Contact Our Camden Criminal Defense Firm To Discuss Your Sex Assault Case With A Highly Skilled Former Prosecutor Who Is A Certified Criminal Trial Attorney
Sexual assault is one of the more serious sex crimes since the penalties that may be imposed if you are found guilty at the Camden Superior Court are extreme. You will not only face a huge fine and years in prison but also become a registered sex offender. This is why it is imperative that you hire an attorney who is adept in defending sexual assault charges. There is no substitute for knowledge and experience in defending this offense as the balance often comes to dissecting he said – she said case at trial. The defense lawyers at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have the capability to serve you well as former prosecutors and seasoned advocates who have handled cases like yours over their 100 years of combined experience. Whether you were initially charged in Cherry Hill, Pennsauken, Voorhees, Haddonfield, Haddon Township or elsewhere in Camden County, we have the pedigree you need. For a free initial consultation with a lawyer on our staff anytime 24/7, call us at 856-662-8300.
Camden County Sexual Assault Offense
If you or a loved one was arrested for sexual assault in Camden County, there are few things you should know. Sexual assault is a second-degree crime for which there is no statute of limitation under New Jersey Law. The offense is set forth at N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2 and can result in circumstances with or without penetration depending on the age of the victim. When the victim is less than thirteen years old and the actor is at least four years old, all that is required is sexual contact. “Sexual contact” means touching sexual organs, the genital area, anal area, inner thigh, groin, buttock or breast for the purpose of degrading or humiliating the victim, or sexual arousal or gratification of the actor. When this same conduct involves someone who is thirteen or older, some form of penetration must occur otherwise the violation is criminal sexual contact or possibly endangering the welfare of a child as opposed to sexual assault. “Sexual penetration” is defined as vaginal intercourse, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal intercourse, or insertion of a hand, finger or other object someone’s anus or vagina. A sexual assault has occurred where sexual penetration occurs under the following circumstances:
- The actor uses physical force or coercion, but the victim does not sustain a severe personal injury;
- The victim is on probation or parole or is detained in a hospital, prison or another institution and the actor has supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim by virtue of the actor’s legal, professional or occupational status;
- The victim is at least 16 but less than 18 years old and the actor is related by blood to the third degree, has supervisory or disciplinary power over the victim, or is a family parent, guardian or stands in loco parentis; or
- The victim is at least 13 but less than 16 years old and the actor is at least four years older than the victim.
A conviction for sexual assault results in a second-degree crime. The penalties at the time of sentencing include five to ten years in prison and a fine that can reach $150,000. In addition, a sexual assault charge falls under the No Early Release Act (“NERA”). NERA requires that a defendant serve at least eighty-five percent of his term of imprisonment before he or she is eligible to be released on parole. For example, you could not be paroled on a ten-year sentence until a mandatory minimum term of eight and one-half years was served. An individual is also subject to sex offender registration and parole supervision under Megan’s Law if they are convicted of sexual assault.
Cherry Hill Sexual Assault Attorneys
As long-time players in the New Jersey defense bar with an offense located in Cherry Hill, our attorneys are well equipped to defend cases involving allegations of sexual assault in Camden County. If you would like to speak to a lawyer on our staff about a charge or investigation being conducted by the prosecutor’s office or local police in Gloucester Township, Collingswood, Merchantville, Lawnside or another municipality, call our office in Cherry Hill for immediate assistance.
