Old Bridge Criminal Defense Attorney
Old Bridge Criminal Defense Attorneys
If you or your loved one has been arrested and subsequently charged with a crime or traffic offense in Old Bridge it is crucial that you quickly gain an understanding of the options that lay before you. It is vital that you contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer with a proven track record at your earliest convenience. There is much work to do in securing a legal defense aimed at protecting your rights. William A. Proetta and the attorneys at William Proetta Criminal Law represent clients in Old Bridge charged with drunk driving, disorderly conduct, cocaine possession, simple assault, theft, hindering apprehension, and shoplifting. A conviction of the above and many other charges may result in mandatory penalties that include loss of driving privileges, community service, steep monetary fees, and up to 6 months incarceration. Our Middlesex County law firm exclusively practices in the defense of criminal charges and serious traffic violations. To discuss the circumstances of your case and build a case strategy customized to the particular facts of your case, talk to an Old Bridge defense attorney absolutely free of cost at our local office today at (732) 659-9600.
Old Bridge NJ Municipal Court Information
You have likely received a summons from Old Bridge Township that outlines your charges and indicates your scheduled court hearing. It is vital that you address any questions or concerns about your charges or the court date with the court administrator, Ms. Katherine Tevis days in advance of the proceedings. The Old Bridge Municipal Court is located at 1 Old Bridge Plaza in Old Bridge, NJ 08857 and can be contacted by telephone at 732.721.5600 or by fax which is 732.607.7946. Judge James Weber presides over the Old Bridge Municipal Court. If you would like to learn more information about the Old Bridge Municipal Court you can visit the Old Bridge Municipal Court website.
When you are facing charges for a criminal offense, you will need to appear in court to answer the charges. For the other three types of offenses handled in Old Bridge Municipal Court, including traffic tickets, municipal ordinance violations in the Township of Old Bridge, and fishing & hunting violations, you may be able to resolve the case by simply pleading guilty to the charge and paying a fine. However, some serious traffic matters, such as Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), do require the defendant to appear in court and a conviction can be devastating. The easy way to figure out whether you have to show up for your court date is to look closely at the complaint that you receive in the mail: if the “Court Appearance Required” box has been checked, then you will need to do so. Failure to appear in court on the scheduled date and time could result in the judge issuing a bench warrant for your arrest.
You Need to Understand the Penalties You Face when Charged with a Criminal or Traffic Offense in Old Bridge Township
If you or your loved one has been charged with a misdemeanor, commonly known as a disorderly persons offense, or a motor vehicle ticket such as DUI, Driving Without Insurance, or Driving While Revoked you should understand that you are likely facing potential incarceration, loss of driver’s license, probation, mandatory community service, and steep monetary fees. For a disorderly persons offense, the maximum exposure is 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine. Slightly lesser charges for a petty disorderly persons offense entail up to 30 days in jail and $500 fine.
The range of penalties for these types of offenses can vary, depending on the specific type of offense and whether the defendant has any prior convictions on their record. For example, a third conviction for shoplifting in New Jersey will result in the offender receiving a mandatory sentence of three months in jail, even though the charge is classified as a disorderly persons offense and has a presumption of non-incarceration. Similarly, a conviction for simple assault can result in the defendant being ordered to pay restitution for the victim’s medical bills, even though it is a criminal charge, not a civil charge.
While jail is almost certainly the harshest consequence of a conviction in municipal court, there are other collateral consequences that can cause problems for the defendant long after any jail sentence has been completed. One of the most significant collateral consequences of a municipal court conviction is that the defendant will have a criminal record. This means that your conviction, or guilty plea, will show up on a background check when you apply for a job, when you apply for a college loan, or if you ever need to seek public housing assistance.
Old Bridge Criminal Lawyers with Local Experience
You should be aware of all of your options and put yourself in the best possible position to protect your rights. The best way to protect your interests is to contact an experienced criminal law attorney, preferably one who has been defending clients in Old Bridge Municipal Court and Middlesex County Superior Court for the duration of their career. At William Proetta Criminal Law, our attorneys have the realtime knowledge and local presence you want defending you. In fact, that’s all we do at our firm – defend people who find themselves charged with offenses that jeopardize their lives in more ways than one. We will use our experience to analyze the weaknesses in the State’s case against you and aggressively argue on the strength of your case to get your charges dismissed. At the same time, we will work with the prosecutor to identify opportunities to get your penalties minimized. To discuss your matter in more detail and build a customized case strategy to meet your needs, contact our office, conveniently located in Edison for absolutely free at (732) 659-9600.