Cocaine possession is unquestionably on the rise in Middlesex County, including Old Bridge New Jersey. Our lawyers are well aware of this fact as the largest criminal defense firm in the region. If you were charged with possession of cocaine in Old Bridge Township, the attorneys at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have the knowledge and expertise you looking for. Our Old Bridge criminal lawyers possess over a century of experience combined, including considerable time serving as prosecutors in cocaine possession cases. For immediate assistance from a lawyer on our team anytime 24/7, contact our East Brunswick Office at 732-227-1200.
Third Degree Cocaine Possession Charge in Old Bridge
Cocaine possession, as contrasted with distribution of cocaine, is always a third degree crime. This grade of offense is an indictable crime the jurisdiction of which rests solely with the Criminal Division of the Middlesex County Superior Court. This is where your case will be heard inasmuch as the municipal court in Old Bridge lacks any authority to deal with your matter beyond conducting, at most, the initial arraignment. You will have a right to indictment by a grand jury, as well as to a trial by a jury of your peers.
Penalties for Third Degree Cocaine Possession. As a felony, you face serious penalties under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 if you are convicted of third degree cocaine possession. The sentencing judge can impose a fine of up to $35,000. There is a period of incarceration that can reach five years although the court may also order probation. All drug convictions also trigger a mandatory driver’s license suspension of at least six months and as much as twenty four months.
Pretrial Intervention. If your Old Bridge cocaine possession offense is the first criminal charge you are facing (i.e. you are a first time offender), you may apply for pretrial intervention, a program that will allow you to avoid prosecution in return for successful completion of a period of supervision/probation.
Search & Seizure. Possession of cocaine charges almost always arise out of some form of search whether it be an automobile, car, truck or other motor vehicle or a structure such as a house, apartment, storage unit or place of business. There are strict rules that apply to searches in Old Bridge and elsewhere since the presumption is that they may only be conducted via a warrant. Our attorneys are well versed in all search and seizure rules and are prepared to challenge the prosecutor insofar that theses requirements have been sidestepped by the police.
Cocaine Possession Lawyer in Old Bridge New Jersey
The defense team at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has significant familiarity with Old Bridge as former Middlesex County Prosecutors, attorneys who have defended countless cases arising in the municipality and individuals who have been residents of the immediate area for decades. We also happen to possess vast experience representing clients charged with cocaine possession at the Superior Court in New Brunswick. There is no doubt in our mind that we have the qualifications necessary to provide you protection against a conviction for possession of cocaine in Old Bridge New Jersey. To speak to a possession of cocaine lawyer on our staff, call us now at 732-246-7126 for a free consultation.
