Audubon NJ Receiving Stolen Property Attorneys
If you were the recipient of goods that were acquired through theft, you can be charged with receiving stolen property in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7 in Camden County. What is of paramount importance in terms of whether or not you can be convicted under 2C:20-7 is the level of knowledge you possessed regarding the property being stolen. While you may think that you can simply deny any awareness concerning the origin of the goods and that absolves you from this charge but this simply is not the case under the law. If a reasonable person in your shows reasonably would have believed that the property was stolen, then 2C:20-7 can apply. A conviction for this offense results in a record and, in most cases, we are talking about a felony. When you couple this with the fact that N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3 also carries significant penalties, a receiving stolen property charge filed in Cherry Hill, Collingswood, Haddon Township, Lindenwold or another municipality in Camden County, definitely warrants your speaking to a qualified criminal lawyer. At our firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we have a team of attorneys that includes several former prosecutors and possesses over 100 years of combined experience. For your free initial consultation, contact our office at 856-662-8300 to speak with a criminal attorney about how you can mitigate any exposure you are facing from this criminal charge.
Receiving Stolen Property Charge in Camden County
As previously stated, the law in NJ that applies to the offense of receiving stolen property is N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7. In order for the prosecution to convict you under this law, the state must establish, beyond reasonable doubt, that: (1) the property in question belonged to another; (2) it was stolen; (3) the accused knew or believed it might be stolen; (4) the accused acquired control, possession, or beneficial ownership of the property; and (5) the conduct in 1-4 was knowing. If these elements are established by the prosecutor, you can be convicted of receiving stolen property. The penalties you will face for this violation depend on the value of the property received. Where the property is valued at less than $200, the violation is a disorderly persons offense. This grade of receiving stolen property is handled in Stratford Municipal Court, Runnemede Municipal Court, Haddonfield Borough Municipal Court or another municipal court where the violation allegedly occurred. Receiving stolen property is a fourth-degree crime where the value is at least $200 but less than $500. Receiving stolen property with a value of at least $500 but less than $75,000 in a third-degree crime. When the value of the property illegally received is $75,000 or higher, 2C:20-7 makes it a second-degree crime. The Fourth Degree, Third Degree, and Second Degree charges are indictable in nature and can only be handled at the Camden County Superior Court in Camden.
Penalties For Receiving Stolen Property In Bellmawr NJ
Receiving stolen property in the second-degree results in between five (5) and ten (10) years in a New Jersey State Prison. Third degree receiving stolen property also exposes you to a prison term but in the range of three (3) and five (5) years. Fourth degree receiving stolen property carries up to 18 months in jail. A disorderly persons offense for this violation results in up to 6 months in the Camden County Jail. The maximum fine for each grade of this offense is $150,000, $15,000, $10,000 and $1,000, respectively.
Haddon Heights Receiving Stolen Property Lawyer
Unfortunately, receiving stolen property is one of those charges that can sneak up on you. It is easy to take this offense lightly but, as you can see, the consequences after the fact can be significant. You can easily be left with a felony criminal record and even be sentenced to prison/jail if you do not take this charge seriously. Our attorneys can help you avoid extreme consequences and are even successful in avoiding conviction to receiving stolen property altogether in many instances. For a free case review and evaluation from a Camden County criminal lawyer at our firm, contact us today.
