Kearny Criminal Defense Attorney

Defending Misdemeanor and Felony Charges in Kearny, New Jersey

If you have been arrested or given a court summons in Kearny then you are facing serious penalties under the New Jersey law. William Proetta Criminal Law is a Hudson County criminal defense firm that represents clients in Kearny Municipal Court charged with traffic violations, including DWI offenses, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Reckless Driving. We also frequently represent clients charged with Disorderly Persons Offenses (misdemeanors), such as Criminal Mischief, Shoplifting and Drug Paraphernalia, as well as felony crimes such as aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and unlawful possession of a weapon in Hudson County. The firm’s founding attorney, William Proetta, has handled thousands of criminal, DWI, and traffic cases throughout his career. We are typically able to use our experience to help you successfully resolve your charges as a downgrade or dismissal altogether. If you or someone you know has been charged with any type of criminal offense in Kearny, contact us for a free initial consultation by calling (201) 793-8018.

If I’m Arrested in Kearny, Nj Do I Appear in Kearny Municipal Court?

Well it depends – just because you were arrested in the town of Kearny does not automatically mean you will have to appear in Kearny Municipal Court. For instance, if you have been charged with a more serious indictable crime, such as a robbery in Kearny it will be sent to Hudson County Superior Court. Here’s how you determine where your criminal case in Kearny will be handled. In New Jersey, crimes are classified as indictable crimes by degree, first through fourth, and offenses, such as petty disorderly persons offenses and disorderly persons offenses. Offenses are handled in the local municipal court, along with other lesser infractions, such as traffic offenses.

Some common examples of charges that will bring you to Kearny Municipal Court include: shoplifting items valued under $200.00, petty theft, simple assault, certain lewdness offenses, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Convicted defendants face possibly six months in jail and a $1,000.00 fine for these types of disorderly persons offenses. Petty disorderly offenses include disorderly conduct, meaning inappropriate behavior, such as fighting, otherwise creating a public nuisance, and using offensive language in a public place. So, a party where a cursing, spitting fight breaks out, offending and threatening neighbors and passersby may expose you to a criminal charge carrying time in jail for 30 days with a $500.00 fine to pay.

Indictable crimes are heard in the Hudson County Superior Court. If you are charged with a first degree crime, this is the most serious felony level offense. Second degree comes next in terms of seriousness, third and fourth are the next levels, with fourth degree crimes being the least extreme of the felonies. If a fourth degree charge is downgraded, it is then sent back down to Kearny Municipal Court where the penalties are then lessened. All illegal actions, however, come with a price, whether spelled out in the sentencing laws or unsuspected consequences of certain offenses and criminal convictions.

What Should I Expect When I Go to Kearny NJ Municipal Court?

The Kearny Municipal Court and Violations Bureau are located at 404 Kearny Avenue, 3rd Fl., Kearny, NJ 07032. Kearny holds court sessions every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. and two Monday evenings at 5:00 p.m. each month. Moreover, the court normally schedules two special DWI sessions each month depending on how busy the court gets. The court also maintains normal business hours Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for posting bail and making payments. If you have questions regarding your upcoming court date or an adjournment request you can contact the Kearny Municipal Court at (201) 955-7410 and (201) 955-7411 and speak with the municipal court administrator, Melissa A. Murray. The court can also be reached by fax at (201) 997-1980. Theresa McGuire is the  municipal prosecutor and Judge McKeon hears all matters before the Kearny Municipal Court including, motor vehicle and traffic violations, Disorderly and Petty Disorderly Persons Offenses, and Violations of Municipal Ordinances of Kearny.

What Happens if I’m Charged With a Felony in Kearny?

The Hudson County Superior Court is located in Jersey City and all new felony charges are sent there to be screened where you will appear for an initial hearing called “CJP” Central Judicial Processing Court. Once there, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office will decide to either send your case to Grand Jury in Superior Court or downgrade it back to the Kearny Municipal Court to be handled there in it’s entirety. An experienced criminal lawyer can appear in CJP and often times greatly increase your chances of having the matter remanded or resolved through a diversion program at the county so that you avoid a conviction. In addition, your attorney can help you apply for the Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program in superior court, which would allow you to complete a diversionary program in lieu of prison time and a criminal conviction on your record. And if the case proceeds to trial, you want someone on your side who knows criminal law and defense strategies inside and out. Talented trial lawyers can put the state to its proofs, take issue with problems in the prosecution’s evidence, cross-examine witnesses to diminish their credibility with the jury, and more methods for successfully beating your criminal charges when litigating the case.

More Information About the Town of Kearny, New Jersey

Kearny has a fairly busy municipal court is attributable to it to many major highways that run through and around the town including Rt. 7, Rt. 1 & 9, I-280, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Kearny is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey that is a suburb of Newark. The town is just less than 9 square miles in size and has a population of over 40,000. Kearny is divided up into two distinct areas with a large commercial zone in South Kearny and more suburban neighborhoods in the northern part of the town. The town is bordered by East Newark, North Arlington and only separated from Newark and Belleville by the Passaic River. If you would like to learn more about Kearny, NJ you can try visiting them at http://www.kearnyusa.com/

Kearny Nj Lawyers for Driving Offenses and Crimes

William Proetta Criminal Law exclusively represents clients charged with criminal and serious traffic offenses. We typically represent clients in Kearny for municipal charges which include Driving While Suspended, Driving Without Insurance, Simple Assault, Harassment, Marijuana Possession, and Disorderly Conduct. If convicted of any of these charges you are facing serious consequences including probation, loss of driver’s license, hefty fines and potential county jail. Our distinguished attorneys have also spent over a decade each defending clients charged with the most serious indictable crimes in Hudson County. We know all too well what can happen if these cases aren’t handled with the skill and dedication of a legal professional who can provide the best possible defense. Let us put our experience and knowledge of the court system to work for you and so you get a proper representation against your charges. Contact our Jersey City Office today at (201) 793-8018 for your free consultation with an experienced criminal lawyer about your situation.