Dover, NJ Criminal Law Blog

One New Jersey police officer is facing sexual assault charges after allegedly contacting and attempting to seduce a 12-year-old girl he met on the job. He has been arrested and charged with attempted aggravated sexual assault, in addition to luring and enticing the girl. Since the arrest, he has been suspended without pay and ordered to be held on $250,000 bail. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

His first reported meeting with the girl was at her home when he was called there for assistance in an unrelated matter. The parents were reportedly upset with the way he acted around their daughter and claimed that he had made inappropriate comments toward the girl, though the specific comments were not disclosed.

Not long ago, a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman were arrested at a New Jersey warehouse. They were both arrested on drug charges after they appeared to pick up $250,000 in marijuana that had been shipped from outside of New Jersey. The drug charges were precipitated by undercover operations coordinated by federal, state and local agencies.

The drug task force from the county prosecutor's office was said to have learned about a large amount of marijuana being shipped from an interstate business on the west coast city to a New Jersey warehouse in Montville Township. The drugs were shipped in "relocation tubes," commonly used to transport bulk materials from tractor-trailer to tractor-trailer throughout the country. Federal drug agents supposedly got word that someone was planning to go the warehouse and claim the container full of drugs.

Five New Jersey residents were arrested by police in connection with drug charges when police stopped by a condominium apartment after their neighbors lodged a complaint. The neighbors had reportedly told police they had seen illegal substances, paraphernalia and suspicious activities through the open windows of the condo. The five alleged suspects, all of them under the age of 21, may face tough penalties if convicted of the drug charges.

After going to the house in Mahwah, New Jersey, police investigators allegedly discovered a "large quantity" of illegal drugs, including mushrooms, marijuana, and Xanax. They also reported finding psilocybin, which is the purified psychedelic component in mushrooms. Some of the psilocybin had been measured using an electronic scale and plastic cups, which were construed by police as evidence that the five were intending to distribute the drugs, heightening the seriousness of the charges. Four of the people in the condo, including a 19 year old who resided there, were charged with the possession and intent to distribute. The fifth person in the condo, a 20-year-old male, was only charged with possession, though it is unclear why his charge was different.

Getting charged with drunk driving in New Jersey is a serious offense that can result in the loss of driving privileges. Those who are suspected of this offense are often pulled over and urged to take a Breathalyzer test. Many drivers refuse to take the test for a variety of reasons, but failure to do so does not necessarily mean the individual will escape being charged with DUI. Further, the refusal to submit to a test may result in other legal consequences.

A 60-year-old man was charged with DUI and reckless driving after being involved in a one-vehicle crash earlier this month. While driving on local roads that evening, the man apparently veered off the road and struck a fence. This crash was said to cut off power and gas supplies to the surrounding residential community until about noon the following day. No injuries were reported in the accident, but the man's car was impounded under John's Law. The law permits police to impound vehicles for 12 hours of those charged with driving under the influence.