Presenting a Strong Defense to New Jersey Criminal Charges
If you need advice about the best way to defend indictable (felony) or disorderly persons (misdemeanor) charges in central New Jersey, discuss your legal options with an experienced and accomplished criminal defense lawyer. Contact Kovacs & Wilson in Somerset as soon as possible after an arrest or investigation.
We will examine each stage of the investigation of your matter to work toward a dismissal or finding of not guilty. Our goal in criminal defense is two-fold: to minimize our client's exposure to punishment on a current charge while protecting long-term family, occupational, educational or professional interests. Our careful attention to detail at each stage of your case can make a significant difference to your outcome, an outcome that will affect you not only in the weeks to come but for years.
Criminal Defense Lawyers Serving Central New Jersey: Call 908-336-0311
We are ready to fight for your rights. We have substantial experience with a wide variety of criminal charges:
- Violent crimes, such as assault, robbery, weapons possession, or offenses committed with a gun
- Domestic violence charges, including assault, harassment or technical violations charged after issuance of a temporary restraining order or no-contact order
- Property crimes from trespass, criminal mischief or shoplifting to burglary or auto theft
- Drug crimes under New Jersey law: possession, distribution, loitering with intent to obtain, or possession with intent to distribute
- Possession, distribution, forgery or fraud charges associated with prescription drugs and painkillers
- Obstruction of justice, resisting arrest or hindering apprehension
- Drunk driving offenses such as driving while intoxicated (DWI) or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Traffic offenses
- Juvenile offenses
- Probation violations
Your options for the defense of a serious criminal offense depend a great deal on how it is charged and where it will be determined. Indictable offenses carry the possibility of State Prison and are heard in Superior Court. Disorderly persons offenses are generally heard in Municipal Court. These offenses carry a maximum penalty of six months in County Jail.
Sometimes our work in the early stages of a case involves the effort to keep cases that could be charged either as a felony or misdemeanor in Municipal Court. We look for ways to convince the prosecution that the case could be complicated by problems with the evidence, due process issues related to the arrest or search, or other factors. Even if this approach does not achieve dismissal of the charges, it will often result in keeping the case in Municipal Court, where your exposure to punishment is considerably lessened.
Even while we're working to resolve your current case on the best terms possible, our Somerset County criminal defense lawyers work to protect long-range interests. For example, we help people charged with drug possession avoid suspension of driver's licenses and professional licenses. We defend domestic assault charges with an eye on your interests as a parent or party to a divorce case. And if the State's case is strong, we steer all plea negotiations toward terms that will protect your future right to expungement.
For more information about the criminal defense practice at Kovacs & Wilson and the ways our attorneys can work for your benefit, contact our office in Somerville.
