Ocean County Assault, Battery & Threat Attorney

Ocean County NJ Assault and Threat Charges Lawyer

New Jersey takes an aggressive stance when it comes to prosecuting violent crimes such as assault charges. Accordingly, prosecutors are often hesitant to plea bargain these crimes. Resulting convictions lead to serious consequences such as a permanent criminal record, jail time, probation, and steep fines. This is why Ocean County criminal defense attorneys at William Proetta Criminal Law place great emphasis on working closely with our clients to build a vigorous and aggressive defense against assault and threat charges. Through experience and hard work, we are often able to succeed in getting the charges downgraded or even dismissed entirely. From our office in Point Pleasant, our criminal defense lawyers take on assault cases throughout Ocean County, including in Brick, Jackson, Lakewood Township, Manchester, Point Pleasant, and Seaside Heights. To speak with an experienced Ocean County assault defense attorney, contact us at (848) 238-2100 today for a free initial consultation.

Assault and Threat Offense Lawyer in Point Pleasant NJ

Assault charges commonly arise out of alcohol-induced fights, domestic violence between spouses, bias intimidation and hate crimes against specific classes of people, and even sometimes arguments between neighbors. Regardless of the circumstances behind your assault offense, you can rest assured that our lawyers will aggressively challenge the state’s case against you while working with the prosecution to come to a fair resolution. Due to the aggressive nature of these crimes, it is typical for assault charges to be exaggerated or “over-charged” to a higher degree offense than necessary, which can expose you to graver penalties and or incarceration. As such, our lawyers rely on the facts of each particular case in order to remove all knee-jerk emotion arising out of the incident. We represent clients charged with the following related violent crimes:

We also offer aggressive defense representation for the following criminal assault and violent charges:

Degrees and Penalties for Violent Crimes in New Jersey

Violent crimes are wide ranging in New Jersey, including obvious conduct such as simple assault and aggravated assault, as well as behavior that places another person in fear of immediate injury. The degree of assault and threat charges are equally variable, ranging from petty disorderly persons offenses (the lowest level criminal misdemeanor) all the way up to first degree indictable crimes with the potential for life in prison. A petty disorderly persons offense such as harassment or disorderly conduct will be handled in the local municipal court where the charges were filed and may result in up to 90 days in jail. Simple assault charges and other disorderly persons offenses are also heard and decided in municipal court with penalties including up to 6 months in the county jail.

More serious assault and threat charges are classified as indictable offenses (known as felonies elsewhere). These charges are graded as first degree, second degree, third degree, and fourth degree crimes, with first degree felonies applying to the most egregious violent offenses. All indictable offense cases are adjudicated in the Superior Court in the county where the alleged offense occurred. These charges are subject to indictment by a grand jury, which means the Prosecutor’s Office must present their case to a jury of your peers who then decide if the evidence is sufficient to indict you. If you are indicted for assault or threat charges, your case will proceed through the criminal justice process and you will need to make crucial decisions about how to move forward with your case. Often, diversionary programs such as Pretrial Intervention (PTI) are not available to individuals accused of violent crimes in New Jersey. This leaves you with the option to take a plea offer, negotiate a more favorable plea agreement, or take your case to trial. When you are facing incarceration and a felony conviction for an assault crime, it is imperative to have an experienced criminal defense lawyer assisting you through every phase the legal process. Our law firm regularly defends clients against all types of assault charges throughout Ocean County. We understand the court system and what it takes to successfully defend against an assault charge and win.

Contact a Brick Township Assault Attorney to Discuss Your Case

If you or your loved one has been charged with a violent crime in Ocean County such as simple assault, aggravated assault or terroristic threats, then the attorneys at William Proetta Criminal Law can help to defend you and protect your rights. Our Ocean County assault defense attorneys have successfully defended a wide array of criminal and municipal court charges including all types of assault cases throughout New Jersey. If you would like to learn more information about how we can help you build a case strategy customized to the facts of your case and designed to meet your needs, contact us today at (848) 238-2100 for a free initial consultation with an assault defense lawyer. We have representatives available 24/7 to answer your call.