight to 7a.m. Those who violate the curfew could be penalized with a $2,000 fine and a 90-day jail sentence.

Mayor Jose Torres stated, “We’re trying to think outside the box…this was triggered predominantly by fear among city residents over the shootings that have been occurring this summer.”

If the curfew measure passes, it would be the nation’s first citywide, non-emergency curfew to include adults.

Continue reading "New Jersey May Enforce Adult Curfew in Effort to Lower Crime" »

This recent article in the Pottstown Mercury claims that a man accused of murdering a casino worker appeared in New Jersey Superior Court to face charges in connection with the murder. The New Jersey murder charges allege that Mark E. Magee, 55, of Norristown, fatally shot 55-year-old Raymond Kot three times while Kot was working in card and dice room at the Taj Mahal Casino. Kot was working as a casino shift manager in a room off the main casino floor around 3:50 p.m. on May 27, 2009 when Magee allegedly fired at Kot, hitting him in the torso three times. According to the New Jersey Attorney General’s office, Magee then left the casino building. He was apprehended around 100 feet from the casino’s entrance by Atlantic City Police Detectives Jaimee Moore and Kevin Fair shortly after the shooting occurred and the detectives observed Magee dropping a .38-caliber revolver on the ground.

After the shooting, Kot was taken to Atlantic City Medical Center and pronounced dead from his wounds at 5:24 p.m. Magee was then charged with Kot’s murder and undisclosed weapons offenses. Magee appeared two days later before New Jersey Superior Court Judge Albert J. Garofolo who set Magee’s bail at $1,122,500 with $1 million bail for the murder charges and the remainder for the weapons charges. Magee faces first-degree murder charges in New Jersey as well as unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a handgun without a permit, and possession of hollow point bullets, which are prohibited by NJ law.

The murder investigation is currently underway and being conducted by a number of law enforcement agencies including members of the State Police’s Casino Gaming Bureau, State Police Crime Scene South Unit and State Police Major Crime Unit.

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According to this recent Newsday report, two Newark men have been arrested and are facing charges for a rash of robberies and criminal homicide in New Jersey of a gas station attendant killed in one of the robberies. Raymond Perry, 43, and David Fate, 24, face felony murder charges in the death of 29-year-old Daniel Pritchard, who worked at a Verona gas station. The pair also face multiple charges for assault, robbery, and weapons violations in what law enforcement officials have called a three-week crime spree.

According to Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow, Fate was arrested in South Carolina where he awaits extradition and Perry was apprehended at a friend’s house in Newark. The court set a $1 million bail each, and according to prosecutors, neither man has a defense attorney.

People convicted of murder, felony assault, robbery, weapons violations, and other serious charges face lengthy prison terms, steep fines and probation, and have a permanent mark on their records for the rest of their lives.

Continue reading "Newark Murder and Robbery Charges against Men" »

Police arrested a man on Paterson homicide charges after investigators found his girlfriend’s body stuffed in a bag in his apartment, according to a Star-Ledger new report. Randy Martin, age 47, is being held on $1 million bail. His girlfriend, 26-year-old Maria Hoppe of Randolph was reported missing on June 10.

Her body was reportedly found in the bedroom of Martin’s apartment. Martin’s apartment was searched by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.

Murder is probably the most serious crime with the most serious consequences of all the criminal charges in the United States. New Jersey state law 2C:11-3 states that a criminal homicide constitutes a murder when the person committing the act “purposely causes death or serious bodily injury resulting in death.” A criminal homicide becomes murder when the prosecution proves that the defendant “intended to kill” the purported victim.

The criminal defense attorney in a murder case can make the difference between life and death. The consequences are grave. You could receive a death sentence, life in prison or spend life in prison without the possibility of parole. The experienced, knowledgeable and aggressive New Jersey murder attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein will help you consult with forensic experts, jury consultants and conduct a thorough independent investigation. We will work hard to get you an acquittal. If you or a loved one has been charged with murder, homicide or a violent crime in the state of New Jersey, call us for a free and completely confidential investigation.

In a tragic Bridgeton murder case, a local 14-year-old has been charged with murder on suspicion of drowning her newborn baby in the tank of a public restroom during a Cinco de Mayo festival at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds. According to a news article in South Jersey News Online (), the girl not identified because of her age, is already the mother of a 13-month-old and hid this pregnancy from her friends and family.

Prosecutors allege that the teenager, a student at Bridgeton High School killed the baby boy moments after she gave birth to him in the restroom. Officials are still in the process of deciding how to file the charges. Prosecutors could charge her as a teenager, which means she could get a maximum sentence of 20 years in a juvenile facility. They could also charge her as an adult, which means her case would be tried in open court and if found guilty, she could face a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.

This is clearly a frightening scenario for a young girl 14 years of age. One can only imagine what her parents, family members and friends must be going through right now. This girl needs the services of a criminal defense attorney who has extensive knowledge of juvenile laws. New Jersey juvenile criminal defense cases can vary greatly, which is why it’s very important that each case is assessed by an accomplished criminal defense lawyer in a timely manner so that all legal actions can progress quickly and efficiently.

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