Morristown Lawyer Cases - Criminal Cases And Clever Defense.

I recently represented a client faced with both theft and receiving stolen property

, coming out of Boonton Township. This charge is governed by N.J.S. 2C:20-7A which provides in pertinent part:

a. Receiving. A person is guilty of theft if he knowingly receives or brings into this State movable property of another knowing that it has been stolen, or believing that it is probably stolen. It is an affirmative defense that the property was received with purpose to restore it to the owner. "Receiving" means acquiring possession, control or title, or lending on the security of the property.

b. Presumption of knowledge. The requisite knowledge or belief is presumed in the case of a person who:

(1) Is found in possession or control of two or more items of property stolen on two or more separate occasions; or

(2) Has received stolen property in another transaction within the year preceding the transaction charged; or

(3) Being a person in the business of buying or selling property of the sort received, acquires the property without having ascertained by reasonable inquiry that the person from whom he obtained it had a legal right to possess and dispose of it; or

(4) Is found in possession of two or more defaced access devices.

A receiving stolen property offense in New Jersey can be graded as a second degree, third degree, fourth degree, or occasionally a disorderly persons charge depending on the value of the goods allegedly stolen. The grading is as follows:

Second Degree: Value of goods $75,000.00 or more

Third Degree: Value of goods between $500.00 and $75,000.00

Fourth Degree: Value of goods between $200.00 and $500.00

Disorderly Persons Offense: Value of goods less than $200.00

The alleged amount in this case was approximately $450.00 which is a crime of the fourth degree in New Jersey. A fourth degree offense must be handled at at the Morris County Superior Court in Morristown, New Jersey.

Here, my client lives in Washington State and had a package delivered to her apartment which was paid for using a stolen bank account number. A Boonton Township resident was the victim of this bank account theft and the proceeds were used to purchase a good which was delivered to my client's house. However, my client denied any knowledge of the theft and claimed that she was dating someone who sent her the package as a gift.

I appeared at the Early Disposition Conference (EDC) which is the pre-indictment court in Morris County. The assistant prosecutor realized that they had no evidence linking my client to the theft and could not prove that she knew that the goods which were delivered to her apartment were stolen. As a result, the prosecutor agreed to remand the case to the Boonton Township Municipal Court as a disorderly persons offense (theft under $200).

Once in the Municipal Court, I was able to resolve the case without any criminal record. My client was originally facing a fourth degree felony charge with up to eighteen (18) months in New Jersey State Prison and I was able to resolve the case without any criminal record whatsoever. This was a great result for my client and the firm.

by: Lauren Breau

POST COMMENT

Reliable Appliance Repair And Other Services To Have Nearby Children And Poverty In Peru How To Use Plr Effectively And Make It Original How And Why A Dj Can Meet Your Entertainment Needs Welfare Reform And Drug Abuse Glow Sticks And Glow Necklaces Add Color And Excitement To Any Party An Outline On Buying Homes And Concepts From Long Island Home Builders Your Taking Away Simply By Forceutic Massage And Also Chiropractic Care Attention Vks Beaded And Tribal Jewelry - Unique Indian Bead Jewelry Designs Toddler Beds And Benefits For Children Pest Control And Commercial Pest Control Services Online How To Get People To Take Action And Join Your Network Marketing Opportunity Conveyor Bearings Wire Screen Cloth And Conveyor Belting