Lewd or Indecent Behavior Attorney in Middlesex County

New Brunswick NJ Lewdness Attorney

Indecent Exposure in New Jersey

A surprisingly prevalent criminal charge in New Jersey is the crime of Lewdness. When people think of lewdness they normally think of the stereotypical “streaker”. We obviously handle some cases involving those allegations but, surprisingly, a large portion of the lewdness cases we handle involve couples engaging in sexual acts in a car or in a public place such as a park. Pursuant to New Jersey law, lewdness may be charged as a disorderly persons offense or as a crime depending upon the circumstances surrounding the act. Our attorneys represent clients who face charges for lewdness other sex crimes throughout Middlesex County including Edison, Woodbridge, New Brunswick, Piscataway, Sayreville, and Old Bridge. If you are facing lewdness charges, it is critical to speak with an experienced defense lawyer as soon as possible. Contact our offices in Edison today at (732) 659-9600 to discuss your specific case and find the answers you need to protect yourself. We are available 24/7 to assist you and our lewdness defense attorneys provide consultations free of charge.

What Does Lewdness Mean?

The lewdness law for New Jersey is contacted in 2C:14-4. As mentioned above, lewdness will typically be charged as a disorderly persons offense that will be heard in municipal court if the actor engages in an “any flagrantly lewd and offensive act which he knows or reasonably expects is likely to be observed by other non-consenting persons who would be affronted or alarmed.” However, the crime of lewdness can be upgraded to a crime of the fourth degree and will heard in Middlesex County Superior Court if the actor engaged in the following two courses of conduct:

1. Exposes his or her intimate parts for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person under circumstances where the actor knows or reasonably expects he is likely to be observed by a child who is less than 13 years of age where the actor is at least four years older than the child; or
2. Exposes his intimate parts for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person under circumstances where the actor knows or reasonably expects he is likely to be observed by a person who because of mental disease or defect is unable to understand the sexual nature of the actor’s conduct.

What Must The Prosecutor Prove To Convict Me of Lewdness?

As you can see, while exposure is a large part of lewdness it is not the only factor. Exposure in and of itself may not constitute lewdness if it lacks the other elements. In order to prove that someone engaged in a lewd act, the State must demonstrate a) a lewd or offensive act; b) that the defendant knows or reasonably anticipates; c) is likely to be observed by a person who would be affronted or alarmed by the conduct.

Contact a Piscataway NJ Lewdness Defense Lawyer for a Free Consultation

Maybe you were caught masturbating in a public area but didn’t think anyone could see you? Most people are embarrassed to talk about these situations but believe or not they are much more common than you may think. Our lewdness attorneys represent clients charged with lewdness, sex crimes, and Megan’s Law offenses throughout Middlesex County. For more information, feel free to contact us at (732) 659-9600 or visit our conveniently located Edison office. We will listen to the facts of your case and outline all of your legal options.