Monmouth County Charges of Endangering the Welfare of a Child Filed Against Aid

A Spring Lake Heights woman was recently indicted on a charge of Sexual Assault and Endangering the Welfare fo a Child. Each offense arises out of a sexual relationship alleged to have occurred between the Monmouth County suspect and one of the teenage students to which she was an aid at a private school located in Wall NJ. Bail in the amount of $100,000 was posted by the defendant.

There are many grades of the charge of endangering the welfare of a child. Where these charges ultimately resolve will probably have alot to do with the position taken by the victim and his family. If the interest in prosecuting is great, you can expect a very stiff plea offer from the Monouth County Prosecutors Office. Conversely, a downgrade can be expected if the victim has no interest in having the case reach a Courtroom.  The point is that the position taken by the victim in sex cases is typically a huge consideration in predicting the outcome of the offenses.

We were not consulted by the defendant in this case but suspect that she retained experienced counsel.

Filed under: Sex Offenses , Monmouth County Endangering the Welfare of a Child Lawyers

Another Robbery in Monmouth County

Although the Borough of Oceanport is a rather uneventful municipality, this was not the case Sunday evening.  A man entered a convenience store, threatened the clerk that he had a weapon and demanded that she empty the register. She complied and the suspect fled the scene. The clerk was later treated at Riverview Medical Center.

N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1 is the NJ robbery law and applies to thefts using both verbal threats and physical force. Where a weapon is used in a robbery, the charge is a First Degree offense punishable by 10-20 years in jail. This provision is also triggered where an individual threats to use a “deadly weapon” if the victim does not comply. The No Early Release Act (“NERA”), which requires that 85% of any sentence be served before an individual is eligible for parole, applies to all robbery charges and indictments under N.J.S.A. 2C:15-1.

The suspect in this robbery is looking at serious jail time if apprehended. The minimum period of incarceration in prison is 10 years for First Degree crimes under New Jersey law. A period of parole ineligibility would also apply to any sentence. A seasoned Monmouth County Criminal Attorney is an absolute must for this guy.

Filed under: Robbery , Monmouth County Robbery Charge

Man Charged in Monmouth County Heroin Distribution May Have More Problems

A suspect was arrested earlier this week on charges of Possession of Controlled Dangerous Substance (CDS) with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Heroin, and Distribution in a Public Park or Housing Zone. This gentleman’s issues may be getting much more complicated. The defendant is now being investigated for potentially responsibility for the overdose of a local man earlier this week. In this regard, it appears that the suspect sold the deceased heroin and met with him earlier on the day he died.

If a link is established between the death and the defendant, the latter will probably be charged with manslaughter. The law in NJ requires some element of recklessness in causing a resulting death and selling heroin to the deceased will probably be enough to obtain an indictment for manslaughter.  Whether the charges actually stick is a whole other question, especially if the only involvement of the defendant was an informal sale of heroin. We will keep you posted.

Filed under: Heroin

Cocaine and Heroin Arrest in Monmouth County

The Monmouth County Prosecutors Office made a significant arrest this week in Asbury Park. What appeared to be a legitimate music store very well may have been a front for a significant drug enterprise involving cocaine, heroin, marijuana and possibly even guns. The owner was arrested this week for possession with intent to distribute heroin, as well as distribution of cocaine. He was also found to be in possession of weapons, including handguns and an assault rifle. The charges followed seizure of nearly $1.0 million dollars in drugs, cash and weapons at the defendant’s properties.  Bail has been set at just under $1.3 million.

As a Monmouth County Criminal Attorney for nearly twenty years, nothing really surprises me. The fact that a large cache of drugs and weapons might to recovered in Asbury Park is not a shock. There continues to be a significant concentration of narcotics and weapons in the town despite the revitalization the City of Asbury has enjoyed. The more pressing question in this particular case is whether or not the police had a warrant or independant basis for a search of this individual’s house. While one would assume that a warrant existed, I certainly would not be astonished if this is more of a grey area case given my experience as a Monmouth County Criminal Attorney. Warrantless searches continue to be commonplace in questionable scenarios. I will keep you posted on this one.

Filed under: Cocaine, Heroin, Weapons , Heroin Possession in Monmouth County NJ, Monmouth County Charge of Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose