Lewdness

Contact Our Jersey City Office To Speak To A Lewdness Defense Lawyer About Your Charge In Bayonne, Weehawken, Hoboken, West New York, North Bergen Or Another Municipality In Hudson County

Under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4, the State of New Jersey punishes persons who commit “Lewd Acts”. Specifically, the statute reads that a person “commits a disorderly persons offense if he does any flagrantly lewd and offensive act which he knows or reasonably expects is likely to be observed by other non-consenting person who would be affronted or alarmed.” As defined by the statute, a lewd act includes any act of “exposing of the genitals for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person.” This act is more common than you might think and encompasses a number of activities beyond merely exposing one’s self in public. For instance, having sex intercourse in a public place can turn into a lewdness charge if it is seen by another person. Receiving oral sex in a public place can also turn into a lewdness charge if it is seen by another person. Any sexual act done in public really, if it is seen by another, will become a lewdness charge.

This offense can also be elevated to a fourth degree offense if certain circumstances are present. As the statute suggest, a person commits a fourth degree offense, if he exposes his intimate parts for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person under circumstances where the actor knows or reasonably expects he is likely to be observed by a child who is less than thirteen (13) years of age where the actor is at least four years older than the child. A person also commits a fourth degree offense if he exposes his intimate parts for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person under circumstances where the actor knows or reasonably expects he is likely to be observed by a person who because of mental disease or defect is unable to understand the sexual nature of the actor’s conduct. By intimate parts, the statute really means the reproductive organs of either a male or female, although, most typically speaking, the offense usually arises from the exposure of male genitalia.

As you can tell, there is a wide array of conduct which may result in a defendant being charged with lewdness in Hudson County. The Hudson County, NJ lewdness defense lawyers at the Law Office of Jonathan F. Marshall are prepared to aggressively fight to protect your freedom. If you or someone you know has been charged with the offense of lewdness, sexual assault, criminal sexual contact, aggravated sexual assault or endangering the welfare of a child, we can help. For a free initial consultation, please contact our Jersey City office at (201) 309-1800. Now here is some important information with regards to the offense of lewdness in towns like Jersey City, Hoboken, West New York, Bayonne, Harrison and Kearny, including the penalties if convicted.

Lewdness Lawyers in Jersey City: N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4

While a conviction for either of these offenses does not open you up to the possibility of a Megan’s Law registration requirement (i.e. registration as a sex offender), these are still serious offenses and ones for which you should seek the best legal representation you can obtain. A fourth degree offense can lead to a period of incarceration for up to eighteen (18) months and a fine of up to $10,000. Even a disorderly persons offense can lead to incarceration for up to six (6) months and a fine of up to $1,000. However, with that being said, a defendant charged with lewdness may be eligible for one of New Jersey’s diversionary programs; Conditional Dismissal and Pretrial Intervention. If the defendant is accepted into either program, they will be afforded the opportunity to walk away from this incident without a criminal record, let alone spending a night in jail.

Hudson County NJ Lewdness Defense Attorneys

A lewdness charge in Hoboken, New Jersey requires the skill set of an experienced Hudson County criminal defense firm. Here at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, we have over 100 years of collective experience defending against criminal charges, including Lewdness, and our team of former prosecutors stands ready to defend you. So please, if you or a loved one has been charged with Lewdness in Hudson County, do not hesitate to contact one of our offices today for a free consultation about the particulars of your case. We are available 24/7 at (201) 309-1800 to answer any questions you might have.

Additional Hudson County Resources To Assist You