Pine Hill Aggravated Assault Attorney
There has been much publicity about incidents of fighting and physical altercations at youth football, soccer, lacrosse, basketball and other sporting events. Lawmakers have taken note of these incidents and, in an effort to deter this type of escalation, have created a fourth-degree aggravated assault category for this conduct. The result is a separate felony crime that applies whenever a parent or other adult engages in simple assault at a school or community sponsored youth sporting event. If you were arrested in Pine Hill or another municipality in Camden County with violating N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(f), it clearly in your interests to secure the services of a knowledgeable defense attorney to ensure that you have every opportunity of avoiding a record and penalties that include a state prison term.
The lawyers at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall possess the attributes you need to successfully defend your aggravated assault charge. We are one of New Jersey’s largest criminal defense firms, feature a team with over 100 years of experience, including several former prosecutors. If you are looking for an attorney with the skills to effectively defend an offense arising in Gloucester City, Bellmawr, Cherry Hill, Winslow or anywhere else in the region, we can provide that service. Attorneys are available 24/7 to review the facts of your case and to provide you with our incite as the best approach for handling your charge. Call us at 856-662-8300 today.
Charged With Aggravated Assault At A Youth Sporting Event
It can hardly be debated that fighting at high school football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer and other games is something that needs to be discouraged. Subsection (f) of N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1 is intended to achieve this goal by making it a felony any time someone commits even the slightest assault “in the presence of a child under 16 years of age at a school or community sponsored youth sports event”. The term “school or community sponsored youth sports event” is defined as:
a competition, practice or instructional event involving one or more interscholastic sports teams or youth sports teams organized pursuant to a nonprofit or similar charter or which are member teams in a youth league organized by or affiliated with a county or municipal recreation department and shall not include collegiate, semi-professional or professional sporting events.
If a simple assault occurs at game falling within this definition when a child under 16 is present, the participant is strictly liable for this offense. What we mean by this is that an individual can be convicted of this charge even though they lacked knowledge that a child was present when they committed the simple assault. It is not a defense that the accused lacked knowledge that a child was present or reasonably believed that those who were present were 16 or older. The penalties that apply upon conviction include a maximum fine of $10,000 and up to 18 months in jail.
Waterford NJ Aggravated Assault Lawyer
Waterford is the second largest municipality in Camden County with a vibrant school system and many youth sports events. The Township also has plenty of competition at football, soccer, basketball and other events. If you were present at an event that resulted in you being charged with aggravated assault, you need to consult with a lawyer immediately. You are facing the possibility of severe penalties absent a successful defense to the charge. Our team of Camden Criminal Attorneys can help you ensure that such an outcome is averted. Contact us at 856-662-8300 for an immediate consultation with an attorney on our team.
