While a disorderly persons offense may not sound all that worrisome, any conviction can have ramifications that create adverse consequences in your future. I am Robert A. Jones, and I am a New Jersey lawyer who has experience as a municipal court prosecutor and on the other side of the bench as a municipal court judge.
I have represented individuals accused of committing disorderly persons offenses, which include shoplifting, disorderly conduct and simple assault, just to name a few. A disorderly persons charge can lead to up to six months in jail and a maximum fine of $1,000.
With over 10 years of experience working in the court — 1 1/2 years as municipal prosecutor and 9 years as municipal judge, I know all of the possible plea agreements. I know what the other side is likely to say when it presents its case, and I know what judges need to hear.
If the crime you are accused of committing is your first offense, I may be able to get you a conditional discharge that puts the charge on hold, or a conditional dismissal. You will go on probation for a year, and if you stay out of trouble for that time, the authorities can drop the charges and I can file a motion to get the charge expunged from your record. Expungement means you can apply for jobs, loans, etc. and say — honestly — that you have never been convicted of a crime.
Traffic tickets are expensive in more ways than one. They are also sometimes issued unjustly. If you believe the police had no probable cause to give you a ticket — or even if they did — I can help you minimize the impact that the ticket has on your driving privileges and your car insurance.
Let me put my experience as municipal court judge and prosecutor to work for you. Contact my Livingston, New Jersey, office at 973.852.3352 or fill out my contact form.