Newark New Jersey Robbery SuspectsNewark New Jersey police recently apprehended three individuals who were reportedly fleeing the scene of an armed robbery at a local business.

The robbery went down in the afternoon at a laundromat on Bloomfield Avenue in Newark, NJ. Two Newark NJ cops were on patrol and looking in on local businesses when they got a dispatch about a robbery in progress just one block away.

The Newark police officers investigated and reportedly came across the three suspects running from the laundromat and getting into a stolen car.

The Newark patrol cops were soon joined by a team of Newark police officers, with all of the officers giving chase. When the suspects’ car stalled on Berkley Avenue, the suspects allegedly got out of the vehicle and attempted to run away.

The Newark NJ police officers quickly captured the suspects.

While placing the suspects under arrest, cops allegedly discovered one of the men with stolen cash and a knife.

The three suspects include one juvenile and two adults. All of the suspects are residents of Newark, NJ.

The suspects face several criminal charges, including armed robbery, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and conspiracy. The suspects have also been charged with receiving stolen property because of the vehicle that was allegedly stolen.

According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the suspects may be connected to a number of other robberies and thefts recently committed in Newark, New Jersey.

The police officers who arrested the suspects are part of the Newark Community Deployment Team, which encourages improved community interaction by placing recent Newark police academy graduates directly on the streets of Newark.

For further information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Rookie Cops Arrest 3 Accused in Armed Robbery of Laundromat, Police Say.”

Newark New Jersey Murder AttorneysNewark New Jersey police are looking into the recent fatal shooting of an East Orange NJ man.

The violent incident occurred around 4:15 a.m. on Friday. According to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, the victim was seated in a car and driving along North 5th Street in East Orange when someone used a handgun to fire multiple shots at the victim, striking him several times.

When Newark police received a report of gunshots fired in the area, police officers were sent to the scene. Newark New Jersey cops subsequently discovered the suspect in his car and suffering from a number of gunshot wounds.

The victim was a 37-year-old man who lived in East Orange, New Jersey. He was rushed to University Hospital in Newark NJ, where doctors provided medical treatment and tried to save him. Tragically, the victim was pronounced dead roughly 30 minutes after police found him in his motor vehicle.

Several law enforcement agencies are working together to investigate the homicide. Among the agencies searching for the shooting suspect are the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide/Major Crimes Task Force.

Police have not yet identified a suspect in the fatal shooting. If police are eventually able to identify and locate the shooter, he would probably be subject to criminal charges for first degree murder.

As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, murder is a first degree crime. Moreover, unlike other first degree felonies in New Jersey, murder carries a potential punishment of life imprisonment, with a minimum mandatory term of incarceration of 30 years.

To learn more about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Detectives Seek Tips in Slaying of 37-Year-Old East Orange Man.”

Newark New Jersey Assault AttorneysNewark NJ police are looking into a shooting that left the victim with significant gunshot-related injuries.

The violent shooting occurred around 1:00 a.m. in the area of the intersection of South 7th Street and 12th Avenue in Newark, New Jersey.

The victim is a 47-year-old male from Newark, NJ. He suffered a single gunshot wound and had to be treated at the scene.

After Newark NJ cops and emergency medical responders arrived at the scene and briefly treated the victim for his injuries, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital. After doctors treated the victim, he was listed in stable condition.

Anthony Ambrose, the Newark public safety director, later said that the shooting is being investigated as a possible domestic dispute. Newark NJ law enforcement has yet to release any further details about the case, including whether the victim in the shooting had sought, or was now seeking, a restraining order against the suspect.

Ambrose indicated that the shooting victim was being “uncooperative” with Newark investigators who were trying to find out what caused the violent incident. In a lot of domestic disputes, the victim often remains silent because they do not want to get the domestic violence offender into trouble with police.

If the suspect in the Newark shooting incident is eventually arrested, she could be subject to criminal charges for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, as well as other weapons offenses. Additionally, the suspect could potentially be required to attend a hearing to determine whether a temporary restraining order (TRO) or even a final restraining order (FRO) is warranted.

For additional information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Man Shot in Possible Domestic Dispute, Police Said.”

West Orange New Jersey Robbery LawyersWest Orange NJ police are looking for suspects in a violent robbery of a Pennsylvania man at a local mall parking lot. The theft incident was precipitated by an online sale through Craigslist.

According to authorities, the victim sold jewelry and other items over the Internet on Craigslist. After making a deal to sell jewelry to an online buyer, the victim agreed to meet the purchaser at the Essex Green Shopping Center in West Orange, New Jersey.

When the victim arrived at the West Orange shopping center, he encountered a man and a woman. The two buyers took a close look at the jewelry items and then reportedly refused to buy the jewelry. The male suspect then allegedly assaulted the victim by grabbing him and dragging him along the ground. As this was happened, the female suspect allegedly stole the jewelry items.

The victim is a 42-year-old male from Pennsylvania. He sustained only minor injuries in the violent attack. He later refused any medical treatment from emergency medical responders at the scene of the robbery.

West Orange New Jersey police are asking local residents who agree to meet after arranging sales through Craigslist to complete the in-person transactions in a “safe exchange zone.” These spaces are provided by local law enforcement and often include video cameras for surveillance. In fact, a directive issued by the West Orange Police Department lets residents know that parking lots and lobbies at the local police headquarters, and also at a couple of police substations, can be used as “a meeting place for in-person transactions to occur.”

For more information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Dragged, Robbed in Craigslist Sale Gone Bad, Officials Say.”

Newark NJ Aggravated Assault AttorneysNewark NJ police are looking into a recent non-fatal shooting of a man who was walking along a city street.

The scary shooting occurred just before 7:00 p.m. in the vicinity of the intersection of 7th Street and 4th Avenue in Newark, New Jersey. Newark police got a report of gunshots fired and sent police officers to the area.

When Newark NJ police officers arrived at the scene of the shooting, the victim was already gone. Law enforcement later learned that the victim had been transported to Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, NJ. Doctors at the Belleville medical facility treated the victim for a serious gunshot wound. Although officials have yet to release an update on the status of the shooting victim, it is believed that he survived the violent incident.

The Newark Police Department is currently investigating the shooting and trying to determine the identity of the shooter. Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said that Newark NJ investigators are also trying to figure out a possible motive for the shooting and learn whether the victim was targeted or if it was a random shooting incident.

If Newark NJ police can identify and locate a suspect, that person would likely face criminal charges for aggravated assault and illegal handgun possession.

A conviction for aggravated assault could result in significant criminal penalties. That’s because N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b) classifies aggravated assault with a deadly weapon like a handgun as a second degree crime. A conviction on second degree aggravated assault charges could result in a sentence of 5-10 years in New Jersey State Prison.

To learn more about this case, view the NJ.com article, “1 Wounded in Newark Shooting.”

Newark NJ Medical Marijuana LawyersThe NJ medical marijuana program that was put in place several years ago could soon be subject to major changes, depending on whether the New Jersey Health Department decides to allow additional medical conditions to qualify for treatment. Throughout August 2016, anyone who has suggestions for possible new additions to the list of medical conditions that officially qualify a patient for medical pot should go to the New Jersey Department of Health website and download a form. The form can be filled out and submitted to state health officials via certified mail.

A medical review panel has been formed, with the panel’s purpose being to evaluate the medical conditions that are suggested by NJ residents. After considering the suggested medical conditions, the panel will provide recommendations to the NJ Department of Health about the official medical marijuana policy in New Jersey. If state health officials decide to change the medical marijuana law on the basis of public input, it would mark the first such instance of public input affecting the medical pot program since it was launched in 2010.

Chronic Health Conditions That Qualify for Medical Marijuana Treatment in Essex County, New Jersey

Anyone thinking about using marijuana, whether for medicinal purposes or otherwise, should be aware that the drug possession laws in NJ are stringent. New Jersey police officers, prosecutors, and judges are extremely strict when it comes to enforcement of these drug crime laws. If you are caught illegally possessing or distributing marijuana, you will face severe penalties that include jail time.

There is an exception to the prohibitions against marijuana possession and marijuana distribution in New Jersey. Certain individuals who suffer from qualifying chronic health conditions can avoid being prosecuted if they are using the marijuana to treat their illness.

However, not every medical condition is considered a “qualifying” condition for the purposes of the NJ medical marijuana program. For example, someone suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not able to participate in the New Jersey medical pot program, despite the efforts of several lawmakers in Trenton NJ to get PTSD added to the list of conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment.

The qualifying medical conditions for medical marijuana treatment in New Jersey include:

  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Terminal cancer
  • Lou Gehrig’s disease
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (including Crohn’s disease)
  • Any other terminal illness

In addition to this list, patients who suffer from seizure disorders or glaucoma may be eligible for medical marijuana treatment if their condition is not improving due to conventional treatment. Additionally, people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS may qualify for the NJ medical marijuana program if their current treatment plan isn’t working and has led to severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, or vomiting.

NJ.com researched the New Jersey medical marijuana program and found that 8,162 patients and 472 caregivers are already registered with the state. A person can become an official caregiver by passing a state background check. Once the person qualifies as a caregiver, they are authorized to pick up marijuana from registered medical pot dispensaries and then transport the marijuana to patients’ residences.

A caregiver must be officially licensed by the State of New Jersey. A person functioning as a caregiver but without official authorization from the state is acting in violation of the law and could be criminally charged with simple possession of marijuana or marijuana distribution. Depending on the circumstances of the drug offense, a marijuana possession or marijuana distribution charge could lead to serious penalties that include incarceration in NJ State Prison.

There are currently five medical marijuana dispensaries in NJ, including Bellmawr, Cranbury, Egg Harbor, Montclair, and Woodbridge. The state has already approved a sixth medical marijuana facility that will open in Secaucus later this year.

Newark NJ Restraining Order LawyersThe NJ Supreme Court has taken a strong stance on firearms ownership rights in the Garden State and issued a ruling that could have reverberations on gun crime laws for a very long time. The court’s ruling has resulted in a great deal of media coverage because it marks the first time in 26 years that the highest court in the state has issued any kind of ruling on gun ownership rights in New Jersey.

The court’s unanimous decision dealt with the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 and clarified that the law does not violate the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution. Under NJ’s domestic violence prevention law, police officers can seize weapons from individuals accused of domestic violence offenses and facing a temporary restraining order (TRO) or a final restraining order (FRO).

The court’s ruling has garnered praise and criticism from opposing sides of the always-heated gun rights debate. That’s because many believe that an alleged domestic violence offender should not be deprived of their 2nd Amendment rights and be forced to turn over their firearms to the state simply on the basis of an allegation of domestic violence.

Associate Justice Lee Solomon wrote the opinion for the unanimous court and made sure to address the gun rights debate. Solomon said that an individual’s right to bear arms can be restricted by the state because it is a right “subject to reasonable limitations.” Solomon went further and emphasized that “the police power of the state provides our Legislature with the authority to regulate firearms.”

Should Domestic Violence Offenders in Essex County NJ Have Gun Ownership Rights?

The case before the NJ Supreme Court involved a former police officer whose wife had alleged that he committed domestic violence in Morristown, New Jersey. When the alleged victim secured a restraining order against the defendant, local police enforced the NJ Prevention of Domestic Violence Act and confiscated the defendant’s firearms. Prosecutors justified the seizure by highlighting the suspect’s “volatile marital history” and suggesting that this history of domestic violence presented a risk of future violence.

The lower courts in the case ruled in favor of the defendant and said that the ex-cop was entitled to maintain ownership of his weapons. The lower courts did not find the ex-wife credible and said that the defendant had a constitutional right to bear arms that should not be trumped by his prior history of marital problems.

Now the NJ Supreme Court has overruled the lower courts and made it clear that a defendant with a history of domestic violence does not have a constitutionally guaranteed right to bear arms. The ruling by the state’s highest court means that a domestic violence offender can be forced to forfeit his potentially deadly weapons.

Tough Penalties for Weapons Offenses in Essex County, NJ

The Garden State has extremely tough handgun possession laws and imposes strict penalties, including mandatory terms of incarceration in New Jersey State Prison. Now the NJ Supreme Court has given proponents of tough gun laws more ammunition in the gun rights debate by holding that police have the legal authority to seize handguns and other types of weapons in domestic violence situations.

Before the court handed down this ruling, there had not been a New Jersey Supreme Court ruling on firearms rights since 1990. That was actually a year before state legislators passed the New Jersey Prevention of Domestic Violence Act. In the earlier 1990 firearm possession case, the court ruled against two private detectives and said that they should not be allowed to obtain NJ firearms permits. The latest case also involved a defendant with ties to law enforcement: he was a former police officer in Roseland NJ. The ex-cop had been ordered by police to surrender his handguns and his firearms ID card because he allegedly had a prior history of domestic violence. Since the New Jersey Supreme Court ruling deals with quasi-law enforcement, it sets the bar extremely high in domestic violence weapons offense cases. That’s because former police officers like the defendant in this case typically have an easier time getting concealed carry permits and other tough-to-acquire firearm licenses in New Jersey.

The Standard of Proof in NJ Domestic Violence Weapons Forfeiture Cases

When it comes to protecting victims in domestic violence cases, NJ judges don’t like to take chances. That’s why they will usually side with prosecutors and victims in these instances and order an alleged domestic violence offender to surrender their firearms to law enforcement. The priority of judges in these cases is typically to ensure that the “public health, safety, or welfare” is protected.

The standard of proof that NJ judges use when making decisions in weapons forfeiture cases is the civil standard of “preponderance of the evidence,” which means “more likely than not.” So New Jersey prosecutors simply need to establish that the threat of violence posed by a defendant is more likely than not to lead to some form of violence against the victim. The legal standard of proof is the same at restraining order hearings. However, in criminal cases, prosecutors must meet a significantly higher standard of proof and establish the elements of a crime “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

What Are the Implications of the NJ Supreme Court’s Ruling on Weapons Forfeiture in Domestic Violence Cases?

Shortly after the NJ Supreme Court issued its ruling, Nancy Erika Smith, a legal advocate for domestic violence victims in New Jersey and founder of Newark-based Wynona’s House, said, “If you can’t control yourself, if you have to be violent to your own family, of course you shouldn’t have a gun.”

This sentiment was echoed by another supporter of the court’s ruling, Alexander Roubian. Roubian is president of the NJ Second Amendment Society and he believes that domestic violence offenders who pose a threat of further violence should not be granted easy access to dangerous firearms. After the court’s ruling was announced, Roubian said that “anybody who’s given due process and is guilty of domestic violence should not be allowed to own any type of weapon.”

Essex County NJ Domestic Violence AttorneysThe New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Domestic Violence recently came out with a final report that addresses domestic violence matters in the state. In the report, the committee provides several recommendations that will probably have a significant impact on domestic violence resources, education about domestic violence, training for state personnel who deal with domestic violence matters, and interaction between Municipal Courts and Superior Courts throughout the state. (This last point could be crucial because Municipal Courts at the local level in New Jersey typically handle disorderly persons offenses, while Superior Courts at the county level have to deal with more serious felony-level crimes and restraining orders.)

Domestic violence cases are usually brought before a Municipal Court in an Essex County NJ municipality, with accompanying charges like simple assault, harassment, and disorderly conduct. If a person is convicted of a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor), this can leave the convicted individual with a permanent criminal conviction on their record. Meanwhile, Superior Court cases in Essex County Superior Court often involve criminal charges such as aggravated assault, terroristic threats, stalking, and sexual assault.

While superior courts and municipal courts deal with criminal matters, the Superior Court, Family Division handles domestic violence matters. Domestic violence cases typically involve a permanent restraining order hearing or a violation of a restraining order (contempt).

The NJ Supreme Court Committee on Domestic Violence was created by New Jersey Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner in February 2015. The task of the committee was to examine state domestic violence laws, resources for domestic violence victims, the interaction between New Jersey court systems, treatment methods that are made available to domestic violence offenders, risk assessment methods for domestic violence offenders, and educational resources on a host of domestic violence issues. The New Jersey domestic violence committee included members from all three branches of government, the private sector, advocacy groups, lawyers who represent clients charged with domestic violence offenses, and lawyers who represent victims of domestic violence. There were a number of politicians, judges, prosecutors, and criminal defense attorneys from Essex County and elsewhere in NJ who served crucial roles on the committee.

The committee ultimately made several recommendations for revising the NJ domestic violence laws, including:

  • Expanding the use of domestic violence advocates in Municipal Court domestic violence matters so that both victims and defendants are fairly represented.
  • Developing court rules and procedures that would allow domestic violence victims in certain high-risk situations to testify without having to show up to court.
  • Expanding current New Jersey domestic violence laws to account for Internet threats and cyber-harassment, so that a person who receives an online threat can use the threat as a basis for seeking a restraining order.
  • Expanding availability of therapeutic programs for children exposed to domestic violence at young ages.

I am Essex County NJ criminal defense attorney Travis Tormey. I have years of experience as a criminal defense lawyer, which gives me particular insight into the domestic violence committee’s recommendations. I’ve identified one potential issue with committee recommendation #2, which would possibly violate the constitutional rights of the accused by allowing alleged domestic violence victims to offer testimony in domestic violence cases without needed to show up to court. If NJ lawmakers implement this recommendation, it could be a clear violation of the confrontation clause, as well as a direct violation of the defendant’s due process rights.

Although there may occasionally be a need to protect high-risk victims in domestic violence cases, protections already exist in the form of sheriff’s officers at the courthouses. There really shouldn’t be any valid safety concerns that would trump a defendant’s constitutional rights in a criminal case or a domestic violence case.

Newark NJ Carjacking LawyersNewark New Jersey police recently arrested two men who allegedly committed a violent carjacking and then caused a serious car accident.

According to authorities, the carjacking victim came running into the Newark Police Division’s 1st Precinct headquarters and told officers that two men had just stolen his motor vehicle. The victim also told Newark NJ police that the suspects crashed his automobile shortly after driving off with it. The suspects then reportedly tried to run away from the accident scene and flee the Newark area on foot.

Several members of the Newark Police Department went to Hunterdon Street in Newark, which is the spot where the suspects were seen running shortly after the car crash. Three Newark police supervisors happened to see the suspects in the area and chased after them. The suspects were quickly subdued and placed under arrest.

As the suspects allegedly ran from the Newark police officers, they were seen dropping a knapsack bag that is said to have contained stolen credit cards and stolen cell phones.

The suspects, an 18-year-old Newark NJ man and a 17-year-old Newark teenager, face serious criminal charges for carjacking, auto theft, and credit card theft.

The victim of the carjacking incident is a 53-year-old male who resides in Newark, New Jersey. Thankfully, he did not sustain any injuries during the carjacking.

For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Newark Cops Chase, Arrest 2 after Carjacking, Authorities Say.”

Orange NJ Aggravated Assault AttorneysOrange NJ police recently arrested a man who allegedly used a handgun to seriously injure a person in a non-fatal shooting on a city street.

According to authorities, the non-fatal shooting incident went down around 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of Washington Street and High Street in Orange, New Jersey.

The suspect and the victim, both of whom reside in Orange NJ, reportedly got into a verbal argument that spilled over and became violent. As the altercation turned physical, the suspect allegedly pulled out a handgun and used it to fire at least one gunshot at the victim.

The victim, a 27-year-old Orange NJ man, was later transported to University Hospital in Newark NJ. Doctors at the medical facility treated the victim for a gunshot wound to his buttocks. He was later listed in stable condition.

Orange NJ police officers arrested the suspect at the scene of the shooting. He was subsequently taken to Orange police headquarters for processing.

The suspect, a 27-year-old male from Orange NJ, faces multiple criminal charges, including aggravated assault, illegal possession of a handgun, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, and other weapons offenses.

If the suspect is ultimately convicted of aggravated assault, he would be subject to significant criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), anyone who commits an assault while using a deadly weapon such as a handgun or knife can be charged with a third degree crime. A conviction on third degree aggravated assault charges could result in a sentence of 3-5 years in NJ State Prison.

For additional information about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “Man Charged after Dispute Ends with Shooting in Orange.”