Cocaine Possession Attorney in Middlesex County

Edison NJ Cocaine Lawyer

Coke Charges Defense Attorneys in Middlesex County, NJ

Cocaine is one of the most popular recreational and party drugs in New Jersey and throughout the tri-state area. As a powerful stimulant, cocaine use is high among Americans and it is often used with other substances such as alcohol, heroin, and prescription drugs. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 1.5 million people age 12 and older reported using cocaine in the past month. The highest rate of cocaine use is among those between the ages of 18 and 25. It is not surprising then that cocaine possession is very common in college students, including those attending Rutgers University in New Brunswick. Despite its popularity, the consequences for cocaine possession in New Jersey are severe. If you are found to be in possession of coke, your night will go from good to bad very quickly. Simple possession of cocaine, no matter how small the amount, is a third degree felony in New Jersey. At William Proetta Criminal Law, a large percentage of the cocaine charges we handle involve minimal amounts of the drug which are left over from the night before. Unfortunately, the amount of cocaine you possess is irrelevant to the degree of the charges in your case. In fact, possessing even trace amounts of cocaine residue found in drug paraphernalia can lead to criminal charges for cocaine possession under NJSA 2C:35-10. As founding attorney, Will Proetta, Esq., has handled scores of criminal and municipal charges over the years including numerous cocaine cases. Our attorneys defends clients against cocaine possession and cocaine distribution charges in Middlesex County, including in Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Cranbury, Jamesburg, Edison, and South Plainfield. If you would like to speak with an experienced cocaine defense lawyer please contact our Edison office for a free initial consultation at (732) 659-9600.

Real Clients With Real Results In Drug Cases

We are committed to giving our clients our all, every single time. For instance, one of our clients described his experience with us like this:

“Not only is Will an extremely nice, non-judgemental, down-to-earth guy to deal with, but there’s no question that I owe my freedom to him right now. I’m working on changing my behavior but it’s nice to know I have a guy like Will in my corner should I get caught up with the law again. I would recommend Will to any of my family members or friends.” – Matt

If you want to read more of Will’s client reviews, check out his Profile on Avvo.com and contact us anytime for a free consultation.

New Jersey Law For Cocaine Possession Charges

The New Jersey law for possession of cocaine, found in section N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 of the New Jersey Criminal Code, is listed below, in pertinent part, for your convenience.

a. It is unlawful for any person, knowingly or purposely, to obtain, or to possess, actually or constructively, a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analog, unless the substance was obtained directly, or pursuant to a valid prescription or order form from a practitioner, while acting in the course of his professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by P.L.1970, c.226. Any person who violates this section with respect to:

(1) A controlled dangerous substance, or its analog, classified in Schedule I, II, III or IV other than those specifically covered in this section, is guilty of a crime of the third degree except that, notwithstanding the provisions of subsection b. of N.J.S.A. 2C:43-3, a fine of up to $ 35,000.00 may be imposed;

Penalties for Possession of Cocaine in NJ

As mentioned above, possession of cocaine is a third degree indictable offense. Therefore, if you are convicted you will face 3 – 5 years in state prison and be subject to penalties such as probation, community service, mandatory drug counseling, loss of your driver’s license, and thousands in fines. Additional penalties will apply if the offense occurred within a School Zone or 500 feet of Public Park or Housing or if the State claims there was an Intent to Distribute Cocaine. However, there are multiple ways to resolve a cocaine possession case in New Jersey. Third degree crimes have a presumption of non-incarceration under NJ Law, which means it is presumed that mandatory prison time is not required for individuals with no existing criminal record. Thus, if you are a first-time offender charged with cocaine possession, you may be considered a good candidate for the Pre-trial Intervention Program (PTI). When an individual becomes enrolled in PTI, they are required to comply with the conditions of the program during a period of probation. This may include random drug testing, reporting to a probation officer, and other rules such as avoiding re-arrest. If you abide by the rules of PTI during the probationary term, the cocaine charges are dismissed and you can maintain a clean criminal record. You will also be able to expunge the arrest and original charges for N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10 six months after finishing your PTI. Notably, you can only use one diversionary program in your life, so if you previously used a diversion like conditional discharge, you are not eligible for admission into the Pre-trial Intervention program.

Contact a Woodbridge NJ Possession of Cocaine Lawyer Today

Since cocaine charges are a felony, the case will be handled by the County Prosecutor’s Office in the Superior Court. Before being assigned to a trial team, most cases will be sent to Pre-Disposition Conference “PDC”. Having an experienced criminal lawyer present you at your PDC hearing can be the difference in increasing your chances of having the charges significantly downgraded, remanded to municipal court, or to help secure your admittance into a diversion program such as Pre-Trial Intervention where the charges will be dismissed upon successful completion. The Law Offices of William Proetta Criminal Law has dedicated a large portion of its practice to exclusively providing our clients with defense for criminal and municipal court charges including cocaine possession throughout Middlesex County, including in Plainsboro, East Brunswick, Sayreville, Milltown, Iselin, Highland Park, North Brunswick, and Perth Amboy. To learn more about how we can help you build a case strategy customized to your facts and needs, contact our office at (732) 659-9600 for a free initial consultation.