Sex Crimes

If you or a loved one are charged with a sex crime in New Jersey, you will need the assistance of the experienced New Jersey sex crimes attorneys at Lubiner, Schmidt & Palumbo. As in many jurisdictions, sex crimes in New Jersey are treated seriously and prosecuted aggressively. The stigma attached to a sex crime conviction can haunt the defendant for years, if not forever, even after the penalties have been served. That is why it is imperative that if you are being investigated for or have been charged with a sex crime you immediately contact the New Jersey sex crime lawyers at Lubiner, Schmidt & Palumbo.

The New Jersey sex crime attorneys at Lubiner, Schmidt & Palumbo have decades of combined experience handling criminal matters in state and municipal courts across New Jersey. We know and work well with both the prosecutors and judges. We have developed professional relationships with prosecutors throughout New Jersey that enable us to be strong advocates for our clients. We are also able to successfully negotiate plea deals that result in reduced charges and lighter sentences.

If you are being investigated for a sex crime, you should reach out to us immediately. We can counsel you on what legal rights you have in that situation and how to interact (or not) with the police.

If you have been charged, we can represent you at your arraignment and argue for your release or at least the lowest possible amount of bail. We can obtain all relevant police records to review. We will conduct our own investigation and locate any witnesses who may be helpful to your case. If there is any police misconduct, we will uncover that and use evidence of such misconduct to argue for reduced charges or even dismissal of charges. In the appropriate cases, we can enter into plea negotiations, with your consent, to seek an early resolution of the matter.

If the case has to be tried, we will prepare an aggressive and comprehensive defense. We will stay by your side and be your strongest advocates in court!

There are numerous sex crimes recognized in New Jersey. Below is list of many (but not all):

• Criminal sexual assault
• Aggravated criminal sexual assault
• Criminal sexual contact
• Aggravated criminal sexual contact
• Internet sex crimes
• Prostitution and solicitation
• Statutory rape
• Failure to register as a sex offender

New Jersey laws recognize different degrees of sexual crimes either based on the age of the victim and the perpetrator or other circumstances involved in the criminal act, such as use of a weapon. For instance, aggravated sexual assault is treated as a first-degree crime since it involves the use of a weapon or occurs during a kidnapping. Sexual assault is treated as a second-degree crime.

Lewdness (exposing one’s genitals to another) is a disorderly persons offense. However, it could be treated as a fourth-degree offense if the victim is between 13 and 16 years old and the perpetrator is four years older than the victim.

Below are the penalties for sex crimes in New Jersey based on their degree:

• First-degree offense is punishable by 10 to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $200,000;
• Second-degree offense- 5 to 10 years in prison; fine of up to $150,000;
• Third-degree offense - 3 to 5 years in prison; fine of up to $15,000;
• Fourth-degree offense - up to 18 months in prison; fine of up to $10,000;
• Disorderly persons offense - a fine of up to $1,000; and
• Petty disorderly person’s offense - a fine of up to $500.

In addition to the penalties above, conviction of certain sexual crimes in New Jersey can also mean the defendant can be classified as a sex offender under Megan’s Law, passed in 1996. Under this law, individuals convicted of the specified sex crimes must register with their local police department. The police department, in turn, may notify nearby schools and other entities of the sexual offender’s address. For some offenders, their identity may be placed on a publicly available data base.

As noted above in the list of common sex crimes in New Jersey, failure to register as a sex offender, if required, is itself a criminal offense.

As can be seen from above, being accused of a sex crime in New Jersey is a serious matter. Being convicted of a sex crime can, and often does, result in jail time and financial penalties. Such convictions can also result in lost employment, educational and housing opportunities and even restrict where a person may be able to live out their lives. If you have been charged with a sex crime, contact the New Jersey sex crime attorneys at Lubiner, Schmidt & Palumbo. We will protect your rights and fight for your innocence.