Property Crime Attorneys in New Jersey
Property Crime Attorneys in New Jersey
In New Jersey, if the state charges you with theft or any other crime where there is property involved, contact a New Jersey property crime attorney at Shugar Law Office immediately. New Jersey courts impose significant penalties for property crime convictions.
Under New Jersey law, a property crime is almost anything illegal that someone does to someone else’s property. The term “property crimes” includes:
- trespassing
- burglary
- criminal mischief
- theft offenses, including receiving stolen property, forgery, and writing bad checks
- arson
The property crime lawyers at Shugar Law Office understand the complexities of New Jersey criminal justice. Our legal team helps clients understand property crime charges and protects their rights. Our defense attorneys provide a robust, effective defense strategy for every client.
How Does New Jersey Penalize Property Crimes?
New Jersey recognizes four degrees of “indictable” offenses. Many property crime offenses are indictable crimes (comparable to felony charges in other states) that carry the following penalties upon conviction:
- First-degree offenses: Ten to twenty years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000
- Second-degree crimes: Five to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $150,000
- Third-degree offenses: Three to five years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000
- Fourth-degree crimes: A fine of up to $10,000 and up to eighteen months in jail or prison
Lesser crimes in New Jersey are “disorderly persons” offenses, equivalent to misdemeanors in other states. For property crime convictions, New Jersey courts may also order penalties that include probation, restitution to crime victims, and community service.
If you face any property crime charge in this state, promptly contact a New Jersey property crime lawyer at Shugar Law Office for the legal help you will need.
How Does New Jersey Handle Trespassing and Burglary?
Trespassing is entering another person’s property without that person’s consent. New Jersey has three trespassing charges:
- Defiant trespassing, which is trespassing despite a “notice against trespass,” is a petty disorderly persons offense, punishable upon conviction with thirty days in jail and a $500 fine.
- Unlicensed entry into a structure is a disorderly persons offense, punishable upon conviction with six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
- Trespassing at a school, research facility, nuclear chemical plant, or utility company is a fourth-degree offense punishable with eighteen months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Burglary is unlawful entry into a structure, intending to commit an offense inside, even if that second crime doesn’t happen. A home invasion burglary is a first-degree crime. Other residential burglaries are second-degree offenses, and most other burglaries are third-degree crimes.
How Does New Jersey Deal With Arson?
Property crime offenses in New Jersey include arson. Simple arson, intentionally starting a fire to destroy a structure, is a third-degree crime. Aggravated arson, starting a fire to cover up another crime, collect insurance money, or destroy a forest, is a second-degree crime in New Jersey.
First-degree arson is a serious criminal offense. It occurs when someone is employed or paid to commit arson that would otherwise qualify as a second-degree crime. Recklessly starting a fire and failing to control that fire is a fourth-degree offense.
You may not face arson charges for an accidental fire, but you could face disorderly persons charges or be held liable in civil court for damages.
What Are New Jersey’s Theft Laws?
Theft charges in New Jersey depend on the value of the stolen property. A theft of property valued:
- more than $75,000 is a second-degree crime
- between $500 and $75,000 is a third-degree offense
- between $200 and $500 is a fourth-degree crime
- less than $200 is a disorderly persons crime
First-degree theft is the charge for the most serious theft crimes involving violence or items of exceedingly high value. It is punishable by up to thirty years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000 upon conviction.
To convict a defendant of receiving stolen property, a prosecutor must prove that the defendant received property that the defendant knew was stolen. The penalties for receiving stolen property depend on the value of the stolen property and are the same as those for theft.
What Else Should You Know About Theft in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, the difference between armed robbery and theft is the use of a weapon or the threat of force. New Jersey classifies armed robbery as a crime of violence and theft as a property crime.
New Jersey theft laws cover thefts committed during burglaries, intellectual property theft, and shoplifting. New Jersey handles juvenile shoplifting differently, focusing on rehabilitation, although a juvenile shoplifting record may still have serious long-term consequences.
How Does This State Deal With Forgery?
In New Jersey, forgery is intentionally altering or creating a document while intending to defraud or injure someone. To prove a forgery, a prosecutor must show that a defendant acted with the intent to defraud by presenting a forged instrument as genuine.
Forgery is a fourth-degree crime unless it involves investment vehicles, medical prescriptions, or governmental or property-related documents. Then, it is considered a third-degree criminal offense.
How Does New Jersey Handle Bad Checks?
If you write a check and know a bank will not honor it, it’s a property crime in New Jersey. Writing a bad check for:
- less than $200 is a disorderly persons offense
- $200 to $1,000 is a fourth-degree offense
- $1,000 to $75,000 is a third-degree crime
- more than $75,000 is a second-degree crime
What is Criminal Mischief in New Jersey?
In New Jersey, criminal mischief occurs when a person knowingly damages someone else’s real property. It is usually the result of vandalism or trespassing:
- If the damage is under $500, criminal mischief is a disorderly persons offense.
- Criminal mischief is a fourth-degree crime if the damage is between $500 and $2,000.
- If the damage exceeds $2,000, criminal mischief is a third-degree crime.
Charged With a Property Crime? How Will a Lawyer Help You?
A New Jersey property crime attorney at Shugar Law Office will scrutinize every detail of your case, including witness statements, police reports, physical evidence, and surveillance video.
Your attorney will explain your criminal charges and legal options, protect your rights, and identify mistakes or weaknesses in the prosecution’s case against you.
After evaluating your case, your lawyer will prepare a defense strategy that may challenge the admissibility of evidence, question witness credibility, explore other explanations for the crime, and negotiate with prosecutors to reduce or dismiss the charge or charges.
What if Your Property Crime Case Goes to Trial?
If your case goes to trial, your New Jersey property crime lawyer will offer a strong defense, aggressively cross-examine the prosecution’s witnesses, introduce exculpatory evidence, and argue effectively for your innocence or lack of culpability.
In theft and property crimes cases, the possible defenses include:
- You lacked any criminal intent to deprive the owner of the property.
- You genuinely believed the property was legally yours.
- The victim (or another party) has misidentified you.
- No property crime occurred, and the allegation was false.
- You were a victim of police entrapment.
Take Your Property Crime Case to Shugar Law Office
The defense lawyers at Shugar Law Office routinely represent clients charged with property and theft crimes. Our record of success in these cases speaks for itself.
For anyone charged with a property crime or theft, your first meeting with us is a free legal consultation. You’ll get personalized counsel and receive every professional courtesy and consideration.
Attorney Gregory Shugar and his New Jersey law firm are renowned for their aggressive defense strategies. Now or in the future, you can learn more by calling Shugar Law Office at 609-544-2811 to schedule a free initial consultation with one of our New Jersey crime lawyers.