Cherry Hill NJ Cocaine Distribution Attorney
The number of individuals charged with distributing and possession with intent to distribute cocaine has spiked in recent years. There is little doubt that the renewed demand for this drug has also resulted in more distribution charges at the Superior Court located in Camden New Jersey. Our team of former prosecutors and knowledgeable criminal lawyers have the skills to successfully defend this offense with over 100 years of experience combined. If you have been charged with cocaine distribution in Haddon Heights, Voorhees, Audobon, Laurel Springs and another municipality in Camden County, an attorney at Jonathan F. Marshall is ready to do what is necessary to avoid a prison/jail sentence and other penalties that come with a conviction under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-5 (“Manufacturing, distributing or dispensing”). It speak to a lawyer on our staff anytime 24/7, contact our Cherry Hill Office at 856-662-8300.
Haddonfield Possession With Intent to Distribution Cocaine Lawyer
Whether you have been charged in Haddonfield or another municipality, your case will be sent to the county courthouse in Camden New Jersey. This is where all indictable criminal offenses are heard. All cocaine cases fall within this category. In order for the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office to convict you for violating 2C:35-5, he/she must establish that you knowingly or purposely manufactured or distributed cocaine in order to convict you in accordance with 2C:35-5. You distribute cocaine when the drug is delivered to another person. A conviction for distribution of five ounces or more is a first-degree crime. Selling cocaine with a weight of at least a half ounce but less than five ounces is a second-degree crime. Intent to distribute or distribution of less than a half ounce is a third-degree crime.
The penalties for distributing cocaine hinge on the degree and quantity of the substance involved. First-degree cocaine distribution carries a fine of up to $500,000 and 10-20 years in prison. The court must also impose a minimum period of parole ineligibility set between one-third and one-half of the jail sentence imposed. Second-degree cocaine distribution results in a potential fine of up to $150,000 and 5-10 years in prison. The penalties for a third-degree distribution of cocaine offense include a maximum fine of $75,000 and up to five years in prison.
Distributing Cocaine in a School Zone. A charge for distributing cocaine is more complicated when it involves conduct with a “school zone.” This term refers to 1,000-foot area surrounding property used for school purposes. If someone is convicted of selling CDS within this zone, they face additional penalties outlined in N.J.S.A. 2C:35-7. Distribution of cocaine in a school zone is a separate independent offense from the standard distribution violation and carries an enhanced potential fine of $150,000 and period of parole ineligibility to be set at the time of sentencing.
Possession With Intent to Distribution Cocaine in a Public Park or Housing Project. This offense is similar to a school zone case but involves selling or distributing drugs within 500 feet of a public park or housing project. This violation is a second-degree crime which is also separate and an additional charge someone faces when the distribution of cocaine occurs in a public park zone.
Voorhees Distribution of Cocaine Lawyer
While Voorhees is far from a hotbed for serious criminal charges, its affluence does lend well to cocaine possession and distribution of the drug. Hiring a skilled lawyer is an absolute necessity for anyone facing this offense. Whether you were arrested in Voorhees or another town, for example, Camden, Gloucester Township, Winslow or Haddonfield, you will need an adept attorney in your court to escape significant penalties. The attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have over a century of practice experience to utilize on your behalf, including years serving as prosecutors. To speak to a lawyer at our Cherry Hill firm any time of day or night, call us at 856-662-8300. Initial consultations are free of charge.
