Attorneys With Exceptional Experience Defending Middletown Criminal Charges
The top criminal attorneys at our firm have been handling charges arising in Middletown, Monmouth County’s 2nd largest town, for over thirty (30) years. Unlike most you will find on the internet, our experience defending and trying cases is extreme, with significant know-how in handling not only routine cases but also offenses that are as serious as homicide and aggravated sexual assault. In fact, several lawyers previously served at the highest positions at the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, learning exactly how things work from the inside, earning a reputation, building key relationships over decades, and gaining unique insight. They are now in the position to put these resources into action if you have been charged with a first degree, second degree, third degree or a fourth-degree crime such as:
- Sexual Assault
- Aggravated Sex Assault
- Eluding
- Terroristic Threats
- Robbery
- Conspiracy
- Drug Possession
- Burglary
- Possession of a Weapon for Unlawful Purpose
- Endangering the Welfare of a Child
- Vehicular Homicide (Death by Auto)
- Unlawful Possession of a Weapon
- Possession of an Illegal Handgun
- Distribution of CDS
- Credit Card Theft or Fraud
- Theft by Deception
- Aggravated Assault
Don’t make the mistake of so many by thinking you will obtain the same result with an attorney who has limited experience or is the cheapest (or even someone who is free). There is certainly a major benefit to being represented by a criminal lawyer with significant skill in defending the criminal offense you are facing, particularly, when the stakes are as high as a first, second, third, or fourth-degree crime.
Failure to mount an effective defense to an indictable crime like those previously mentioned exposes you to significant penalties. You face 10-20 years in prison and a $200,000 fine for a first-degree crime, 5-10 years and a $150,000 potential fine for a second-degree crime, 3-5 years and a $15,000 fine for a third-degree crime, and up 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine for a fourth-degree crime. On top of these direct penalties, you will be strapped with a felony criminal record that can cause a host of collateral consequences (e.g. employment, professional license, etc.). You want the best criminal defense attorney at your side, not the cheapest, to ensure you have every chance of avoiding these consequences.
Criminal & Serious Traffic Offenses in Middletown Municipal Court
In addition to expertise in handling the toughest and most extreme of cases at the Monmouth County courthouse, our criminal lawyers have considerable experience defending more typical charges in Middletown Municipal Court. What we are referring to are cases involving simple assault, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, harassment, and other disorderly persons offenses.
You will also find us defending DWI, breath test refusal, and other motor vehicle summonses. Success tends to come more easily in this realm for us as former prosecutors who have been appearing in the municipal court for many decades and have even served as the prosecutor in Middletown. We encourage you to take advantage of a free consultation with an attorney at Marshall Criminal Defense or to schedule an in-person consultation at our office directly across from the municipal court to discuss your municipal court offense(s).
Talented Criminal Defense Attorneys in Middletown New Jersey
At Marshall Criminal Defense, we truly believe every person has a right to be presumed innocent. Unfortunately, for many people who have been arrested and charged with a crime, it can feel like the opposite. County prosecutors often make it seem like they have an airtight case against you, when in fact, there are many weaknesses that a skilled defense attorney can quickly uncover.
Our criminal defense lawyers conduct their own independent investigation into your case to identify weaknesses in the state’s evidence and situations where proper procedure and protocol were not followed. Armed with these defenses, we are frequently able to push for the charges against you to be reduced or even dropped. If your case cannot be resolved favorably, our firm has highly skilled trial attorneys who will present a strong and persuasive case before the judge and jury.
To get the answers you need and learn how we can help you, call our Middletown Office at 732-615-0039. The consultation is free so do not hesitate to contact us.
Helpful Middletown Criminal Offense Informational Links To Further Assist You
Middletown Township Municipal Court
1 Kings Highway
Middletown NJ 07748
(732) 615-2036
(732) 615-2122 (Fax)
Middletown Police Department
1 Kings Highway
Middletown, NJ 07748
(732) 677-2100
Emergency: 911
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mtownpolice
Monmouth County Superior Court
Monmouth County Courthouse
71 Monument Park
Freehold NJ 07728
(732) 677-4300
Monmouth County Probation
30 Mechanic St
Freehold, NJ 07728
Non-emergency: (732) 358-8700
Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office & Corrections
2500 Kozloski Road
Freehold NJ 07728
Non-emergency: (732) 431-6400
Emergency: 911
Frequently Asked Questions in Middletown Cases
Middletown Criminal Lawyers
Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to avoid an arrest once a warrant complaint is filed in a case. Police rarely rescind a warrant so it is typical for someone to be forced to either surrender or risk being picked up on the warrant. Having an attorney as early in the process definitely proves beneficial since they can attempt to rescind the warrant, negotiate favorable terms for surrender, and start a discussion in hopes of avoiding a Motion To Detain.
New Jersey underwent bail reform several years ago and this changed the entire landscape for Monmouth County pretrial release process. Whether or not an individual secures release prior to trial now turns on his or her prior record, history of appearing in prior cases, as well as the nature of the pending case. The quality of your defense attorney is undoubtedly also a factor.
A public-safety assessment will issue two scores on a scale of 1 to 6. The best someone can score is a 1/1, which means they have the lowest risk of re-offending (i.e. “1”) and lowest risk for not appearing in court (i.e. “1”). You should also know that there is a presumption in favor of release provided the criminal charge faced by the accused is not one that carries the possibility of life imprisonment.
A defendant typically has a good chance of securing release from custody with conditions (e.g. Level I, II, or III reporting) if their prior record isn’t significantly
The period of incarceration for a criminal offense arising in Middletown Township hinges on the grade of the offense charged. The breakdown of jail or prison is as follows:
- Disorderly Person Offenses. The maximum exposure is 6 months in the Monmouth County Jail
- Fourth Degree Crime. Up to 18 months in prison.
- Third Degree Crime. Up to 5 years in prison.
- Second Degree Crime. 5 to 10 years in prison.
- First Degree Crime. 10-20 years in prison.
The Middletown Municipal Court has jurisdiction to decide disorderly person offenses, ordinance violations, and traffic offenses, including DWI. Your case will be heard locally if you were charged with a violation falling withiin these categories.
An indictable criminal charge such as a first degree, second degree, third degree, or fourth degree crime falls outside the jurisdiction of a municipal court. These charges can only be heard at the Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold NJ. This is the court system that will decide your case if you are facing an aggravated assault, burglary, violation of a restraining order, handgun, or other crime.
Yes. There is a high probability that you will have an opportunity to expunge a criminal conviction stemming from a Middletown-related case. The eligibility rules for expungement vary depending on the nature of a conviction (i.e. type and degree) so speaking to an attorney who is experienced in clearing up a record is the ideal way to determine what can be done.
The term “best” tends to be a very subjective term. Nonetheless, there are things that you can do to ensure you are hiring an attorney that has the tools to secure the very best outcome. Experience is the key in this regard and what we are speaking of is not someone talking about how many cases they have handled but real life credentials that you can verify. For example, are they really a trial attorney as manifested by certification? Have they served as a prosecutor or in another position that clearly demonstrates that they have know-how you need. The point is that you absolutely need to look for bona fide qualifications rather than hollow puffery.
If you were charged with a disorderly persons offense, indictable crime, or even a DWI in Middletown, you definitely need to be represented by a law firm with the necessary experience and skill to help you avoid a conviction. This is exactly what the criminal defense attorneys at our firm are ready to provide so you obtain the very best outcome in your case. The credentials we possess are truly unique and include:
