Defending criminal charges can be extremely complex and stressful without legal help. Having skilled defense attorneys working on your behalf can make all the difference in your case.
Any criminal charge is worth fighting. Our firm handles a variety of cases, including those involving weapons, drug, assault, and domestic violence charges, among others. If you are currently facing criminal charges in Bridgeton, our attorneys can review the charges, explain what they mean, and begin preparing your defense. If you have been convicted of a crime in the past and want to wipe the slate clean, we can help you file for expungement to erase your criminal record.
Call the Lombardo Law Group, LLC at (609) 418-4537 today for a free case review with our experienced Bridgeton criminal defense lawyers.
Typical Cases Our Bridgeton Criminal Defense Lawyers Handle
Being the defendant in a criminal case in Bridgeton might be the most difficult situation a person finds themselves in. Fortunately, our criminal defense attorneys can protect your rights and provide you with the defense you deserve, regardless of the charges you face. From weapons and drug cases to domestic violence and assault cases, our firm can help you defend your name.
Weapons Cases
Weapons cases are some of the most serious in Bridgeton and carry the severe penalties. While you can be charged for carrying and concealing weapons like knives, the most serious offenses are those that involve illegal firearms possession. In New Jersey, you must get a one-time permit to purchase a handgun or a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card to legally buy a gun. If you do not have a permit for a gun in your possession, you can be charged with illegal possession of a weapon, regardless of whether the gun was yours or someone else’s. According to N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-5 (b), illegal possession of a handgun is a second degree crime, and convictions might carry consequences of five to ten years in prison.
Weapons charges could also be tacked on if a weapon was used during the course of a robbery or while making threats to another person. In other cases, a person might be charged with the illegal sale of a weapon or brandishing of a weapon. Further, convicted felons can be convicted for illegal possession of a weapon as most felons lose their right to carry a firearm.
New Jersey does not allow gun owners to carry weapons in certain areas, such as in educational institutions. Doing so, even if you have a legal firearm, is considered crime of the third degree under N.J.S.A. § 2C:39-5 (e).
Drug Cases
Our firm also commonly handles drug cases in Bridgeton. The most common drug charge is illegal possession. This can include possessing illegal drugs, like cocaine or heroin, as well as possessing pharmaceuticals not prescribed to you. It is also not uncommon for a person to be charged with manufacturing and distribution when arrested with a certain amount of drugs in their possession. If you have been charged with an intent to sell in addition to your possession charges, you could be facing much more significant penalties.
If you were convicted of drug charges in your youth, you might be eligible for expungement. Under N.J.S.A. § 2C:52-5, drug offenders under the age of 21 can apply for expungement of certain convictions within one year of their conviction, the end of their parole or probation, or their release from custody.
Assault Cases
Individuals charged with assault could also face serious consequences depending on the circumstances of the case. N.J.S.A. § 2C:12-1 distinguishes between different types of assault based on whether the assault involved serious bodily injury or intent on the part of the perpetrator to cause serious injury. If no serious bodily injury occurs and there was no intent to cause it during an altercation, simple assault will likely be the charge. However, if there is some type of permanent damage done during such an altercation or a weapon was used by the perpetrator, aggravated assault could be the charge.
The penalties between simple assault and aggravated assault can be very different. Those convicted of simple assault will likely face community service, fines, and court-ordered meetings like anger management, but they might be able to avoid jail time. A conviction for an aggravated assault is more serious and usually comes with some time in prison. Depending on the specifics of your case, our criminal defense lawyers may be able to get the aggravated assault charges against you reduced so that you do not spend time in jail.
DWI Cases
Another common charge individuals are faced with in Bridgeton is for driving while intoxicated (DWI). If you were pulled over by the police and a breathalyzer test showed that your blood alcohol was over 0.08%, you will be charged with DWI. Even a first conviction for DWI can have serious consequences, including suspension or revocation of your license and massive fines. If this was not the first arrest for DWI, penalties could be stiffer, including imprisonment.
Domestic Violence Cases
The consequences of a conviction for domestic violence are far-reaching and can have lasting effects on you both personally and professionally. Domestic violence cases stem from any abuse, violence, or cruelty perpetrated by one family or household member on another. Domestic violence cases can be devastating for those involved and can change the course of your life if charged. Domestic violence cases are complex and usually involve deep seeded issues among the family. If accusations were falsely made, they can be challenged in court to get the charges dismissed.
Sentencing guidelines for offenses related to domestic are laid out in N.J.S.A. § 2C:43-6.8. According to this statute, domestic violence convictions for homicide, aggravated assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, and others might carry a higher minimum term of imprisonment.
Record Expungements
After completing probation or parole in Bridgeton, many individuals find that there is still something left on their record that prevents them from getting jobs or renting apartments. This can be the result of an arrest but not a conviction or even just one charge being reduced to something more minor. If you need your criminal record erased, our lawyers can help you file for expungement.
It is important to note that expungements are not always successful. The process is often complicated and costly, and it takes time before you see results. Additionally, even if you are successful in getting your record expunged, this does not mean that your criminal history is entirely erased. Rather, certain aspects of your record will no longer be accessible by third parties who do not have direct access to police records databases such as NIBRS or NCIC. However, expunging your record should provide relief to allow you to get on with your life.
Building a Defense Against Criminal Charges in Bridgeton
Any criminal conviction could cause serious issues in your life, regardless of the legal consequences. Because of this, it is of the utmost importance to prioritize your defense immediately after an arrest in Bridgeton.
Criminal defenses are most vulnerable right after arrests take place. Understandably, people who have just gotten arrested are confused, frustrated, and frightened. Even though the police should inform you of the reason for your arrest, you might be unsure what led them to arrest you or why you are involved in a case. While you might want to ask officers questions and learn more about the charges against you, do not. Instead, wait for our criminal defense lawyers to arrive. We can explain your charges and begin building your defense right away.
To do so, we will need to know all the details about your arrest and the alleged crime in question. If you were not physically present at the crime’s location and have a solid alibi, we can use that as part of your defense. We can also review the prosecution’s evidence to determine if it can meet the standard of proof against you. Our lawyers will also investigate the circumstances surrounding your arrest to determine if police officers possibly violated your rights when originally arresting or questioning you in Bridgeton.
The Standard of Proof in Bridgeton Criminal Cases
When facing criminal charges, defendants might feel powerless over their situations. However, after learning about the burden and standard of proof applied to criminal cases, defendants might approach their cases more confidently.
In criminal cases, the burden of proof is on the prosecution, which is the side that files the charges. The prosecution is tasked with proving that a defendant committed a crime beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the highest standard of proof. In civil cases, for example, plaintiffs only have to show that a defendant is more than likely liable for a plaintiff’s damages. The high standard of proof for criminal cases requires juries to consider whether or not a reasonable person would doubt a defendant’s guilt after reviewing all of the evidence presented by both sides.
Because the standard of proof is so high in criminal cases, defendants might have the upper hand, so to speak. During the discovery process, we can review the prosecution’s evidence and other materials for use at trial to indicate their likely arguments. We can also introduce our own evidence, contradicting the prosecution’s assertions of your guilt and effectively clearing your name of wrongdoing.
Criminal Charges and Statutes of Limitations in Bridgeton
Crimes have statutes of limitations, meaning the prosecution can only bring charges against you within a certain timeframe following an alleged criminal act.
According to N.J.S.A. § 2C:1-6(b)(2), the statute of limitations for the prosecution to file misdemeanor charges against a defendant for disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses is typically one year. For most other offenses, the statute of limitations to file charges is five years. Certain crimes, like murder and sexual assault, do not have a statute of limitations.
If the prosecution attempts to file charges against you when the statute of limitations has run out, our attorneys can convince the court to dismiss the case. We can also negotiate lesser charges, depending on your case, the available evidence, and the original charges against you, so that you ultimately face lesser consequences.
The Differences Between Private Criminal Defense Lawyers and Public Defenders in Bridgeton
When someone is charged with a crime in Bridgeton, they have a constitutional right to a defense. That defense can be done by a private criminal defense attorney. Otherwise, a public defender will be appointed if they cannot afford a private attorney.
While some might think that one defense attorney is the same as another, there are differences between the two types that can seriously impact a case’s outcome.
For instance, many public defenders have large caseloads, making it hard to provide detailed attention to each and every defendant. Although many are great public defenders, the number of cases they handle means they will not be able to take the time with your case that our private criminal defense attorneys can. We can provide the focus necessary to find the weaknesses in your case.
Our Bridgeton Criminal Defense Lawyers Can Help
For a free case assessment with our criminal defense lawyers, contact the Lombardo Law Group, LLC at (609) 418-4537.
