Why is the alleged victim’s age significant in a New Jersey sex crime case?

Under New Jersey law, younger victims may be deemed unable to consent to sexual activity as a legal matter, meaning that consent of the victim is not a defense in cases where the victim is under age 13, or between age 13 and age 16 if the defendant is at least four years’ older. Further, in cases where the alleged victim is between ages 16 and 18, consent may not be an available defense if certain relationships exist between the alleged victim and the defendant, whether a relation by blood or in cases where the defendant had some sort of supervisory authority over the alleged victim.

Why is the experience of my lawyer so important in a sex crimes case?

Although the experience of your criminal defense lawyer is always important, in a case involving a sex crime, witness testimony, in terms of credibility, can often spell the difference between conviction and full exoneration. Our lawyers have the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation into your case, including into any of the prosecution’s witnesses and in identifying witnesses of our own. Further, we have the substantial skills necessary to challenge the credibility of a witness in these particularly sensitive cases.

New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyers | Sex Crime Defense Attorneys Moorestown, NJ

New Jersey Sex Crime Lawyers

Sex Crime Defense Attorneys in Moorestown, NJ: Defending Your Reputation with Confidential and Competent Counsel in Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, and Throughout South Jersey

Even the unfounded allegation that you have committed some type of sex crime in Burlington County can have devastating consequences with respect to your personal and professional relationships. An actual conviction for these types of crimes can carry long-term prison time, substantial monetary fines and the need to submit to ongoing registration as a sex offender for life.

At Attorneys Hartman, Chartered, we understand that not all allegations of sex crimes are founded or provable beyond a reasonable doubt, and we are committed to treating every one of our clients with dignity and respect regardless of the crime alleged. New Jersey law requires that the prosecution prove every element of a sex crime beyond a reasonable doubt for good reason—conviction for a sex crime will adversely impact every single aspect of the defendant’s life and hinder prospects of a successful future career and even make future personal relationships more difficult. Our lawyers put all of our substantial resources to work in preventing such a negative outcome if at all possible in your case, so call our offices today to schedule a consultation where we can discuss your case confidentially.

Sex Crime Defense Attorneys in Moorestown, NJ: Defending Your Reputation with Confidential and Competent Counsel in Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, and Throughout South Jersey
Types of Sex Crimes and Associated Penalties in New Jersey
Battle-Texted Attorneys Hartman, Chartered Fight to Prevent Long-Ranging Negative Consequences of Sex Crime Convictions
Contact Our Veteran Criminal Defense Lawyers for a Confidential Case Evaluation if You Have Been Accused of a Sex Crime in Woodbury, NJ

Types of Sex Crimes and Associated Penalties in New Jersey

Our criminal defense team is comprised of seasoned New Jersey lawyers and even a former prosecutor, all of whom thoroughly understand the complex criminal justice system and various elements of potential sex crime charges in the state. Some of the sex crime cases that we have successfully defended include allegations of:

Aggravated sexual assault
Criminal sexual contact
Aggravated criminal sexual contact
Indecent exposure
Lewdness
Prostitution and solicitation
Statutory rape
Rape and sexual assault
Failure to register as a sex offender

Regardless of the sex crime alleged, every single one of these charges will carry significant penalties if the prosecution is able to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. Because of the sensitive nature of sex crimes in general, you need a lawyer with the skills and tenacity necessary to handle these types of cases.

The potential penalties in sex crime cases depend upon a number of circumstances, including the crime alleged and the surrounding circumstances, including the age of the alleged victim. While sexual assault is generally a second-degree crime punishable by up to ten years in prison, aggravating factors, such as the use of a weapon, elevate the crime to a first-degree criminal offense punishable by 20 years in prison.

On the other end of the scale, a sex crime alleging lewdness may be punished as a disorderly persons offense that carries a penalty of up to $1,000, or when aggravating factors are present, as a fourth-degree crime with 18 months in prison plus $10,000 in fines.

856-393-6073Get Help Today. Tell Us Your Story.

Battle-Texted Attorneys Hartman, Chartered Fight to Prevent Long-Ranging Negative Consequences of Sex Crime Convictions

At Attorneys Hartman, Chartered, our skilled team of criminal defense lawyers put in the necessary time and energy to thoroughly research and investigate your case. We take all available steps to poke holes in the prosecution’s case and build the most innovative defense strategy possible in your case. Because of the wide range of penalties that can apply in sex crime cases, the expertise and dedication of your lawyer is particularly significant to the eventual outcome in your case.

When you retain our experienced sex crime lawyers, you can expect that we will:

Fight for the lowest possible bail in your case,
Conduct a full and independent investigation into what happened in your case,
Put our significant legal knowledge to work in evaluating the reliability of every available piece of evidence in your case,
Argue for exclusion of evidence gathered illegally by law enforcement or the prosecution,
Fight to build the strongest possible defense strategy in your case, which can include ensuring that your constitutional rights were respected, challenging the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses or challenging the reliability of forensic evidence (such as the rape kit) in your case.

Contact Our Veteran Criminal Defense Lawyers for a Confidential Case Evaluation if You Have Been Accused of a Sex Crime in Woodbury, NJ

If you have been accused of committing a sex crime in Woodbury or elsewhere in New Jersey, the need for reputable and experienced criminal defense counsel cannot be overstated. Conviction for a sex crime will touch every aspect of your life and the potential consequences can extend far beyond the actual legal punishment imposed in relation to the conviction. Our skilled criminal defense lawyers will advocate vigorously to ensure that your rights are protected and respected throughout the criminal process to obtain the best possible outcome in your case. If you would like to schedule a confidential consultation to discuss our legal services, call or contact our offices today.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moorestown Sex Crime Cases

Under New Jersey law, younger victims may be deemed unable to consent to sexual activity as a legal matter, meaning that consent of the victim is not a defense in cases where the victim is under age 13, or between age 13 and age 16 if the defendant is at least four years’ older. Further, in cases where the alleged victim is between ages 16 and 18, consent may not be an available defense if certain relationships exist between the alleged victim and the defendant, whether a relation by blood or in cases where the defendant had some sort of supervisory authority over the alleged victim.
Although the experience of your criminal defense lawyer is always important, in a case involving a sex crime, witness testimony, in terms of credibility, can often spell the difference between conviction and full exoneration. Our lawyers have the resources necessary to conduct a full investigation into your case, including into any of the prosecution’s witnesses and in identifying witnesses of our own. Further, we have the substantial skills necessary to challenge the credibility of a witness in these particularly sensitive cases.

Meet Your Team

Katherine D. Hartman, Esquire

Katherine D. Hartman is the Managing Partner in the Moorestown, New Jersey law office of Attorneys Hartman, Chartered, which has been named one of America’s Best Law Firms by U.S. News and World Report. She concentrates her practice in employment discrimination, criminal defense, police disciplinary matters, and other employment law issues. Katie has been practicing law for over thirty years. She was admitted to the New Jersey and Pennsylvania Bars in 1991, the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in November of 1993, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in November of 2002, and the Supreme Court of the United States in October of 2002.

Katie has been awarded the highest (AV) rating for professional ability and high ethical standards, by Martindale Hubbell. Additionally, Katie has consistently been voted a Super Lawyer by New Jersey Magazine. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is multi-phased and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. She was named one of the Top Forty Lawyers under Forty by the New Jersey Law Journal in 2002.

Michael C. Mormando, Esquire

Michael C. Mormando has been practicing law for over twenty years, and is a Partner at Attorneys Hartman, Chartered. Mike is an active member in the Burlington County Bar Association, he is a former Chair of the Bar Associations’ Criminal Practice Committee, and he formerly served as a member of the Supreme Court of New Jersey District Ethics Committee for Burlington County, District III-B. Mike also served two years as Councilman for Ward 3 in Delran Township, having been elected to the post in the November 2018 general election, and he currently serves as the Chair of the Delran Township Zoning Board.

Mike’s areas of practice include criminal defense, DUI defense, traffic violation defense, employment law, discrimination and whistleblower cases, unemployment compensation appeals, labor representation for collective bargaining units, employment contract review and negotiations, and defense in police disciplinary matters. Mike is approved by the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) as a lawyer who can represent law enforcement officers who face disciplinary or criminal charges. Mike also represents small business owners concerning employment issues.