Marijuana Possession Charge Downgraded
Our client was a passenger in an automobile pulled over for a broken taillight and cruising in the left lane. The officer believed that he had the requisite reasonable suspicion to pull the driver and passenger out of the car and request consent to search the vehicle; the fruits of which yielded one marijuana cigarette which our client then took the blame for. Throughout various hearings, we argued that the officer lacked the requisite reasonable suspicion to ask for a consent search because he only cited his observation of the driver’s bloodshot eyes, and did not denote whether there was any plain sight or plain smell observation that could lead to reasonable suspicion. As a result, the charge was downgraded to a municipal ordinance.
Criminal defense attorney William A. Proetta is the founder of William Proetta Criminal Law. He has defended individuals facing criminal charges in New Jersey for over a decade, successfully handling thousands of cases involving charges ranging from DWI to murder. In addition to criminal defense, William also focuses on juvenile defense, restraining orders, and expungement.
He has extensive DWI defense credentials. William is one of a handful of attorneys in New Jersey recognized as a DUI Detection and Standardized Field Sobriety Testing Instructor by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He is also certified in the maintenance and operation of the Alcotest 7110, a breath-testing device used during DWI traffic stops.
William earned both his law and undergraduate degrees from Seton Hall University. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the New Jersey Association for Justice. In addition to recognitions from the Super Lawyers organization, William was also named to Top 40 Criminal Attorneys Under 40 by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and he received Client’s Choice honors from Avvo.
Admitted to New Jersey Bar: 2010
Years of Legal Experience: 16
Listed as a Super Lawyer: 2024-Present
Listed as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers: 2017-2020, 2023