Bordentown City Criminal & Traffic Charges

Dedicated Criminal Defense Lawyer on Your Side in Bordentown City NJ

Being charged with drug possession, simple assault, DWI, or another offense in Bordentown City is a serious matter. If you need to appear in Municipal Court for a criminal or traffic charge, don’t risk the negative outcome of going to court alone. At the very least, speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney who can help with your Bordentown criminal charges. Contact our exclusive criminal law firm for immediate assistance at 609-832-3202. The consultation is available at no cost and 24/7 to best serve your needs.

What Happens when You are Charged with a Criminal Offense in the City of Bordentown

When a person is arrested or issued a summons for an offense allegedly committed in Bordentown City, it is very important to understand what comes next. The most serious criminal charges, known as felonies or indictable offenses, are handled in the Burlington County Superior Court. These types of criminal charges can result in the offender being sentenced to significant prison time. Before a person is indicted in a criminal case in Superior Court, it must first be presented to a grand jury. Only after the grand jury issues an indictment is the case able to be scheduled for trial, but there are many appearances and interactions with the prosecution before the trial stage. If the grand jury fails to issue an indictment, then the case may be dismissed or the prosecutor may decide to charge you with a lesser offense and have the case remanded to the local Municipal Court. If they don’t think they have enough for an indictment, the prosecution will often downgrade the charges beforehand.

Bordentown and Fielsboro Municipal Court Cases

The Bordentown City Municipal Court hears less egregious criminal matters known as disorderly persons offenses and petty disorderly persons offenses, as well as traffic offenses, juvenile matters, municipal ordinance violations, violations of fish & game laws, and citizen complaints. The criminal matters typically carry the most severe consequences because a conviction or guilty plea by the defendant could result in a jail sentence, although some of the penalties for DWI can rival those of criminal offenses in municipal court. Some of the most common charges that are heard in the Fieldsboro and Bordentown City Municipal Court include the following:

• Simple Assault
• Harassment
• Shoplifting
• Disorderly Conduct
• Resisting Arrest
• Trespassing
• Drug paraphernalia
• Criminal mischief

Technically, none of these offenses are considered traditional “crimes” when they are charged in municipal court. In the literal sense, indictable felonies are handled in the county superior court, while disorderly persons offenses equivalent to criminal misdemeanors, are handled in the local municipal court. All of the above offenses are classified as either disorderly persons offenses or petty disorderly persons offenses. In some instances, a person charged with one of these low-level criminal offenses will not be arrested; instead, they will receive a summons. If you are arrested and charged with a criminal offense of this kind or you if you get a summons to appear in court, you will need to show up for your scheduled court date or risk having a bench warrant issued for your arrest. Additionally, it is always a good idea to speak with an experienced criminal defense attorney before your court date in Bordentown Municipal Court because the possible penalties for a conviction or guilty plea can catch you unaware and be far more damaging than anticipated.

The Bordentown City Fieldsboro Municipal Court is located at 204 Washington Street, Fieldsboro NJ 08505. The court’s phone number is (609) 298-1616 and the fax number is 609-298-1218. The court is open Monday to Thursday from 8:00am – 12:00pm and Thursday night from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Court sessions are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 3:30pm, with the Honorable Judge Dennis P. McInerney presiding. The court administrator is Sarah Capritti. For additional information, visit the court’s main page. Additional information about the city more generally is available on the Bordentown City official site.

Avoiding a Conviction or Guilty Plea in Bordentown City is Critical

If you plead guilty to the charges against you or if you go to trial and are convicted on the charges, you will be sentenced. The good news if you have been charged with a disorderly persons offense or a petty disorderly persons offense in Bordentown Municipal Court is that you cannot be ordered to serve time in a state prison for these charges. The bad news, however, is that you can be ordered to serve time in jail. Your exposure to jail will depend on the facts and circumstances of the case, including whether you have a prior record and the exact classification of your charge. In fact, the municipal court judge is given sentencing maximums for the different types of charges. Maximum penalties for criminal offenses handled in municipal court include:

• Disorderly Persons Offenses: 6 months in jail and $1,000 fine
• Petty Disorderly Persons Offenses: 30 days in jail and $500 fine

Although jail time is possible for someone who is charged with a disorderly persons offense or a petty disorderly persons offense, it is certainly not guaranteed. Unlike first and second degree felony crimes, there is no presumption of incarceration for disorderly persons charges. As a result, there is a great deal of flexibility when it comes to sentencing defendants in these cases. Of course, even if you do avoid jail time for a conviction or guilty plea, there could still be collateral consequences that you may not expect. For example, municipal court judges could impose heavy fines, issue a driver’s license suspension, and order convicted defendants to perform community service. Additionally, a conviction will appear on your criminal record, which could cause serious problems for you in the future if you have to apply for a job or something else requiring a criminal background check. It also makes you ineligible for a host of beneficial diversionary programs if you end up charged with another criminal offense at some point in the future.

Our Criminal Firm can Help with Your Top Defense Strategy when Charged with a Crime in Bordentown and throughout South Jersey

Before deciding what to do about criminal charges of any kind in Bordentown or anywhere else in Burlington County and South Jersey, it is critically important that you explore your options and have the best legal representation for your case.  Call 609-832-3202 to learn more from a local Bordentown criminal lawyer who can assist you in a free consultation.