Former County Prosecutors & Drug Task Force Directors At Our Firm Are Ready To Fight To Achieve The Best Result In Your Cocaine Offense
Abuse of cocaine and other opiates is a serious problem in communities throughout the state, including Bayonne. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office has committed substantial resources to enforce laws against possession and distribution of cocaine. If you have been charged with possession of even a small quantity of cocaine, you face imprisonment for up to five years and potential fines of up to $35,000. You will also be strapped with a felony criminal record if you are convicted. Consequences as severe as these make it important to hire the best Hudson County criminal attorney you can identify.
At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our attorneys have the experience and the skills to needed to achieve a favorable outcome for someone charged with cocaine possession in Bayonne. We offer clients:
- Over 200 years of combined experience defending cocaine and other Hudson County drug charges
- A team of ten (10) lawyers whose practice is dedicated exclusively to representing individuals accused of violating the criminal code in New Jersey
- Former county prosecutors that include a former Director of Major Crimes, Drug Task Force, Special Operations, Juvenile Division and even an entire Trial Division
- Certified criminal trial attorneys on staff
- A long and rich history of favorable outcomes at the Superior Court in Jersey City, as well as in Bayonne Municipal Court
- An office conveniently located right across from the county courthouse, where your possession of cocaine charge shall be heard
If you were arrested for cocaine possession or, worse yet, distribution of this controlled dangerous substance (“CDS”), we encourage you to contact our Jersey City Office at 201-309-0500 for a free consultation. An attorney is available 24/7 to discuss an initial appearance at Central Judicial Processing, a Detention Hearing or any other aspect of your case.
Cocaine Possession Offense in Bayonne
It is a violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1) to purposely or knowingly obtain or possess cocaine in any form unless you did so under the supervision and care of a physician and obtain the drug using a valid prescription.
Possession under this law includes both actual and constructive possession. Actual possession is when police find the cocaine in your pocket or any place else on your person. Constructive possession gives police a great deal more flexibility than actual possession. If police find cocaine in a car, a room or other location in proximity to you, they can arrest you and others at the location based upon constructive possession as long as police can prove you were aware of the presence of the drug and had the intent to take control of it at a later time.
Our lawyers thoroughly review the evidence and the facts underlying a cocaine arrest and to identify legal defenses. Depending upon how police obtained the cocaine and other evidence the prosecution intends to use to prove you committed the offense, we might challenge the legality of the search and seizure through a motion to suppress the evidence. If successful, it could so weaken the prosecution case as to result in a dismissal or a reduction of the charges or the penalties.
Bayonne Cocaine Possession Penalties
A conviction for violating N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 by possessing less than a half ounce of cocaine is a crime of the third degree punishable penalties that include the following:
- A fine of up to $35,000
- Up to five years in prison
- Suspension of your driver’s license for at least six months and up to 24 months
The penalties increase depending upon the quantity of cocaine seized by the police. Possession of five ounces or more of cocaine is chargeable as possession with intent to distribute, also referred to as distribution of cocaine. This is an even more serious offense that requires a talented Jersey City cocaine distribution defense lawyer.
Related Cocaine & Bayonne Resources
- Bayonne NJ Criminal Lawyers
- Drug Possession Charges in Bayonne New Jersey
- Bayonne CDS Distribution Attorney
Bayonne Cocaine Possession Defense Attorney
The attorney you choose to represent you should have the knowledge, skills and experience to make full use of the law, defenses and alternative dispositions to obtain the best result for you. At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our attorneys make use of pre-trial intervention, drug court and other programs whenever doing so would be in your best interest. More importantly, we work tirelessly to secure a dismissal or downgrade of the cocaine offense. To learn more about your Bayonne cocaine offense and how an attorney at our firm can help you, call 201-309-0500.