Charged With a Disorderly Persons Offense for Shoplifting in Woodbridge, Edison, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Piscataway, Sayreville or Another Middlesex County Municipality
There is little doubt that the largest block of Middlesex County shoplifting charges fall within the grade of a disorderly persons offense. This charge arises when someone is arrested and charged with shoplifting merchandise having a value of less than $200. The violation can also arise in Woodbridge, Edison, East Brunswick, Old Bridge, Piscataway or another municipal court in Middlesex County as a result of a remand/downgrade of a fourth degree or third degree case by the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office. Irrespective of what got you to this point, you definitely want to retain a highly skilled shoplifting defense lawyer to represent you.
Representation by an accomplished criminal attorney is required in a shoplifting case because the penalties and collateral consequences of a conviction can be life altering. Every employer, licensing board and immigration authority performs a criminal background check and this reveals shoplifting convictions. Offenses involving moral turpitude, especially when they tend to show dishonesty, can impair your ability to obtain a job, a nursing, teaching or other license and even block you from remaining in the United States. Attorneys who are highly experienced and have a record of shoplifting acquittals throughout municipal courts in Middlesex County are going to be able to provide the best opportunity to avert these negative consequences.
Our Highly Skilled Shoplifting Lawyers Include A Former Municipal Prosecutor Who Served in New Brunswick, Edison, Woodbridge, East Brunswick, and Piscataway, As Well As A Former Director in the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office
Our firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, has unique qualifications to assure your disorderly persons shoplifting offense is effectively defended. In particular, we can offer you:
- A team of fifteen (15) criminal defense lawyers that defend individuals accused of violating the law such as the NJ shoplifting statute
- Over 200 years of combined experience appearing in municipal courts throughout Middlesex County
- Attorneys who have served as prosecutors in some of the county’s busiest municipal courts for shoplifting charges like East Brunswick, Woodbridge, New Brunswick and Edison
- Certified criminal trial attorneys
- A long history of success in obtaining dismissals, conditional dismissal and other favorable outcomes that allow clients charged with shoplifting to avoid a criminal record and penalties for violating N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11
If you were like to take advantage of a free consultation with a highly experienced shoplifting lawyer, contact us anytime 24. Lawyers on our staff can be reached immediately in our New Brunswick Office (732-246-7126) or Edison Office (732-248-7675) now.
Middlesex County Municipalities That Our Shoplifting Lawyers Serve
Charged With Shoplifting Under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11c(4)
A disorderly persons offense for shoplifting falls within the jurisdiction of the municipal court of the Middlesex County town where the charge was allegedly committed. A judge, rather than a jury, has the responsibility of determining your guilt or innocence based on the evidence presented in your case. In order to convict you, the prosecutor will have to prove, beyond responsible doubt, that you violated N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11. This law sets forth six individual ways in which someone can commit shoplifting in New Jersey and they are:
- Taking property from a store;
- Concealing merchandise;
- Swapping price tags of merchandise;
- Changing the box or packaging of goods to distort its true value;
- Engaging in an under-ringing scheme; or
- Removing shopping carts from the property of a retailer.
The penalties for violating this law result in stiff penalties that include a fine of up to $1,000 and up to six month of incarceration in the Middlesex County Jail. An individual convicted for a disorderly persons offense for shoplifting is also assessed $50 for the Victims of Crime Compensation Board, $75 for the Safe Neighborhoods Fund and $33 in court costs. A period of community service is also required with a minimum of ten days for a first offense, fifteen days for a second offense and up to twenty-five days for a third offense. The court may impose a period of of Probation as well as a suspension of a defendant’s driving privileges.
A strategy for avoiding a criminal record and other consequences for a disorderly persons offense for shoplifting is Conditional Dismissal. This program allows someone arrested for a disorderly persons offense to apply for diversion of their case and avoidance of prosecution. Admission is reserved to first time offenders and requires that the applicant complete one year of probation. Eligibility can be tricky so it is always advisable to enlist a knowledge lawyer if your want to seek this relief.
Middlesex County Disorderly Persons Offense Shoplifting Lawyers
Our team of eight criminal lawyers are seasoned litigators that are armed with the tools to defend your shoplifting offense in any municipal court in Middlesex County including Sayreville, Monroe, North Brunswick, South Plainfield and Plainsboro. To secure a comprehensive review of your case from an attorney who has handled countless shoplifting charges, call our office at 732-246-7126. Attorneys are ready to answer your questions and to formulate a plan to avoid a conviction now.
