Dover, NJ Criminal Law Blog

It's likely that there are few that better understand the seriousness of being accused of a sex crime than a police officer. With that said, one New Jersey police sergeant is facing charges of criminal sexual contact while he was on duty. The man is currently on trial, and, if convicted, faces serious penalties.

Recently, an incident of supposed sexual contact was reported to authorities, though the incident reportedly took place last summer. While on the job, it is reported that the man "coerced" a woman into an inappropriate act. The claims are being investigated by local authorities and the department's internal affairs office.

In a recent post we discussed the juvenile criminal charges which were filed in connection with a large New Year's Eve party. Although the charges in that case were mostly for underage drinking, many New Jersey teens often face much more serious charges for youthful indiscretions.

One 17-year-old Randolph resident pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide and assault yesterday. Authorities say that the teen ran a red light while speeding when he hit and killed a Dover man. The teen was sentenced to three years at the New Jersey Training School for Boys. The school, also known as Jamesburg, is a juvenile detention facility which juvenile offenders are often sent to until they turn the age of 21.

Arrests for serious crimes can be triggered by the most minor of traffic stops. Although the infraction may have nothing to do with the criminal charges lodged against the driver, it's usually enough for a police officer to take a closer look and eventually arrest a driver and/or the passengers on suspicion of a crime, if it exists.

A woman from Hamburg, New Jersey, discovered this last week when she was arrested on drug charges after being pulled over for having items hanging from her rearview mirror. According to a Wayne Police Department captain, the officer asked the driver to step out of the car for a field interview after noticing that she was nervous. The captain said that's when the officer noticed something sticking through the woman's shirt and asked her to remove it. It was a syringe, which prompted the officer to ask the woman if she had any other needles or controlled substances in the car. The woman admitted that both she and her passenger had heroin in their possession, the captain said.

Sexual assault allegations can lead to a broken reputation and can affect the suspected person for the rest of their life, even if they are innocent of the alleged crime. If the case reaches a guilty verdict or a plea agreement, it is critical that a person's rights are protected and that the fairest sentencing outcome is reached. In the case of sex offenses, there may be mitigating circumstances to bring to the court's attention as part of an attempt to achieve an equitable and reasonable sentence.

In September, the owner of a New Jersey karate academy was found guilty of sex crimes concerning two 16-year-old girls. The man was also employed at a nearby high school as an in-school suspension moderator. Although it is not clear where the alleged offenses occurred, the crimes involving one girl allegedly occurred last March, while the incidents involving the other teenager happened between November 2009 and January 2010.