Middlesex Borough NJ Simple Assault Attorney

Call Our Former Middlesex County Prosecutors For A Skilled Defense To Your Middlesex Simple Assault Charge

It is a huge mistake to take a simple assault offense in Middlesex New Jersey or anywhere else lightly. People arrested on a simple assault charge can be surprised when they get to Middlesex Borough Municipal Court and discover that a disorderly persons offense, the equivalent of a misdemeanor, can land them in jail for up to 6 months. If you and the victim were related, a simple assault can result the complications of the domestic violence. There are far many more ways in which a Middlesex simple assault charge can cause negative consequences so it is important that you hire the best attorney you can identify.

At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, our attorneys devote their practices exclusively to criminal defense and have more than 100 years of collective experience offering superior representation in Middlesex Borough Municipal Court and the Middlesex County Superior Court. Many of our lawyers have served as municipal and county prosecutors, so they bring an added perspective in defending a simple assault. If you are charged with simple assault, a lawyer on our staff is ready to investigate and analyze the facts of your case to identify and pursue every possible legal defense. An attorney is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week in a free consultation by calling us at (732) 562-0308.

Simple Assault Offense in Middlesex Borough NJ

Simple assault as defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(a) may arise in any of the following three situations:

  • Purposely, knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury to another person or attempting to cause such bodily injury.
  • Negligently causing bodily injury to another person by using a deadly weapon.
  • Attempting to put someone in fear of imminent serious bodily injury by physical menace.

As defined by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-1(c), a deadly weapon could include ordinary items, such as a baseball bat, a hammer or a screwdriver. This is because the law classifies a deadly weapon as any device, instrument or substance capable of causing death or serious bodily injury to another person.

A simple assault can be the underlying charge resulting in a domestic violence charge being made against you if the victim is someone included in N.J.S.A. 2C:25-19 as a member of a protected class of individuals, including the following:

  • Spouses and former spouses (i.e. husband, wife or ex)
  • Children
  • Domestic partners
  • Parents
  • Individuals in a dating relationship (i.e. boyfriend, girlfriend or ex)
  • Couples who have had a child together

A domestic violence charge allows a superior court judge to issue a restraining order against you. Restraining orders are intended to protect the victim from further harm, but they can include restrictions on where you can live and even cause you to lose custody rights to your children. Their extensive knowledge and experience makes our criminal defense attorneys capable of defending your rights under all circumstances whether in the municipal or superior courts anywhere in New Jersey.

Middlesex Borough NJ Simple Assault Penalties

A disorderly persons offense in New Jersey is the equivalent of a misdemeanor in other states, so if you are convicted of a simple assault, you have a permanent criminal record. Each time you fill out an application for a job, you must disclose that you have been convicted of a crime. The sad truth is that many employers will not hire someone with a criminal record.

Simple assault convictions are punishable by a $1,000 fine and confinement in the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center for up to six months. A judge may also impose the following penalties in addition to the fine and jail sentence:

  • Community service
  • Probation supervision
  • Restitution
  • Counseling and anger management

There are things a Middlesex Borough defense attorney can do to let you avoid the harsh penalties. For example, when a fight leads to a simple assault charge, an attorney can present facts showing the victim was a willing participant. It is still a crime, but the seriousness of the offense drops from a disorderly persons offense to a petty disorderly persons offense punishable by a maximum jail sentence of 30 days and a fine maximum fine of $500.

Middlesex Borough NJ Simple Assault Defense Attorney

Your best chance of avoiding the penalties and criminal record of a simple assault is with a tough defense attorney and knowledgeable strategy challenging the evidence offered by the prosecution. When you are represented by a Middlesex Borough simple assault attorney from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, you can have the confidence of knowing your defense is in the hands of a skilled and aggressive attorney who has your best interests and well being in mind. This comes from our lawyers practicing for over 100 years in Middlesex Borough and the rest of the county. Contact our Piscataway Office now at (732) 562-0308 to speak to an attorney in a free consultation.

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