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Lawrence Township Juvenile Shoplifting Offense Dismissed

The managing partner of our firm, Jonathan F. Marshall, was retained in August to defend a juvenile who had been arrested for third degree shoplifting and possession of 4 grams of cocaine and other drugs at Quakerbridge Mall. This juvenile was definitely a busy young man despite the attentiveness of his parents. The good news is that all of the hard work of his mother and father, as well as the Mercer County Juvenile Defense Lawyers at our firm, resulted in a resolution with limited repercussions.

Possession of cocaine is illegal under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-10a(1) and results in conviction for a third degree crime. Shoplifting merchandise with a retail value of $500 or more is also a third degree crime under N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11. Under New Jersey Law, a juvenile convicted of either one of these offenses faces the possibility of detention for a term of two (2) years. They are also subject to a mandatory driver’s license suspension of at least 6 months and as much as two years if they are convicted of drug or paraphernalia possession at the Mercer County Superior Court, Juvenile Part, or at any other venue in the state.

The Juvenile Part of the Family Division in Trenton obviously has exposure to extreme cases involving sexual assault, firearm possession, robbery, aggravated assault and the like. Notwithstanding, possession of 4 plus grams of cocaine and over 50 dosage units of prescription drugs by a suburban juvenile tends to garner some attention. This was the situation for the juvenile we represented in this case. This was particularly true when the quantity possessed tended to imply distribution despite the charge not having been filed by the Lawrenceville Township Police.

The case was resolved with a plea of guilty to one count of possession with 18 months of probation. All of the other juvenile criminal offenses were dismissed, including shoplifting in Lawrenceville. The family and juvenile were very pleased with the outcome as this was not his first criminal case at the juvenile court. We are happy to report that he also avoided a driver’s license suspension.

For those researching criminal attorneys for their son or daughter, critical thinking is required. Take a close look beyond the words on a website, for example, when the particular lawyer was licensed. You should also inquire as whether he/she actually has any Superior Court trial experience. You would be surprised just how many lawyers portray themselves as highly experienced when, in fact, they have not a single trial under their belt.

At the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, you do not have to engage in guesswork in assessing our experience. Our lawyers include a team of former county prosecutors and public defenders who have handled many juvenile trials at the Superior Court. Your child deserves nothing less since you are investing considerable money on the attorney selected and banking on him/her to secure the very best result. For a free consultation with a lawyer on our staff immediately, contact our Lawrence NJ Office at (609) 775-9009.