Sayreville NJ Car Theft Defense Attorneys
Car theft certainly is not an offense that is foreign in Middlesex County as automobiles are stolen in Sayreville and other municipalities all the time. When an individual steals an automobile, they are exposed to enhanced penalties beyond those which apply in a normal theft. A conviction also results in a felony criminal record. These are both very good reasons for you to make sure you hire the very best lawyer you can find. Lawyers that are skilled in defending car theft cases, like those at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, are going to insure that you have the opportunity to avoid a guilty finding and all of the consequences that come with such a result. Our car theft defense attorneys include a former Middlesex County prosecutor and a team with over a century of experience representing clients charged with theft of an automobile in Piscataway, Edison, Woodbridge, Sayreville and elsewhere in this region. If you would like to take advantage of a free initial consultation to discuss your arrest in Sayreville or another municipality, call our Woodbridge Office at 732-800-7910.
Automobile Theft Charge in New Brunswick New Jersey
A charge for car theft is a third degree or second degree indictable crime which falls outside municipal court jurisdiction. Accordingly, your case will be sent to the Courthouse in New Brunswick for handling irrespective of where you were arrested. The Middlesex County Prosecutor will have to prove that you took possession or control of the motor vehicle of another person with the intention of permanently depriving the true owner of his or car, truck, motorcycle, etc. This offense should be distinguished from joyriding where an individual lacks an intent to permanently dispossess the owner. The following are some of the more important considerations that apply if someone is convicted of motor vehicle theft under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-2.1.
- Fines. A fine of up to $7,500 upon conviction for third degree auto theft. There is also a mandatory assessment required by 2C:20-2.1 in the amount of $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for a third offense.
- Drivers License Suspension. The period of suspension is one (1) year, two (2) years, and ten (10) years for a first offense, second offense and third offense, respectively. If the defendant is a juvenile, the suspension period does not begin until the defendant reaches the age of seventeen (17) and is otherwise eligible to obtain a license.
- Jail. The term of incarceration is up to five (5) years in prison. While there is a presumption of no jail time if the defendant has no prior felony convictions, that benefit is lost if they have a prior indictable record. As a result, there is a likelihood of a state prison term if you have have a prior stolen vehicle conviction.
- Employing a Juvenile To Commit Car Theft. An additional offense and penalties are triggered under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-17 when an adult uses, solicits, directs or employing a juvenile to commit a theft of an automobile. This violation is a second degree crime which does not merge into a separate conviction for automobile theft in accordance with 2C:20-2.1.
The penalties that apply whenever someone is sentenced in New Brunswick for stealing a car are clearly significant. This is why it is important for you to do whatever you can do to prevent a conviction. Representation by a New Brunswick NJ Car Theft Lawyer who is highly skilled in fighting automobile theft charges like those at our firm is going to be your greatest tool in achieving this goal.
North Brunswick Automobile Theft Lawyers
Although North Brunswick is an affluent municipality, this does not mean that automobile theft does not occur within its borders. In fact, some would argue that the probability of a violation is higher in a community like this is higher since more expensive motor vehicles are more apt to be present in such a location. Whether you were charged with car theft in North Brunswick or another town in the area, for example, East Brunswick, Perth Amboy, New Brunswick, North Brunswick or Carteret, having an qualified attorney is important to maintaining your future. The lawyers at our firm possess decades of experience defending these cases and are ready to invest what is necessary to avert an unfavorable outcome. Call our New Brunswick Office at 732-246-7126 for a free consultation.
