November 11, 2009 • 11:26 am
While it is common to view a day time robbery depicted in a movie or on TV, it is rare that one actually occurs, especially in Ocean County NJ. Fiction became reality on Monday, however, when two armed men walked into PNC Bank in Brick Township and held up a teller. It is unclear as to the amount of the theft but a reward of $25,000 as been offered.
From the defense perspective, a bank robbery can be quite complicated. The primary complicating factor is that federal banking law comes into play and so too, involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (“FBI”) and possibly the United States Attorneys Office. In this particular case, the Red Bank office of the FBI is involved.
Robbery in a setting such as this is typically a First Degree Crime punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison. However, Federal Law imposes a host of other penalties that can result in even stiffer sanctions in the event that the case is selected for prosecution as a federal case. Our lawyers will keep you posted on any developments in this case, especially if our attorneys becoming active players.
Filed under: Robbery , First Degree Bank Robbery Charges in NJ
September 8, 2009 • 1:01 pm
It often comes as a surprise to juveniles and adults to know that they can be charged with Burglary for breaking into a car. This was precisely the situation today for a gentlemen I represented in Ocean County Superior Court. The allegation against our client was that he utilized a lock knife to break in to a car thereby exposing himself to a burglary arrest under N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2. The burglary statute generally provides that a person is guilty of burglary where he or she enters a “structure” without a license to do so for the purpose of committing a criminal offense. Burglary can be a Second Degree or Third Degree crime depending on the facts surrounding the break in. Where a suspect threatens or actually commits physical harm (even recklessly), the charges are Second Degree. In circumstances where no physical threats or the like are involved, it is a Third Degree offense.
In the Ocean County case I handled today, law enforcement took the position that the car was a “structure”, hence, the client was charged with Third Degree Burglary in Ocean County. Thankfully, there are quite a bit of facts in our favor such that we are extremely hopeful of avoiding a conviction. We will keep you posted on how the case progresses.
Filed under: Burglary
August 12, 2009 • 10:58 am
Trouble just seems to follow some people. A lakewood woman who had just been found guilty of aggravated assault in Ocean County Superior Court, was arrested for illegal possession of prescription drugs. She was allegedly attempting to obtain a prescription through forgery or fraud. The narcotics in question were oxycodone pills. The Ocean County suspect apparently obtained a legitimate prescription for the drugs and then attempted to alter it to allow her to obtain a refill(s). Representatives at the pharmacy were suspicious, called the doctor to confirm the discrepancy, and then the police.
The woman is already on probation and will undoubtedly be violated for picking up these new charges. She can expect Third Degree Offenses of Obtaining Prescription Drugs by Forgery or Fraud and Theft by Deception. The jail exposure when she is sentenced in Ocean County shall be 0 to 5 years in jail. It should be noted, however, that this suspect no longer enjoys the presumption against incarceration as she already has a felony conviction on her record. There is a good chance of jail in this case absent approval for drug court.
Filed under: Prescription Drug Offenses , Ocean County Prescription Fraud, Prescription Drug Forgery Charge in Ocean County
Three individuals were arrested for involvement in a series of burglary incidents which occurred in Brick Town, Lacey and Colts Neck. The break-in that occurred in one of the municipalities got much more complicated when the defendant broke into a home occupied by a teenager. The suspects were charged with burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.
In another case, a defendant was convicted of Second Degree Burglary in conjunction with a Toms River break-in. The primary intent for the incident was not the customary rationale of theft but rather to assault individuals for revenge. The crime resulted in a nine year sentence imposed by Judge Hodgson this week.
Burglary is a criminal offense frequently encountered by our Ocean County Criminal Attorneys. Those charged are often subject to a commensurate theft complaint. Cases of this nature do have the real possibility of escalating into something more serious when occupants are unexpectedly involved. It is certainly easier from the perspective of a defense lawyer when the facts are straight-forward like the classic vacation break-in. Notwithstanding, our Ocean County Criminal Attorneys have shown the ability to successfully handle the most serious of burglaries.
Filed under: Burglary , Burglary Charge in Ocean County
August 6, 2009 • 11:59 am
We could not be more delighted to advise that Thomas V. Campo, Esq., has joined our firm. We believe that the addition of Tom to our Toms River law office provides a significant enhancement in the resources accessible to clients who hire us to handle criminal charges in Ocean County. Tom was not only a county prosecutor for over ten years but more recently served as municipal prosecutor in a significant number of towns in Ocean County. He has sat in the following municipal courts: Brick Township, Toms River, Stafford, Beachwood, Bay Head, Barnegat Township, Beach Haven, Berkeley Township, Eagleswood Township, Island Heights, Jackson, Lacey Township, Lakehurst, Lakewood Township, Lavallette, Little Egg Harbor Township, Long Beach Township, Manchester Township, Mantoloking, Point Pleasant Beach, Ocean Township (Waretown), Plumsted Township, Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Ship Bottom, and Tuckerton. We believe that his experience and contacts shall be an invaluable asset to our clients.
Tom will defend both Ocean County Superior Court indictable offenses and municipal court charges throughout the County. This will include handling cases involving Aggravated Assault, Drug Possession & Distribution, Theft Charges, White Collar crimes, and Eluding, to name a few. We are excited by his addition to the firm.
Filed under: DWI , Ocean County DWI Defense
