Assault & Threat Crimes

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Experienced New Brunswick Assault Offense Lawyers

The New Jersey Criminal Code contains a category of offenses known as assault and threat crimes. The nature of these charges span a broad range. Some involve intentional acts of violence such as certain forms of assault and others stem entirely from unintended consequences. These charges can also result in a disorderly persons offense that falls within municipal court jurisdiction or mushroom into an indictable crime of the first, second, third or fourth degree that may only be dealt with at Criminal Division of the Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick. The classic example of such an incident is where a simple assault escalates to aggravated assault because the altercation involves a police officer.

Assault and threat crime defense lawyers that defend individuals in Middlesex County.At Marshall Criminal Defense, our lawyers have extensive experience handling all of these offenses and what is necessary to provide our clients with the best opportunity for escaping a finding of guilt in New Brunswick or elsewhere in the county. The objective of every attorney at the firm is to insure that your case is resolved favorably so that there is no impact on your career and future. This may be achieved through crafty negotiating, skilled trial techniques or a number of other strategies. Irrespective, you can be sure that our Middlesex County criminal attorneys will undertake what is necessary to avoid an assault conviction.

In terms of unique credentials that differentiate us from any other firm in Middlesex County, there are many. Our law firm possess the following which you will not find at any other in the jurisdiction:

  • 15 attorneys that practice exclusively in criminal defense. We obviously specialize in this area of law and this is important since this allows us to not only fully develop our skills to help those facing an assault related offense but also to concentrate on building relationships needed to effectively navigate the court system.
  • Over 200 years of combined experience. Let’s face it, few things can substitute for familiarity with what it takes to succeed in defending an aggravated assault, terroristic threat or other case of this nature. We don’t believe there is another law office in the county with this level of experience.
  • Former prosecutors on staff including an ex- director at the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office and a member who served in this role in Edison, Woodbridge, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, and South Brunswick. Other members of our team include a former director of the Domestic Violence Unit, Major Crimes Bureau, Juvenile, and even an entire trial division.
  • Certified criminal trial attorneys. Less than 2% of the lawyers licensed in New Jersey have earned this honor.

Our skilled assault defense lawyers defend clients arrested and charged with assault throughout Middlesex County including in New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Edison, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Monroe, South Brunswick, Piscataway, Sayreville, Perth Amboy, North Brunswick and Carteret.

For immediate assistance from a criminal attorney, contact our New Brunswick Office at 732-246-7126. Initial consultations are free of charge and we can be reached 24/7 for the guidance you need.

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Woodbridge County Assault Charges We Defend

An assault charge or arrest for some form of threat can arise many ways. You may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time when a bar fight erupted which required you to defend yourself. Perhaps you made an angry or careless comment, or things just got out of hand during an argument. No matter your situation, if you are charged with assault or a threat offense, you are facing a serious charge. The potential consequences always include fines and the possibility of incarceration. This should be  ample reason for you to make sure you hire a knowledgeable defense lawyer to handle your case in New Brunswick, Piscataway, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, North Brunswick or another venue of Middlesex County. Our lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience defending assault on a police office and other forms of this violation. We are equipped to defend all assault charges including:

It is important to take this type of offense seriously because a conviction not only carries significant penalties but also has the ability to impact your life for years to come. Your ability to obtain employment, secure a professional license, maintain your immigration status and continue desired endeavors can be seriously impacted if you fail to successfully defend this charge. Retaining a lawyer with the ability to protect your interests like those at Marshall Criminal Defense is therefore pivotal.

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Woodbridge Defense Firm To Defend Your Assault Case

Woodbridge and Edison are the largest municipalities in Middlesex County so it is logical that their police departments file a high number of assault cases every year. There is no doubt that the largest segment of these cases involve disorderly persons offenses in municipal court. Common misdemeanor assault cases handled in Woodbridge Municipal Court, Edison Municipal Court and others in the county include:

Some assaults result in an indictable crime (e.g. first degree, second degree, third degree or fourth degree crime) where the resulting injuries are consequential or the conduct is particularly egregious. While the arrest in these cases occurs at the municipal court level, the related offense must be forwarded to the county courthouse in New Brunswick for disposition. Some examples of assault charges of this nature are:

A lawyer with a record of success in defending assault and threat proceedings at these levels is going to be your best option for minimizing your exposure. Our team includes former prosecutors and other skilled attorneys who can provide this level of representation. You can contact our Woodbridge Office at 732-751-4458 any time of day or night to speak to an attorney.

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Old Bridge NJ Assault Attorney

The Middlesex County municipality of Old Bridge has grown rapidly to the point that it now has over 65,000 residents and ranks third in population. The increase in population has also resulted in many more arrests and complaints for assault. If you have been charged with an offense which is now pending in Old Bridge Municipal Court or at the county level, your selection of an attorney may well be the most important decision you make concerning whether you are convicted or acquitted. Our lawyers regularly defend clients against threat offenses and assault charges in courts throughout Middlesex County, including Old Bridge NJ. Because our team includes former municipal and county prosecutors, we have an inside view of how these charges work. We will aim for an acquittal or dismissal of the charges against you. If dismissal or acquittal is not possible, our goal is to reduce the charges and their potential consequences for your life.

An assault lawyer at The Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall is available to assist you immediately if you have been charged in New Brunswick, Old Bridge, Woodbridge, Edison, Monroe, East Brunswick, Monroe, South Brunswick, North Brunswick, Sayreville, Perth Amboy, North Brunswick, Carteret or anywhere else in Middlesex County.

Our East Brunswick Office is available 24/7 to assist you by calling 732-227-1200. An attorney is ready to help you and is just a telephone call away.

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Frequently Asked Questions When Someone Is Charged With Assault in Edison or Another Middlesex County Municipality

What Are The Possible Punishments For Assault And Threat Crimes? Because there are a wide variety of assault and threat crimes, you could receive many possible sentences if convicted of this type of offense. Some assault and threat crimes are much more serious than others and carry potentially long prison sentences, for example, second degree aggravated assault based on allegedly choking a victim, second degree eluding or second degree assault by auto. The sentence that you might receive if you are charged and convicted for one of these assault related offenses could include up to a decade in prison. On the opposite end of the spectrum would be something like simple assault or harassment, which are disorderly persons offenses, that can land you in the Middlesex County Jail for as much as 6 months. Irrespective of the type of assault charge you are facing, it is always wise to hire the very best Middlesex County Criminal Lawyer that you can identify and we genuinely believe we are your best option in this regard.

Is Simple Assault A Criminal Offense? Yes. A Middlesex County simple assault is a criminal offense and, while it isn’t as serious as aggravated assault, a conviction results in a record that can impact your life for years to come.  This may affect your ability to find a job and the custody rights you have with your children. It therefore important to select you defense lawyer wisely if you were charged with a domestic violence or other form of simple assault in Edison, Woodbridge, Piscataway, New Brunswick of other municipality in Middlesex County New Jersey.

What Is The Punishment For A First Offense Simple Assault? Potential sentences for a first offense simple assault conviction range from probation to up to six months in jail. However, in New Jersey’s criminal justice system, first-time offenders may qualify for a diversion program that ultimately may result in the charge being withdrawn upon completion of conditions set by the court under the Conditional Dismissal Program. This will also have the effect of keeping your record clean, as no conviction will be placed on your criminal record.

Is Pointing A Gun At Someone An Assault? Yes. Pointing a firearm or other deadly weapon at another person can result in being charged with aggravated assault. As previously stated, aggravated assault is a serious criminal offense that can result in up to 10 years in prison although pointing is typically filed as a fourth degree crime that carries a maximum prison sentence of 18 months. Still, it is important to understand that accidentally pointing a gun at someone typically will not result in an aggravated assault charge. It will need to be shown that you did so intentionally or recklessly. Also, the gun does not need to be loaded or operational in order for you to be convicted of aggravated assault.

What Are The Penalties For Terroristic Threats?  In New Jersey, making a terroristic threat results in a felony criminal offense that is a crime of either the third degree or second degree. In most Middlesex County terroristic threat cases, an individual is charged with a third-degree crime unless the threat was made during a declared period of national, state, or county emergency. In those cases, it will be charged as a second-degree crime. A second-degree terroristic threat charge carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in jail and a $150,000 fine. A third-degree terroristic threat charge results in a sentence of up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Can I Be Charged With Assault If There Are No Injuries? Yes. You can be charged with either simple or aggravated assault even if there are no reported injuries. In fact, you can be charged with assault just by attempting to cause any bodily injury, let alone a serious bodily injury, to another person. Additionally, an aggravated assault charge can be brought simply by pointing a firearm at another person — there need not be any physical contact. Both simple and aggravated assault charges can result in jail time, even if the victim is not injured as a result of the incident.

Is Consent A Defense To An Assault Charge? Yes. If both parties agree to engage in an activity that could result in bodily harm, that may be a defense to an assault charge. An example of this would be a boxing match or an M.M.A. fight. In those instances, both fighters agree to engage in violence where injuries are possible and, in many cases, likely. Because they have agreed to enter the fight, they have consented to potentially be assaulted. A criminal defense attorney can discuss other defenses that might apply to your case.

How Can An Assault And Threat Conviction Impact My Life?  Assault and threat offenses will go on your criminal record if you are convicted. This can have a negative impact on your future in several ways. For starters, if your record was previously clean, your name and reputation may now be tarnished. Secondly, having a violent crime on your criminal record may affect your ability to find employment. Employers can search your criminal background, and they may not be willing to hire you if they discover a violent crime conviction. Lastly, if you have children and are going through a custody dispute, then having an assault or threat crime on your record could be used against you at a custody hearing.

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