Former Prosecutors That Include A Drug Task Force Director Are Ready To Defend Your Cocaine Charge in Guttenberg New Jersey
The high risk of addiction and abuse associated with cocaine, in addition to its explosion back on the scene, has resulted in focused efforts by the Guttenberg Police and Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office to identify those who distribute or even possess this Schedule II CDS. As far as law enforcement is concerned, the drug needs to be off the street and all effort should be undertaken to apprehend those who illegally possess either powder or rock (i.e. crack) cocaine. Representation by an attorney who is highly qualified in defending Guttenberg drug possession charges is precisely what is needed
At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our 10 attorneys limit their practices exclusively to criminal defense. Their collective experience spans more than 200 years and includes significant time as county prosecutors serving in positions like Director of the Drug Task Force, Major Crimes, Special Operations (i.e. economic crimes) and even an entire Trial Division. Our criminal lawyers are committed to ensuring that you have every chance of averting a conviction for cocaine possession at the Hudson County Superior Court. To speak to a lawyer who has been successfully defended cocaine charges for decades, call 201-309-0500 for a free initial consultation.
Cocaine Possession Offense in Guttenberg
N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 defines the offense of cocaine possession as purposely or knowingly obtaining or possessing controlled dangerous substances, including cocaine. The statute allows you to be arrested and prosecuted even when you were not in actual possession of cocaine. Constructive possession of cocaine occurs when police seize the drug in a car or home when there are multiple people present. The law allows them to arrest everyone in the car or at the location where the cocaine is found and charge them all with its possession unless there is evidence linking it to one particular person. It is important for the attorney defending you to be capable of analyzing the evidence and facts of a case to identify defenses that could be used to attack the evidence or challenge the prosecution theory of what occurred. We make effective use of motions to suppress to challenge police searches and seizures conducted in violation of your constitutional rights or to challenge the admissibility of statements you might have made to the police during improper interrogation or questioning.
Penalties for Possession of Cocaine in Guttenberg New Jersey
Possession of cocaine in violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 is punishable as a crime of the third degree. This grade of criminal offense is the equivalent to a “felony” in other states and carries penalties that include up to 5 years in prison and a fine of up to $35,000. You should also know that you can be charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a potential more serious crime, if law enforcement believes it was your intent to sell or distribute the cocaine to another person(s). This is usually the case when the quantity of cocaine possessed is significant, the drugs are split into packages or large sums of cash or a scale are discovered with the drugs. A conviction for any variety of NJ drug possession also results in a driver’s license suspension for six to 24 months.
Our lawyers use an aggressive defense strategy in cocaine possession cases to achieve a dismissal of the charge, but we also explore programs offering an alternative method of achieving a resolution to the charge that is favorable to you. Drug court and diversion programs such as Pretrial Intervention can offer the possibility of a dismissal of the charges without a criminal record provided you are eligible and fulfill all conditions of the program.
Guttenberg Cocaine Possession Defense Lawyers
We take our responsibility for your freedom and future very seriously at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, so you can expect our attorneys to spend considerable time going through the facts and circumstances of the case with you to identify potential defenses and evidence to use in waging an aggressive defense against your cocaine possession charge. Call us right now at 201-309-0500 to put one of our defense lawyers to work defending and protecting your rights. An attorney from our office is available to speak with you in a free initial consultation at any time of the day or night.
