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Aggravated Arson

Ewing NJ Aggravated Arson Defense Attorney

An aggravated arson offense is a very serious matter because it results is a second degree crime if you are convicted of intentionally setting a fire in Ewing or another Mercer County municipality. What this means is that you could be sentenced to as much as a decade in prison for purposely starting a fire under the circumstances set forth under the New Jersey Aggravated Arson Law. There is clearly no room for hesitation in hiring a skilled criminal defense attorney if you have been charged with aggravated arson and are facing prosecution at the Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton. Failure to mount a successful defense will almost certainly result in your losing your liberty so enlisting the assistance of lawyers with experience in this area of law is imperative to protect your best interests. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall have over a century of combined experience defending criminal charges filed in local municipalities, including Hamilton, Trenton, Ewing, Princeton and Lawrence Township. We have defended hundreds of clients at the county courthouse in Trenton over the last two decades and are ready to diligently work to secure the most favorable outcome in your aggravated arson case. A lawyer on our defense team is available by contact our office for a free consultation at 609–683–8102.

Aggravated Arson Offense in Trenton New Jersey

There are multiple scenarios under which you may be convicted of aggravated arson under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1a. A necessary prerequisite to each variety of aggravated arson is the actor purposely starting a fire or causing an explosion. Provided that this has occurred, aggravated arson is triggered if the conduct was: (1) intended to put a person at risk of injury, to damage property or to destroy a forest; (2) to collect insurance proceeds recklessly causing risk of injury to another person or (3) to exempt property from a zoning, building or other regulation and recklessly caused a risk of injury to another person.

Penalties for Aggravated Arson

As previously stated, aggravated arson is a second degree crime. The range of penalties that may be imposed by a judge in Trenton include a fine of up to $150,000 and 5-10 years in state prison. If the fire was deliberately set to cause damage to a church, synagogue, temple or other place of public worship, then first degree arson is triggered. The penalties for this form of arson escalate to a maximum fine of $200,000 and 10-20 years in prison with a minimum period of parole ineligibility of 15 years.

No Early Release

Aggravated arson falls under the No Early Release Act (“NERA”). The result is that someone convicted of second degree aggravated arson must serve at least 85% of his/her prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

Arson for Hire

Under N.J.S.A. 2C:17-1d, it is a first degree crime to pay, accept, or offer to pay or accept money or other benefit for starting fire or causing an explosion. The penalties that apply upon conviction for this type of arson include a fine that can reach $200,000 and 10-20 years of imprisonment.

Hamilton Aggravated Arson Lawyer

Whether you were arrested for a fire in Hamilton or another location in the county, your case will be directed to the Criminal Division of the Superior Court which is located in Trenton New Jersey. A lawyer who is accustomed to litigating case at this venue, as well as defending arson cases, is going to provide the muscle needed to afford you thorough protection. The attorneys at the Marshall Firm definitely fit this bill with decades practicing at the Trenton courthouse. We can help you achieve the best outcome of the charge that was filed in Robbinsville, West Windsor, Hightstown, East Windsor, Pennington, Hopewell Township or another area town. Contact our Hamilton Office or another one of our locations at 609–683–8102 for an immediate free consultation.