Morristown Violent Crimes Attorney

An Accomplished and Powerful Trial Lawyer with 32 Years of Experience

When you are facing criminal charges as serious as those for violent offenses, you will need an assertive and experienced advocate on your side. James Porfido, Attorney at Law is a certified criminal trial attorney who has 32 years of professional experience in the courtroom. He has taken cases as high up as the Superior Court, and he has been a recognized Superlawyer from 2002 to the present.

 He also stays up to date with the law as it goes through changes and challenges to ensure he provides his clients with the most modern and strategic defense strategies. Whether you have been charged with assault or some other violent offense, James Porfido, Attorney at Law can defend you tenaciously in court.

Schedule an initial appointment online or at (973) 370-9788 to discuss your defense options. Se habla español.

Assault and Aggravated Assault in New Jersey?

Assault is one important category of violent crime in New Jersey. Assault occurs when a person injures or attempts to injure another person without legal justification and can be charged as either simple assault or aggravated assault. 

What Is Considered Assault in New Jersey?

An individual commits simple assault when they:

• Attempt to or actually inflicted on someone else a bodily injury caused purposely, knowingly, or recklessly
• Negligently injure someone else by using a deadly weapon
• Or put another person in fear of imminent serious bodily injury

Note that according to N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:11-1, “bodily injury” is when the alleged victim suffers some physical injury or pain.

What Is Considered Aggravated Assault in New Jersey?

Aggravated assault is a more serious offense that occurs when a person attempts to or actually causes bodily injure or worse (e.g., serious bodily injury, which includes risk of death) and did so purposely, knowingly, or recklessly. 

Aggravated assault may also entail a defendant acting under circumstances reflecting extreme indifference to the human life, such as driving a car through a crowd. Many aggravated assault offenses also involve use of a deadly weapon. N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:12-1 lists specific behaviors that constitute aggravated assault.

Learn more about our assault defense practices on our Assault Defense page.

What Are the Consequences of Violent Offenses?

The penalties for assault and other violent crimes are serious. 

Penalties for Simple Assault

Simple assault is generally considered a disorderly person offense punishable by up to $1,000 in fines. 

If the simple assault was committed under the following circumstances, the offense can raise to a fourth degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in prison and up to $1,000 in fines:

• While working as an employee in care facility against an institutionalized elderly person
• Or while in the presence of a child under 16 years of age at a school or community sponsored youth sports event (regardless of whether the defendant knew of the minor’s age

Penalties for Aggravated Assault

The penalties for aggravated assault depend on the specific nature of the aggravated assault, as offenses are classified at different levels of crimes with varying penalty levels. Aggravated assault offenses range from a lower level crime of the fourth degree to a higher level crime of the second degree, which could result in some years in prison.

Penalties for Other Violent Offenses

Other violent offenses like domestic violence are also severely punished, and individuals who violate a restraining order against them could face charges for criminal contempt in the fourth degree. This could result in up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. Second and subsequent offenses will require a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 30 days.

Let James Porfido, Attorney at Law Defend You in Court

Violent crime convictions will leave important marks on your criminal record moving forward. For instance, some individuals convicted of serious violent offenses like domestic violence could even lose their right to own a firearm. James Porfido, Attorney at Law has been defending clients for decades, and he has even brought cases as far up as the Superior Court. He is a powerhouse trial lawyer who is frequently in court, and you can trust him to put up a compelling fight for your defense.

Don’t let a past mistake erase your future. Let James Porfido, Attorney at Law defend you against your violent crime charges today. Call (973) 370-9788 or reach out to our firm online to get started.