Our Firm Defends People Who Are Facing All Types of Criminal Charges
We have experience with many different kinds of criminal cases at William Proetta Criminal Law, such as:
In New Jersey, assault is defined as injuring someone or threatening to harm them. A deadly weapon does not need to be involved to make it a crime. Assault is one of the most common violent crimes we deal with at William Proetta Criminal Law. Although it can be charged as a disorderly persons offense, it’s more often charged as an indictable offense. A felony assault conviction can carry a lengthy jail sentence, along with fines and other penalties.
New Jersey’s domestic violence laws make it a crime to injure or threaten a spouse, romantic partner, child, roommate, or other permanent member of your household. The law applies regardless of whether a weapon is used. Other acts that can be considered domestic violence include stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, harassment, and endangering a child. A few domestic violence offenses can be charged as disorderly persons offense, but it’s much more common that they are charged as indictable offenses. A domestic violence conviction could cost you custody of your children and include jail time.
Being found in possession of illegal drugs can be a major offense in New Jersey, depending on what the drug is and the amount found in your possession. While simple possession is sometimes charged as a disorderly persons offense, a drug trafficking or distribution charge can result in harsh penalties. You could also face a drug charge for possessing materials used to package or manufacture certain drugs, even if you do not possess the drug in question.
New Jersey is notorious for having some of the strictest gun laws in the country. In addition to regulating who can buy or possess a gun, these laws require guns to be registered properly, otherwise carrying them in public can be considered a crime. Possessing a gun without the proper permits or buying one illegally are both considered crimes. It’s also a crime to bring a gun into New Jersey if it isn’t stored properly. Finally, committing a crime using a gun will nearly always lead to harsher penalties if you are convicted.
Sex crimes in New Jersey carry severe penalties. They carry social consequences as well. Some offenses that fall under the umbrella of sex crimes include sexual assault, sexual harassment, sexual abuse of the elderly or a minor, and statutory rape. Being convicted of a sex crime could force you to register as a sex offender, along with other penalties.
There are many types of property crimes that fall under New Jersey’s theft and fraud laws. Some of these offenses include basic theft, burglary (breaking into someone else’s property without permission), robbery (taking someone’s property directly off their person), and embezzlement (stealing money from your employer). A similar crime to theft is fraud, in which someone uses deception or other illegal acts to take money from a business or individual.
While the law recognizes that juvenile offenders should generally be treated less harshly than adults, juvenile crimes can still carry significant penalties. In a few cases, juveniles can be tried as adults, so be sure to take action immediately to protect your child if he or she has been arrested.
Driving a car while you’re impaired by alcohol or drugs is a serious crime. It’s possible to have a first-time DUI offense dismissed if you meet certain standards. However, repeat offenses carry much harsher penalties. If you are driving while impaired and you injure or kill someone, you can expect to face severe consequences.
A speeding ticket or other traffic violation may seem like a minor nuisance, but it can still have a significant impact. If you’re convicted of multiple traffic offenses in Ocean County, you could have your driving privileges suspended or permanently revoked, as well as face other punishments.
A mistake in your past shouldn’t haunt you forever. An attorney from William Proetta Criminal Law can help you understand whether you qualify for expungement of your criminal record. Expungement can be a lengthy and convoluted process, but getting help from an attorney can make it easier to get a fresh start.
