Newark NJ Aggravated Assault LawyersNewark New Jersey police are looking into a recent shooting that left a man with serious injuries.

According to authorities, a group of Newark police officers, all of whom are rookies, were on patrol in the area of 18th Avenue when a driver alerted them to a shooting on the 70 block of Sunset Avenue.

The Newark NJ police officers went to the scene of the shooting and came across the victim lying on the ground. The 20-year-old victim, who had sustained a gunshot wound to the ankle, was taken to nearby University Hospital. Once the victim arrived at the hospital, doctors treated him for his gunshot-related injuries. After being treated, the victim was listed in stable condition.

The victim later talked to Newark investigators and said that he had been shot by multiple suspects who drove past him in a gray car, possibly a Nissan Sentra.

Detectives with the Newark Police Department Cease Fire Shooting Response Team are currently investigating the non-fatal shooting. Investigators have not yet been able to identify any of the shooting suspects.

If Newark detectives can determine who was responsible for the shooting, the suspects would probably face criminal charges for aggravated assault, with the potential for severe penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b), a person who commits an assault with a deadly weapon like a handgun or knife can be charged with a third degree crime. A conviction on third degree aggravated assault charges could lead to a sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

For additional information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “20-Year-Old Man Wounded in Newark Shooting.”

Newark NJ Murder AttorneysNewark New Jersey police recently arrested a local man who allegedly committed a violent murder in September 2015.

According to law enforcement, the 21-year-old suspect brutally killed a homeless man on Astor Street in Newark’s East Ward. The victim, a 57-year-old male, was said to be walking on the street when the suspect approached him and then shot him.

Newark NJ police officers found the victim’s body on the 200 block of Astor Street. Officials later said that the victim’s body was severely burned when police discovered it.

Newark authorities conducted an investigation and eventually identified the suspect as the likely culprit. A warrant was issued for his arrest and he was subsequently indicted by an Essex County grand jury.

Detectives with the Newark Special Enforcement Bureau then tracked down the suspect as a residence on the 400 block of Hawthorne Avenue and arrested him.

The suspect, a Newark resident, has been charged with multiple criminal offenses, including first degree murder, conspiracy, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

Shortly after being placed under arrest, the suspect was handed over to the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Homicide Task Force, which processed him and then remanded him to the Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark, NJ. The suspect was being held at the jail in lieu of a massive $800K bail amount.

If the suspect is convicted on the most serious charges of first degree murder, he would be subject to life imprisonment in NJ State Prison, with a minimum mandatory term of incarceration of 30 years.

For additional information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Man Arrested in 2015 Newark Killing.”

Newark New Jersey Assault AttorneysNewark New Jersey police arrested an East Orange NJ man who allegedly shot a person during a theft on a city street.

According to Newark officials, the suspect approached a 24-year-old man walking in the area of South Orange Avenue and Sunset Street in Newark, NJ. The suspect allegedly flashed a handgun while attempting to steal the victim’s cell phone.

When the victim tried to get away from the suspect, the suspect allegedly fired his gun at the victim. Afterwards, the suspect reportedly ran away on foot.

Detectives with the Newark Major Crimes Shooting Team looked into the shooting and quickly determined that the suspect was the likely culprit.

The suspect is a 39-year-old man who lives in East Orange, New Jersey. He was later located, and arrested, in Asbury Park in Newark, NJ. He faces a number of criminal charges, including aggravated assault, unlawful possession of a weapon, and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

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

After being arrested and processed, the suspect was taken to the Newark city jail.

To learn more about this case, check out the NJ.com article, “East Orange Man Charged in Newark Shooting on New Year’s Eve.”

Newark NJ Theft SuspectNewark New Jersey police are trying to find the suspect behind a series of thefts from parked cars.

According to authorities, the same person is probably responsible for all of the thefts. The suspect allegedly managed to break into several motor vehicles that had been parked on Morris Avenue in Newark, NJ.

After the latest theft incident, detectives with the Newark Police Department investigated and obtained video surveillance images of the suspect walking in the area of the car that was broken into. Newark NJ police later released the surveillance photographs of the suspect in the hopes that doing so might spark the investigation.

Law enforcement has not yet been able to determine the identity of the suspect. If investigators can figure out who the suspect is, he would probably be charged with theft of movable property and face severe criminal penalties. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3(a), a person who unlawfully takes property valued at greater than $500 can be charged with a third degree felony and potentially sentenced to 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison.

Newark police has asked for the public’s help with the investigation. Anyone with information about the suspect or the alleged theft incidents should contact the Newark Police CrimeStoppers tip line at 877-NWK-TIPS or 877-NWK-GUNS.

For additional information about this case, view the NJ.com article, “Cops Seek Public’s Help after Series of Thefts in Newark.”

Newark New Jersey Theft SuspectA Newark NJ man will probably be going to state prison after he was convicted of robbing an off-duty Essex County Sheriff’s officer.

The theft incident occurred on May 6, 2014. According to Essex County prosecutors, the suspect and another man committed the robbery while the victim, a female sheriff’s officer, and her boyfriend were in West Side Park in Newark, New Jersey.

The suspect allegedly held a handgun while he committed the robbery. When the suspect’s co-conspirator reportedly recognized the victim as a police officer, the suspects allegedly abandoned the robbery.

The Essex County Sheriff’s officer subsequently contacted local law enforcement, which sent police officers to the scene to investigate. Just minutes later, police located the suspect walking along Avon Avenue and Jelliff Avenue in Newark, NJ.

The suspect is a 24-year-old male who lives in Newark, New Jersey. He was placed under arrest and charged with several criminal offenses, including armed robbery and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose.

The suspect recently made an appearance in Essex County Superior Court, located in Newark, so that he could stand trial on the criminal charges. The two-week trial concluded with the jury finding the defendant guilty of armed robbery.

The defendant will come back to Essex County Superior Court in June for a formal sentencing hearing. Since theft with a deadly weapon like a handgun is classified as a first degree crime, the suspect faces a potential sentence of 10-20 years in NJ State Prison.

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Convicted of Trying to Rob Sheriff’s Officer in Newark.”

Newark College Burglary Homicide VictimA Newark New Jersey college student was reportedly attempting to stop a burglary at a frat house when he was murdered.

According to law enforcement, the homicide happened around 3:00 a.m. at the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity house, which is located on Martin Luther King Boulevard in Newark, NJ. The homicide victim went to school at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT).

The two suspects allegedly gained entry to the residence by accessing a rear door. Once inside the home, they reportedly encountered the 23-year-old victim. During a subsequent violent struggle, the suspects allegedly used a handgun to fire several gunshots at the victim, hitting him in the hand and head.

Emergency medical responders got to the fraternity house, briefly treated the victim, and then rushed him to nearby University Hospital. Tragically, doctors were unable to save the victim; he was pronounced dead roughly two hours after the shooting.

There had been several reported burglaries at the same NJIT fraternity house in the weeks and months preceding the shooting incident. Newark NJ police are investigating the theft attempts and are trying to determine whether they are connected.

If Newark authorities can eventually figure out the identities of the suspects in the homicide, it is likely that the culprits would face criminal charges for first degree murder. As set forth by N.J.S.A. 2C:11-3, murder is the most severely punished criminal offense in the New Jersey Criminal Code. A conviction on first degree murder charges could lead to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of incarceration of 30 years in NJ State Prison.

For more information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Slain NJIT Student Died in Attempt to Fight off Burglars, Sources Say.”

Essex County NJ Marijuana AttorneysThe wave of litigation following the revelation that a New Jersey State Police laboratory technician fabricated evidence in a marijuana possession case has prompted the NJ State Supreme Court to assign a special judge to handle all of the resulting drug conviction challenges. The special judge will be in charge of managing and coordinating the drug crime cases.

“Dry Labbing” Marijuana Evidence

Kamalkant Shah was employed as a lab technician with the New Jersey State Police in Little Falls, NJ. He got into trouble in December 2015 when a co-worker reportedly saw him “dry labbing” a marijuana sample, which means that he was recording test results without actually conducting a test of the drug evidence.

Immediately after the allegations were made against Shah, the disgraced lab tech was suspended. He later retired from his job with the NJ State Police, which he held for roughly a decade. Despite retiring, Shah remains under criminal investigation for his alleged misconduct.

During his tenure with the NJ State Police, Shah served as the primary lab tech in 7,827 drug cases and reviewed approximately 2,600 lab reports that were prepared by other lab technicians. Shah directly handled evidence in drug cases that ended with convictions in numerous NJ counties, including Morris County, Essex County, Bergen County, and Passaic County. Shah’s lab results were crucial in many of these cases because the lab reports are used by county and municipal prosecutors to prove that a defendant actually possessed illicit narcotics.

Although authorities indicated that the only verifiable instance of misconduct by Shah is the December 2015 marijuana case, criminal defense lawyers for hundreds of other defendants have said that there is now a great deal of doubt about the evidence in the other cases as well.

As soon as authorities became aware of Shah’s dry labbing, the NJ Attorney General’s Office got involved and sent letters to every NJ county prosecutor to ask that prosecutors notify the criminal defense attorneys for any defendants in drug cases on which Shah worked.

Additionally, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office directed officials to begin the arduous process of re-testing drug samples previously tested by Shah.

Appointment of a Special Judge to Handle Drug Conviction Challenges

Now the NJ Supreme Court has gotten involved and assigned Edward Jerejian as the “special master” who will oversee all drug conviction challenges involving cases on which Shah worked as a laboratory technician. Jerejian is currently a judge in Bergen County Superior Court in Hackensack, NJ.

The assignment of a special judge has been welcomed by criminal defense attorneys who believe that the unique step taken by the New Jersey Supreme Court gives some indication of just how serious Shah’s misconduct was. Additionally, NJ prosecutors also embraced the decision because it should help to ease the burden on the court system as hundreds, and potentially thousands, of convicted felons in New Jersey seek to get their convictions overturned due to Shah’s misconduct.

To date, lawyers throughout New Jersey have filed motions to dismiss pending cases on which Shah worked, as well as motions to overturn convictions in drug cases where Shah’s lab work may have helped prosecutors to secure a conviction or a guilty plea.

As a special master, Jerejian will be limited to handling cases in which a criminal defendant was previously convicted of a drug crime on the basis of Shah’s lab work. This includes defendants who are currently serving prison sentences, defendants who already completed their terms of incarceration, and defendants who avoided prison and were instead placed on probation or entered into a diversionary program like Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI).

Jerejian will not be handling drug cases that are still pending. Those criminal cases will still be adjudicated in their counties of origin.

For further information about this case, read the North Jersey.com article, “Bergen County Judge Assigned All Cases Involving State Lab Tech Accused of Faking a Test.”

Bloomfield NJ Marijuana Possession LawyersA Newark New Jersey man is fighting drug possession charges and alleging that he was racially profiled by Bloomfield NJ police.

The man claims that he was stopped by police because he is a minority. When police officers talked to the driver, they reportedly said that they initiated the traffic stop because he was driving with a burnt-out headlight.

While talking to the driver, the Bloomfield NJ police officers allegedly smelled marijuana coming from the car. When the cops conducted a search of the vehicle, they allegedly discovered a small amount of pot. The driver was then placed under arrest and charged with simple possession of marijuana.

The man is arguing that the cops may have planted the marijuana in his vehicle. He also says that he was targeted and racially profiled by Bloomfield police.

The 24-year-old male, who lives in Newark, New Jersey, is now trying to get records to support his allegations of racial profiling by Bloomfield police.

The Bloomfield Police Department has heavily scrutinized in recent months, with Seton Hall University releasing a study showing that Bloomfield patrol officers have disproportionately targeted and racially profiled black and Latino drivers.

Additionally, Bloomfield NJ police is still dealing with the ramifications of a racial profiling lawsuit filed by Marcus Jeter, who claimed that Bloomfield police wrongfully arrested him in 2012. A police dashcam video reportedly showed Bloomfield NJ officers violently attacking Jeter. After the video went public, the arresting officers were sentenced to prison time.

For more information about the racial profiling allegations against Bloomfield police, read the NJ.com article, “Bloomfield Police Again Accused of Racial Profiling, Report Says.”

Terroristic Threats Lawyers in Caldwell NJCaldwell New Jersey police recently arrested a man accused of threatening to kill police officers during a lengthy standoff.

According to authorities, the suspect was wanted on arrest warrants out of Caldwell and Glen Ridge, New Jersey. The warrants were issued for terroristic threats and failure to appear for a mandatory court date for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI).

The Glen Ridge Police Department and the Caldwell Police Department sent officers to the suspect’s home on Bloomfield Avenue in Caldwell to execute the arrest warrants.

When police officers approached the front door, the suspect reportedly looked through the shades on the door and threatened to kill the officers. The suspect also allegedly brandished a “large knife” and tapped the dangerous weapon on the glass.

Glen Ridge and Caldwell NJ police officers tried to get the suspect to surrender, but he reportedly refused to leave the residence.

NJ State Police were notified of the tense situation and dispatched police officers to the scene. Police quickly secured a perimeter around the residence, closed nearby roadways, and moved neighbors away from area.

Several hours later, the suspect was finally placed under arrest.

The 58-year-old suspect, who resides in Caldwell, NJ, now faces an additional charge for making terroristic threats.

After being arrested and processed, the suspect was moved to the Essex County Jail in Newark, New Jersey. He was being held at the jail in lieu of an undisclosed bail amount.

For additional information about this case, see the NJ.com article, “3-Hour Standoff: Knife-Wielding Man Threatened to Kill Cops.”

Newark NJ Carjacking LawyersA Newark NJ man has been sentenced to several years in prison after being convicted of a carjacking in Essex County, New Jersey.

According to authorities, the suspect was part of a group of people who committed an armed robbery on December 15, 2012.

The three suspects reportedly approached the victims’ Chevrolet Equinox, which was parked on a Newark street during the early morning hours, and ordered the driver to give them his cash, a cell phone, and car keys. Although the driver handed over his money and phone, he reportedly threw the car keys to the ground.

The suspects reportedly retrieved the vehicle keys and then threatened to shoot the vehicle driver and a passenger in the car.

The victims were able to get away from the suspects and then dial 911 to alert police of the carjacking. Newark law enforcement then activated an application on the victim’s stolen phone, which they were able to use to track the location of the suspects.

Newark NJ police quickly found the suspects and arrested them. They were subsequently charged with armed robbery.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also believes that the suspects were part of a group of people who committed a “wave” of carjackings in Essex County, NJ.

Now the main suspect in the recent carjacking case has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison. He recently made an appearance in US District Court in Trenton, with the judge handing down the stiff punishment.

For more information about this case, access the NJ.com article, “Newark Man Sentenced for Role in 2012 ‘Wave’ of Carjackings.”