Possession of Cocaine Charge in Metuchen New Jersey
Our Former Metuchen & Middlesex County Prosecutors Are Ready To Defend You
The Metuchen Police Department has ramped up its efforts combat cocaine possession in the municipality in response to the increase in coke related crimes. Not surprisingly, individuals are being arrested with cocaine possession and distribution at a much higher rate than years past. If you have been charged with possessing cocaine following its discovery in your car, home or on your person, you face the possibility of imprisonment, substantial fines and a felony criminal record if convicted. The stakes are obviously very high and are even worse if the allegations are for distributing, selling or possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The key to mitigating the risk exposure from a cocaine offense is to hire defense lawyer with the skill to provide the best opportunity for escaping a conviction.
The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall put more than a century of collective experience defending individuals charged with cocaine possession and other serious CDS offenses to work defending you. Our criminal defense team is composed of seasoned defense lawyers, including the former director of the Middlesex County Drug Task Force, who limit their practice to representation of those accused of violating the law. Their extensive experience defending drug charges at the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick, including those arrested in Metuchen for cocaine possession, arms them with the tools to present a potent defense on your behalf. We have an attorney available to speak to you 24/7 in a free consultation by calling our New Brunswick Office at 732-246-7126.
Cocaine Possession Offense in Metuchen
It is a third degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 to purposely or knowingly possess cocaine in Metuchen. You can be arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and crack even if you do not have physical possession of the substance since this law applies to both individuals who actually and constructively possess drugs/CDS.
Constructive possession is tactic police and prosecutors frequently use to prove a violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 when cocaine is not in the actual possession of the individual arrested. For example, if a vehicle is pulled over by police and cocaine is found in the car or truck, everyone will likely be charged with possession of the cocaine absent someone admitting it was theirs. The theory behind the charges is constructive possession, that is, while no one had the coke in their direct possession, they all had knowledge and intention to take control of the drug.
Our experienced criminal defense lawyers investigate and analyze the facts surrounding your arrest and aggressively challenge the methods police used to conduct searches and seizures resulting in the evidence prosecutors intend to offer in support of the drug possession charges. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects you against unlawful searches by the police, so a judge could throw out the evidence if the search and seizure violated your rights. Even if you gave an incriminating statement to the police, bringing violations to the court’s attention violations of your rights under the Fifth and Sixth Amendments of the Constitution could lead a judge to suppress the statement and prevent it from being used by prosecutors.
Metuchen Cocaine Possession Penalties
Possession of cocaine is an indictable offense and, more specifically, a third degree crime. A violation of N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 would be a felony in states other than New Jersey, which classifies felonies as indictable offenses. A felony conviction stays on your permanent criminal record. If you apply for a new job or for a promotion and must have a security clearance, a felony conviction usually prevents you from getting it.
Penalties judges may impose at sentencing for conviction of cocaine possession include a fine of up to $35,000 and imprisonment for up to five years. Your driver’s license will also be suspended for at least six months and possibly for as long as 24 months. If police arrest you for possessing cocaine within 1,000 feet of a school zone, you will be ordered to perform at least 100 hours of community service in addition to other penalties the court imposes at sentencing.
The penalties are even higher if you have been accused of distribution of cocaine in Metuchen. This category of cocaine offense can result in a crime of the third degree, second degree or first degree, all of which carry enhanced fines and other consequences (e.g. prison term of 5-10 years for a second degree and 10-20 years for a first degree).
Metuchen Cocaine Possession Defense Attorney
Fighting a Metuchen cocaine possession charge utilizing an accomplished defense attorney is the most effective way to avoid a criminal conviction. The Metuchen criminal lawyers from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall are committed to ensuring you have the most aggressive and innovative representation when charged with possession of powdered cocaine or crack. Contact us now at 732-246-7126 to speak to one of our attorneys immediately. A lawyer is waiting to take your call around the clock.
Related Metuchen Pages & Posts
- Metuchen NJ Drug Possession Attorney
- Metuchen CDS Distribution Defense Lawyers
