Former County Prosecutors With Over 200 Years Experience Are Ready To Defend Your Aggravated Assault Offense in Harrison New Jersey
An accusation by someone that you committed an aggravated assault in Harrison might not mean an immediate arrest. Depending upon the circumstances, police might need to investigate to gather additional evidence before they arrest and charge you. This is when you need to retain the services of a Harrison aggravated assault lawyer.
Aggravated assault is an indictable offense under New Jersey law, which is equivalent in terms of punishment and criminal record to a felony in other jurisdictions. In addition to protecting you from improper questioning and interrogation by the police, an experienced attorney has the opportunity to present your side of the story. The result could be that no charges are filed or a decision to charge you with a less serious offense, such as simple assault or harassment.
Whether you have been arrested and charged with aggravated assault or believe you are under investigation by the police, our criminal defense attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall stand ready to put their exceptional qualification to work for you, including:
- Over 200 years of combined experience defending Hudson County Aggravated Assault charges and related criminal charges
- Ten (10) lawyers who limit their practice to defending the accused
- Former County Prosecutors who have gained invaluable skill for defending assault charges as Director of Major Crimes, Special Operations, the Gangs Task Force and even an entire Trial Division
- Certified criminal trial attorneys
- Decades of success representing clients charged with aggravated assault
If you are facing an aggravated assault charge at the Criminal Division of Hudson County Superior Court, an attorney at our firm has the tools to help you avoid a conviction. You can contact our Jersey City Office at 201-309-0500 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys to discuss a detention hearing, first appearance at Central Judicial Processing or any other issue.
Harrison Aggravated Assault Offense
Aggravated assault as defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b) involves one or more of the following acts:
- Attempting to cause serious bodily injury to another person or causing a serious bodily injury either purposely or knowingly. A person could also be charged if a serious bodily injury is caused to another person through reckless behavior demonstrating extreme indifference to human life.
- Attempting to cause or purposely or knowingly causing bodily injury to another person with a deadly weapon.
- Recklessly causing another person to suffer a bodily injury with a deadly weapon.
- Knowingly pointing a firearm at or in the direction of another person under circumstances that manifest extreme indifference to of human life. It does not matter for purposes of the statute whether you believed the gun to be loaded.
Although simple assault is a less serious offense, you could be charged with aggravated assault if the victim is a police officer, school teacher, firefighters and other occupations state law designates for protection by increase the seriousness and penalties of the offense. A possible defense might exist in cases where evidence shows you could not have been aware of the occupation of the person you are charged with assaulting.
Penalties for an Aggravated Assault Conviction in Harrison
The extent of the injuries suffered by a victim or the use of a weapon to commit can be a factor that increases the grade and the seriousness and penalties of an aggravated assault. The most serious grade is second degree aggravated assault. You could be sentenced to pay a fine of as much as $150,000 and be confined to state prison for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 10 years. If you are convicted of second degree aggravated assault, you are not eligible for parole until you complete at least 85% of your prison sentence.
Aggravated assault as a fourth degree offense could still send you to state prison for up to 18 months and include a fine of as much as $10,000. All grades of aggravated assault are indictable offenses, so you will have a criminal record of being convicted for what is the equivalent of a felony in other states. A felony conviction means you lose your right to own or possess a firearm, many employers will not hire you because of the conviction, and some landlords will refuse to rent to you. You cannot conceal your criminal record because it comes up whenever anyone conducts a routine background check of you.
There are legal defenses that a skilled criminal defense attorney can assert to challenge the prosecution version of the incident and lead to dismissal or a reduction to a lesser offense or a lighter sentence. For example, defending yourself or another person against a threat of harm is self-defense that could provide legal justification for the action you took.
Companion Domestic Violence Restraining Order Proceedings
A common scenario for a Harrison NJ aggravated assault charge is domestic violence. Allegations that a spouse, ex or other related party committed a domestic assault can result in issuance of a temporary restraining order. This relief can become permanent and final in the event that the related restraining order hearing is lost. It is therefore pivotal for you to do your absolute best to prepare your defense if you were also served with a restraining order.
Harrison Aggravated Assault Criminal Defense Lawyer
There could be defenses to a Harrison aggravated assault charge, so a criminal defense lawyer from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall spends time listening to your version of what occurred to identify possible defenses. For instance, defending yourself or another person against an attack is self-defense, so we would investigate to locate witnesses or other forms of evidence to use to prove the defense in court. This is only one example of how our dedicated defense attorneys utilize an aggressive defense strategy to give you the best chance of avoiding the penalties and stigma of an aggravated assault conviction. Call us now at 201-309-0500 for a free consultation, 24/7, with a member of our defense team.
