New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorney
Have you been charged with a crime?
If you are convicted, you could face life-changing consequences, including substantial fines, probation or jail time. Even after serving your sentence, you will have a criminal record that could make it difficult to secure employment or get an education.
That is why you should strongly consider seeking representation from a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can immediately begin defending your rights and working toward the most positive outcome possible. The New Jersey criminal defense attorneys at our firm are prepared to aggressively defend your rights. Schedule a free, no obligation legal consultation today to find out how we can help you.
Contact a New Jersey criminal defense lawyer right away. Call: 201-500-6000
How Our Attorneys Can Help You
One of the most important steps you can take after being arrested or charged with a crime is to contact an attorney. An attorney can guide you through every step of the legal process and help defend your rights.
When you contact the New Jersey criminal defense attorneys at our firm, we will review your situation in a free, no obligation legal consultation. If we take your case, we will immediately begin a thorough investigation to collect evidence and begin building your defense. We will not rely solely on the investigation done by law enforcement.
Our goal will be to eliminate or reduce the charges against you so your case has the most favorable outcome possible. We will carefully review how law enforcement obtained evidence against you. If any of the evidence against you was illegally obtained, we will work to have it thrown out.
In some cases, it will not be possible to reduce or eliminate any of the charges against you. If that happens, we will work toward the lightest sentence possible.
In some situations, a plea bargain where you plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence may be the best option. However, we will only suggest this if it is in your best interest, given all the factors of your case.
If your case goes to trial, we will prepare an aggressive defense. We are strongly in favor of the principle that everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a fair trial.
If you are facing criminal charges, call Lynch Law Firm, PC today at: 201-500-6000
Types of Criminal Cases We Take On
We provide aggressive legal representation for clients charged with many different types of crimes, from traffic offenses like driving under the influence to drug possession, federal offenses and violent crimes like aggravated assault and murder.
Traffic Crimes
Our New Jersey criminal defense attorneys provide representation for individuals charged with many traffic offenses, including:
- Running a stop sign or red light
- Driving with a suspended license
- Driving without a license
- Reckless driving
- Speeding
- Vehicular manslaughter
- Seat belt/child restraint violations
- Vehicular homicide
- Driving without insurance or insufficient insurance
- Driving without registration
- U-turn violations
- Hit and run/leaving the scene of an accident
Potential penalties for these types of traffic violations can range from points on your license to suspension of your license, fines and possibly even jail time. The severity of the potential penalty depends on the specific offense and whether you have multiple infractions over a short period of time.
We have in-depth knowledge of New Jersey traffic laws and know how to apply that knowledge to the specifics of your claim. In some cases, we may be able to eliminate points or prevent suspension of your license.
Drunk Driving Charges
Under New Jersey Revised Statutes § 39:4-50, it is against the law for anyone to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs if his or her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is above 0.08 percent.
The first offense carries the following penalties:
- Fine between $250 and $400
- Detainment for between 12 and 48 hours
- Potential imprisonment for up to 30 days and loss of driving privileges, at the discretion of the court
However, if your BAC is 0.10 percent or higher, the fine increases to between $300 and $500 and you could lose your right to drive for seven months to one year.
The severity of penalties increases with each subsequent offense. For instance, the fine for a second offense increases to between $500 and $1,000. You will also lose your license for two years if you are convicted.
If you are facing a drunk driving charge, you should contact an experienced lawyer right away to begin defending your rights.
Weapons Charges
We represent clients charged with many offenses involving guns, including:
- Possession of a concealed firearm
- Committing a crime while in possession of a firearm
- Murder
- Attempted murder
- Possession of a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school
- Possession of a firearm for an unlawful purpose
- Possession of a firearm in a motor vehicle
- Use of a gun during a federal drug crime
- Possession of a gun without a permit or license
- Possession of an illegal firearm, such as a sawed-off shotgun
Weapons offenses are divided into four degrees, with first-degree crimes being the most serious and fourth-degree crimes being the least serious. Each degree carries a potential prison sentence:
- First degree – Between 10 and 20 years
- Second degree – From five to 10 years
- Third degree – From three to five years
- Fourth degree – Up to 18 months
Crimes Involving Minors
Our New Jersey criminal defense attorneys take juvenile cases involving numerous offenses, such as:
- Driving under the influence
- Underage drinking
- Underage smoking
- Trespassing
- Shoplifting
- Burglary
- Disorderly conduct
- Vandalism
- Assault
- Sex offenses, such as rape and sexual assault
- Truancy
- Murder
- Possession of a weapon
- Computer crimes
If your child is convicted of any of these offenses, he or she could face various consequences, such as:
- Fines
- Community service
- Counseling for drug and alcohol use
- Time in a juvenile detention center
- Suspension of driver’s license
In some cases, the prosecutor will ask the court to move the case from family court to adult criminal court, where the penalties can be much more severe.
If we take your case, our goal will be to keep it in family court or explore other alternatives in New Jersey’s juvenile justice system, such as:
Juvenile Conference Committee
These are committees of citizen volunteers who are appointed to their positions. The offender can meet with the panel and discuss a resolution to the crime that will keep him or her out of a detention facility. The resolution is subject to court approval.
Intake Services Conference
This is similar to a Juvenile Conference Committee except that the panel consists of judicial staff members.
Informal Court
This is an informal hearing before a juvenile referee. If the child pleads guilty, the referee drafts a recommended adjudication and disposition for a family court judge who reviews it and decides how to punish the offender.
Drug Offenses
Being convicted of any of the following drug offenses could have disastrous consequences:
- Possession of drugs, including heroin, cocaine, marijuana, prescription drugs and methamphetamine
- Drug trafficking
- Drug manufacturing
- Importation of drugs
- Theft of drugs from a pharmacy
- Manufacturing or distributing drugs within 1,000 feet of a school
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
These offenses carry penalties such as:
- Fines of $500 or more
- Significant jail time, from a few months to several years
- Loss of driver’s license for an extended period of time
- Suspension of federal financial aid
No matter the charges you are facing, you are entitled to an aggressive defense. Our attorneys will conduct an in-depth investigation to uncover all of the relevant evidence. If any of the evidence against you was obtained illegally, such as through an illegal search, we will work to have it thrown out.
Our goal is to prevent you from acquiring a criminal record, or minimize the negative consequences you face. This may include a plea bargain, if it is in your best interest.
Violent Crimes
You could face fines, probation or significant jail time if convicted of any of these violent crimes:
- Simple assault
- Aggravated assault
- Battery
- Reckless endangerment
- Assault by car
- Robbery
- Armed robbery
- Stalking
- Harassment
- Domestic assault
- Murder
- Assault while resisting arrest
- Manslaughter
- Assault while threatening someone with a gun
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Kidnapping
- Domestic violence
Our New Jersey criminal defense attorneys fully understand the impact a conviction for a violent crime would have on your life. We are prepared to aggressively defend your rights in a fair trial.
In some cases, we may be able to negotiate charges down to decrease the severity of the penalties. In others, we may discuss a plea bargain as it may result in a lighter sentence.
Sex Crimes
Simply being charged with these crimes has the potential to put a permanent stain on your reputation. A conviction could result in jail time and you being labeled as a sex offender, which restricts where you can live and could make it difficult to get a job or form relationships.
Examples of sex crimes include:
- Sexting
- Statutory rape
- Date rape
- Rape
- Sexual abuse
- Child molestation
- Sexual assault
- Aggravated sexual assault
- Criminal sexual contact
- Aggravated sexual contact
- Prostitution
- Solicitation of a prostitute
- Failing to register as a sex offender
- Human trafficking
Some of these crimes carry worse penalties than others. Molestation of a child could land you in jail for up to 20 years. Convicted rapists face between five and 20 years in jail, along with mandatory electronic monitoring when they get out of jail. Penalties for sexual assault charges become even worse if the victim is under the age of 13.
Federal Crimes
The New Jersey criminal defense attorneys at Lynch Law Firm, PC also represent those charged with federal crimes, including:
- Drug crimes
- Terrorism
- Espionage
- Hate crimes
- Smuggling
- Embezzlement
- Money laundering
- Theft of services
- Forged checks
- Forging of documents
- Theft by stolen credit card
- Human trafficking
- Tax fraud
- Wire fraud
- Kidnapping
- Bank fraud
- Arson
- Bank robbery
Investigators and police often make mistakes when investigating these types of crimes. Our attorneys know how to spot mistakes that can lead to less severe charges, lighter penalties or possibly dismissal of the case.
Theft and Property Crimes
Common examples of these crimes include:
- Shoplifting
- Theft of services
- Theft by deception
- Extortion
- Burglary
- Criminal mischief
- Joy riding
- Receipt of stolen property
- Credit card skimming
Violations of Probation or Parole
If you violate any part of probation or parole, you could end up back in jail or serving an even harsher sentence. Examples of parole or probation violations include:
- Not performing community service
- Committing a crime
- Not attending a drug treatment class or other required therapy or rehabilitation
- Failing to check-in with probation officers
If you have been charged with violation of the terms of probation or parole, our attorneys can go to work attempting to limit the damage. In some cases, we may be able to keep you out of jail or continue the original terms of your parole or probation.
Contact us today for a free, no obligation legal consultation.
Schedule Your Free Legal Consultation with Our New Jersey Criminal Defense Attorneys
Our attorneys have represented individuals charged with a variety of crimes. We understand the fear and uncertainty you are feeling.
While there may be nothing we can do to take away your anxiety about the situation, we are committed to providing an aggressive defense, no matter the charges you are facing. Our goal is to eliminate or at least minimize the negative consequences as much as possible.
Whatever happens, we want you to have an opportunity to move forward with your life after the charges are dismissed or after you serve your sentence. We firmly believe in the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law and everyone deserves a strong legal defense.
