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Princeton NJ Aggravated Assault Lawyer

Arrested for Aggravated Assault in Princeton New Jersey

An argument or altercation in Princeton New Jersey, whether at home, at work or in public, can escalate into an incident that results in an aggravated assault. The consequences for the actor are significant when this occurs because N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1b imposes extreme penalties for those convicted of aggravated assault whether its in the form of a crime of the fourth degree, third degree or second degree. Retaining a skilled lawyer is therefore essential when someone is confronted with this charge.

The criminal attorneys from the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall are capable of offering you the opportunity to avoid the penalties and life-altering consequences of an aggravated assault conviction. Our skilled defense team is composed of veteran lawyers and former prosecutors who devote their practices to defending assault and other criminal charges. They have more than 100 years of collective experience handling cases at the Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton. Contact our Princeton office now at (609) 683-8102 to speak to an attorney with the skills you need.

Princeton Aggravated Assault Charge

Aggravated assault is defined in N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b). Depending upon the facts, a person charged with aggravated assault in Princeton can face an offense ranging from a crime of the fourth degree all the way up to crimes of the second degree. The following are the three types of aggravated assault charges under this law:

  • Crime of the fourth degree: Prohibited conduct includes recklessly causing bodily injury with a deadly weapon, including pointing an unloaded firearm at another person. N.J.S.A. 2C:2-2(b)(3) defines “reckless conduct” as acting in a manner disregarding a substantial or unjustifiable risk of which you are aware.
  • Crime of the third degree: Causing or attempting to cause bodily injury to another person while displaying a deadly weapon is aggravated assault. This conduct is punished more severely because the injury was intentional as opposed to being reckless.
  • Crime of the second degree: Attempting to cause serious bodily injury to another person; causing serious bodily injury purposely or knowingly; or recklessly causing serious bodily injury with extreme indifference to human life elevate the classification of aggravated assault and the penalties associated with it.

Simple assault, which is a disorderly persons offense punishable much less severely than an indictable crime, becomes aggravated assault when the victim is a police officer, teacher, fireman, EMT or other person designated in N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b)(5).

Penalties for Aggravated Assault in Princeton

Aggravated assault is a serious offense, so the penalties judges may impose when sentencing someone convicted of the crime are harsh. Punishment, depending upon the degree of the crime, including the following:

  • Second Degree Aggravated Assault. A second degree aggravated assault is punishable by five to 10 years in prison and fines up to $150,000.
  • Third Degree Aggravated Assault. A third degree aggravated assault results in three to five years in state prison and fines up to $15,000.
  • Fourth Degree Aggravated Assault. You face up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000 upon conviction for fourth degree aggravated assault.

Successfully completing your sentence does not relieve you of the consequences of an aggravated assault conviction at the Mercer County Superior Court that is located in Trenton. Anyone found guilty of a Princeton aggravated assault offense has a felony criminal record. This will likely prevent you from being hired for certain jobs, owning or possessing a firearm or holding a professional license. The stigma of an aggravated assault will follow you for years if you fail to successfully defend the charge.

Princeton Aggravated Assault Defense Attorney

A Princeton aggravated assault defense attorney at the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall has the legal knowledge, the criminal trial experience and a proven record of success to give you the best opportunity to avoid a conviction. There is an lawyer available to speak with you 24 hours a day and seven days a week at our Princeton office. Call us at (609) 683-8102 to speak to one of our lawyers immediately. Skilled guidance from the accomplished attorneys at our firm is available immediately.