A verbal argument quickly escalated out of control yesterday when a teenage boy from North Bergen pulled out a BB gun pistol. The defendant was charged with Aggravated Assault, Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon. Gun charges involving BB handguns are considered 3rd degree indictable offenses. These charges are very serious and can carry state prison incarceration if you are convicted. However, a recent memo from the Attorney General’s Office clarifies that County Prosecutors will not prosecute BB gun charges under the Graves Act which carries mandatory incarceration for even first time offenders.
Altercation supposedly started while the victim was trying to park his car and was then approached by the defendant and another teenager who was identified as a juvenile. Following the altercation, the victim called the police to report the incident and gave a description of the two teenagers. The two teenagers weren’t hard to find because police found them close to where the confrontation actually took place and the defendant still had the BB gun on him – not too smart. Officers then recovered the defendant’s gun, which they described as a “CO2 cartridge type gun,” and arrested him, while taking in his juvenile friend to police headquarters for further questioning, according to police.
The defendant is currently being held in the Hudson County jail in Kearny on a $50,000 with no 10% option. If you or a loved one has been charged with unlawful possession of a BB handgun, it is important that you speak with an experienced Unlawful BB Gun Attorney to learn your rights and options. William Proetta Criminal Law defends clients throughout Hudson County and New Jersey including Jersey City, Newark, North Bergen, Union City, Kearny, Secaucus, and Hoboken.
