In late August, state authorities revoked the license of a massage therapist who had been criminally convicted for inappropriately touching a client during a massage. This individual represents one of several therapists whose licenses have been similarly revoked in just the past 12 months in New Jersey.  Massage Therapist Loses License for Harassment & Offensive Touching Conviction John Popper was…

It is a generally understood right that if someone is actively threatening you with bodily injury or death, you may legally use force to protect yourself. However, in real-life situations involving self-defense, the line between lawful self-defense and becoming an unlawful aggressor is not always clear. It is important that everyone understands what constitutes lawful self-defense, but it is particularly…

Any DWI conviction will carry penalties and consequences such possible jail time, driver’s license suspension, fines and fees, and ignition interlock requirements. If you are employed in a school in New Jersey or are applying for employment at a school and you have been convicted of DWI, you may be wondering what effect your conviction may have on your employment.…

Like with civil lawsuits, police officers and criminal prosecutors have a time limit in which to file charges for most types of criminal offenses. This time limit is called the statute of limitations. Under New Jersey law, criminal charges are filed and a prosecution is commenced for limitations purposes once an indictment is found by a grand jury or when…

Two Parsippany residents were sentenced in early July 2020 to incarceration for their respective roles in a drunken fight that left their fellow housemate dead. Men Arrested for Killing Roommate Rogelio Laureano-Gonzalez, age 26, pled guilty to manslaughter and hindering apprehension for the homicide of Jaime Lopez-Basilio, a 27 year old Mexican immigrant, during an argument between the two at…

In New Jersey, under some conditions, the law allows a person to use force upon another. The relevant law is NJSA 2C:3-4. That law exonerates a criminal defendant charged with using force (including deadly force)  to commit assault and domestic violence, and in some extreme circumstances, murder. New Jersey law allows self-defense most commonly when someone responds to a threat…

A traffic violation is not something you should take lightly. After all, a traffic violation can severely impact your driving record, insurance rates and result in costly fines, surcharges and even jail time. In most cases, a motor vehicle summons must be issued within 30 days of the violation. This is outlined in Statute N.J.S.A. 39:5-3. However, there are exceptions…

Experienced Municipal Court Defense Attorney As a municipal court prosecutor and defense attorney, I have taken countless traffic tickets to trial. Many of these were careless driving and reckless driving tickets. A common question people ask is what is the difference between these two offenses? The differences are subtle, but can have an enormous impact on your driving record. Careless…

A criminal conviction can upend a person’s life in a matter of seconds. While anyone who is charged with a crime could be facing a lengthy jail sentence and monetary fines, the consequences are even steeper for undocumented immigrants or those who have overstayed their Visa. Both the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 and Immigration and…

I have guided many clients through the PTI application process as a New Jersey defense attorney. PTI can be a great opportunity for individuals charged with criminal offenses to avoid conviction. In some cases it can be relatively straightforward to get into PTI. However, in many other situations with particular charges or circumstances there can be many obstacles to PTI admission.…