Former Prosecutors & Highly Skilled Defense Lawyers Are Available To Discuss Your Aggravated Assault Charge In Guttenberg New Jersey
According to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau, Guttenberg is the most densely populated municipality in the country with more than 11,000 residents in a town measuring less 0.0243 square miles. It should come as no surprise that arguments and angry confrontations are common occurrences handled by officers from the Guttenberg Police Department. When confrontations at home, school, work or other locations turn violent, an arrest and an aggravated assault charge could be the outcome. An aggravated assault charge in New Jersey is the equivalent to a felony making it the most serious category of criminal conduct. Retaining the services of an experienced and gifted criminal defense attorney is essential to ensure that your side of the story is presented in court to avoid the prison sentence, fines and permanent criminal record that are only some of the consequences of a conviction.
The team of criminal defense lawyers at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has outstanding credentials to ensure a successful defense if you are facing an aggravated assault charge at the Hudson County. Our team can offer you:
- Over 200 years of collective experience representing clients arrested for aggravated assault, domestic violence and related charges in Guttenberg and elsewhere in Hudson County
- Former County Prosecutors that have handled countless offenses like yours as Directors of the Major Crime Bureau, Trial Division, Trial Division and Special Operations
- Certified criminal trial attorneys
- Ten (10) lawyers whose practice is dedicated exclusively to defending individuals charged with violating the law
We make it easy for you to get answers to your questions and concerns about your aggravated assault offense by making one of our attorneys available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to speak. Whether you need assistance with an initial appearance at Central Judicial Processing, preparation for a Detention Hearing or any other aspect of your case, a lawyer is ready to help you. Call our Jersey City Office at 201-309-0500 for an immediate free consultation.
Guttenberg Aggravated Assault Offense
N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b) defines the offense of aggravated assault as conduct that causes or attempts to cause another person to suffer an injury that creates a substantial risk of death or permanent disfigurement either purposely, knowingly, or recklessly with extreme indifference to human life. As a general rule, the conduct supporting an aggravated assault offense is more violent than for a simple assault, which is still a criminal offense only not as serious as aggravated assault, but there is at least one instance when the prosecution could charge you with an indictable offense when you commit a simple assault.
State law seeks to protect police officers, teachers, transit workers, firefighters and people working in certain other occupations from becoming the victims of assaultive conduct by allowing a simple assault to be charged as the more serious offense of aggravated assault. If you are charged with aggravated assault instead of simple assault because of the occupation of the victim, your attorney must carefully review the facts and circumstances to determine if they support a defense that you did not have knowledge of the occupation of the victim.
Penalties for Guttenberg Aggravated Assault
The degree of the charge determines the severity of the penalties judges may impose on you for a conviction for committing aggravated assault. The extent of the injuries inflicted on the victim or the use of a weapon during the incident can increase the grade of an aggravated assault.
The most serious grade of an offense under N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b) is a second degree crime. A judge is authorized to impose a fine of as much as $150,000 and confinement to a state prison for five to ten years for second degree aggravated assault. Early release from prison on parole is not available for a second degree aggravated until you complete at least 85% of your prison sentence in accordance with the No Early Release Act (“NERA”).
The most prevalent form of aggravated assault is a third degree crime. Third degree aggravated assault carries penalties that include up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
The lowest grade of aggravated assault is a fourth degree offense, but even this classification can bring with it a prison sentence of up to 18 months. The judge imposing sentence can also order that you pay a fine of as much $10,000. Aggravated assault of the fourth degree is an indictable offense as are all grades of the offense, which means you will have a permanent criminal record for committing a violent crime.
Domestic Violence Proceedings Involving a Guttenberg Aggravated Assault
It is common for aggravated assault to arise in the context of domestic violence. A temporary restraining order can be issued, along with a criminal offense for aggravated assault, when someone is the alleged victim of domestic violence. An individual faces two parallel proceedings at the Hudson County Superior Court when this occurs — an aggravated assault charge in the Criminal Division and a final restraining order hearing in the Family Division. The risks associated with this scenario makes it absolutely imperative to hire a talented attorney.
Guttenberg Aggravated Assault Offense Defense Lawyer
There is no reason to give up hope of beating an aggravated assault offense simply because the prosecution has filed a charge against you. Use of force to defend yourself or another person from harm, commonly referred to as self-defense, is only one of the legal defense that could be available to defend you against a Guttenberg aggravated assault charge. Let the criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall review the facts of your case with you to determine how they can be of help. Call us now at 201-309-0500 for a free consultation at any time of the day or night with one of our experienced criminal defense lawyers.
