Criminal Defense Attorney in Middletown NJ

Anyone facing criminal charges in Middletown New Jersey should have an experienced criminal defense attorney to protect their rights and fight for them. It is better to have a defense attorney who works regularly in the local Monmouth court system so prosecutors and judges will give consideration to the attorney’s proposals to resolve the case.

In Middletown, New Jersey, criminal defense lawyer Jason A. Volet is well known as an experienced attorney who began his legal career in the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Since becoming a full-time defense attorney, Mr. Volet has taken on more than 2,000 criminal cases. He has been certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a criminal trial attorney.

We Have Some of the Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Middletown

Mr. Volet’s longtime familiarity with the area and his deep knowledge of both sides of the criminal justice system make him an effective legal advocate for adults and juveniles in Middletown who are facing criminal charges.

To protect your rights, schedule a free consultation with a dedicated criminal defense attorney in Middletown, NJ. Contact the Law Office of Jason A. Volet by calling or filling out our online contact form.

How Our Criminal Law Firm Helps Middletown Residents

In addition to fines and potential incarceration, being convicted of a crime leaves you with a criminal record. Having a criminal conviction makes it harder to get a job, obtain bank loans, qualify for public housing, or obtain a college education.

Middletown Criminal attorney Jason A. Volet has extensive experience handling a wide variety of criminal cases. As your legal advocate, he will tailor a defense strategy that addresses the specific circumstances of your case. He will negotiate for the charges to be reduced or dropped or for you to be referred to a diversionary program, if possible. If your case must go to trial, Jason Volet will question the prosecutor’s evidence and witnesses to ensure that any reasonable doubt about the state’s case is raised.

Our Middletown criminal defense law firm practice areas include:

• Juvenile crimes. Being tried in a juvenile court vs. an adult court can make a major difference in how a child’s criminal case is handled and the legal options available. Engaging an experienced Middletown defense attorney quickly increases the opportunities to persuade a judge to provide your child with the services of Family Court, which is preferable to adult court.
• Theft crimes. Every theft case is unique. There are multiple possible defenses against theft charges. The key is speaking to an experienced defense attorney as soon as possible to start identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s case and building your defense.
• Weapons charges. Weapons laws in New Jersey are very strict. You could face severe penalties, including mandatory prison time if convicted of a weapons offense. Weapons charges are frequently tied to other criminal charges such as assault or robbery.
• Drunk driving. New Jersey rewrote its drunk driving laws in 2019 to make them some of the toughest in the nation. Still, a DWI charge must be proven. The state offers a variety of rehabilitation programs for those with a need and willingness to help themselves. We can help you through the trying time if you have been charged with drinking while intoxicated.
• Traffic violations. Traffic tickets seem to represent minor offenses. But they can lead to expensive fines, loss of driving privileges, or even jail time. Whatever the nature of your traffic charge, you should have a lawyer advocating to make sure you get a full and fair hearing.
• Property crimes. Offenses known as property crimes involve the illegal use or possession of another person’s property. Because multiple factors may determine the degree of crime charged, such as the value of the property involved, there is room for a skilled attorney to have property crime charges reduced or dropped.
• Drug crimes. A criminal drug case can take a long time to make its way through the court system. Almost every step of the way, there are opportunities for a skilled defense attorney to question the evidence and negotiate on your behalf for reduced charges, or entry into diversion and/or rehabilitation programs.
• White-collar crimes. Offenses like fraud, embezzlement, extortion, and corruption require a lot of evidence to prove the charges. It is best to get ahead of a white-collar crime case that is under investigation. If you are to face federal or state charges or both, you need a white-collar criminal defense attorney with experience in both areas to make sure your side of the story is heard.
• Sex crimes. Sex crimes are often he said/she said cases abetted by DNA evidence. To avoid potential penalties such as prison time and registration as a sex offender, engage an experienced Middletown defense attorney who will advocate for you aggressively to ensure your side of the story is told.
• Expungement. Certain criminal convictions may be expunged or removed, from your record after you have completed your sentence and a certain amount of time has passed without further charges. An experienced attorney can handle the detailed expungement process to ensure there are no mistakes and no wasted time after you have paid your dues.

What’s the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Middletown?

New Jersey criminal charges generally recognize three levels of offenses, which include what would be considered a misdemeanor and felony offenses in most jurisdictions. Those terms are not used in New Jersey.

Crimes in New Jersey are classified broadly as:

• Disorderly and petty disorderly persons offenses — Minor criminal offenses are charged as a disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense. For example, simple assault and possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana are disorderly persons offenses. These crimes are typically punished with fines and community service. But petty disorderly person offenses may be punished by fines up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail. Disorderly persons offenses may be punished by fines up to $1,000 and up to 180 days in jail. These offenses create a criminal record for those convicted.

Disorderly and petty disorderly persons cases are heard in municipal courts, as are traffic tickets, violations of municipal ordinances, and other offenses, like fishing and hunting violations.

• Indictable offenses — More serious crimes, or indictable offenses, may be charged as fourth, third, second, or first-degree offenses, with a conviction of a first-degree offense, such as murder or rape, bringing the harshest penalties. In each New Jersey county, a grand jury is seated to hear evidence presented by a local prosecutor and determine whether sufficient evidence exists to move forward with criminal charges against a defendant. If a grand jury returns an indictment, the case is heard in the county superior court.

Punishments for indictable offenses range from fines of up to $10,000 and up to 18 months in prison for a fourth-degree offense to fines of up to $200,000 and 10-20 years in prison for a first-degree offense.

In addition, New Jersey imposes mandatory minimum sentences for murder and other crimes of violence, offenses involving firearms and drugs, and official misconduct, among other crimes.

Why Hire a Middletown Criminal Defense Lawyer?

If you or a loved one has been charged with a crime in Middletown, NJ, a representative of the Law Office of Jason A. Volet can meet with you immediately to discuss exactly what happened. As part of your free initial consultation, we will go over the charges against you and discuss how we will work to fight them. Our legal team will promptly begin our investigation and start collecting evidence to build a strong defense for you.

Attorney Jason Volet will fight to obtain the best possible outcome for you, whether that entails negotiating a resolution of your charges, helping you get admitted to a treatment program if you qualify, or preparing a solid and persuasive defense to present to a jury.

Contact us to schedule a free initial legal consultation and speak with our experienced Middletown, NJ, criminal defense lawyer about your case.