Drug crimes are prosecuted aggressively in New Jersey, particularly in Somerset, Warren, and Hunterdon county. A small amount of drugs in your possession can cause you to face serious consequences in the criminal court system. It is imperative you hire a skilled trial attorney like Jenna Casper Bloom to handle your representation on this charges.
What are considered drugs in Flemington, New Jersey?
- Cocaine
- Crack
- Marijuana
- Heroin
- Opiates
- PCP
- MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly)
- Methamphetamine
- Prescription drugs that are not prescribed to you
- OxyContin
- Synthetic Marijuana
- LSD
- Any other controlled dangerous substance
Depending on the amount of drugs you have in your possession and what type of drug it is will determine what type of crime you are charged with. For example, possession of a small amount of crack has more serious consequences than possession of a large amount of marijuana.
What are the penalties for various drug possession in Flemington, New Jersey?
- Marijuana
- For under 50 grams, this is a disorderly persons offense. An individual is looking at six months imprisonment, fine of $1,000, loss of license, and drug rehabilitation.
- For over 50 grams, this is a fourth degree offense. An individual is looking at eighteen months imprisonment, fine of $15,000, loss of license, and drug rehabilitation.
- Most other controlled dangerous substance
- An individual is looking at five years imprisonment, fine of $25,000, loss of license, and drug rehabilitation.
While you may only have had the drugs for personal uses, the State will almost always try to charge you with intent to distribute as well. While most individuals believe this only applies if you were selling drugs, it can also be implied if you were intending to share them with anyone as well. The state will use the amount of drugs, how they were packaged, if any money found, if an alleged buyer was also arrested, the location where you were arrested, and lack of paraphernalia to charge this as a distribution offense versus a straight possession offense. Distribution offenses have much more significant consequences that straight possession charges.
What are the penalties for drug distribution charges in Flemington, New Jersey?
- First Degree Offenses
- Up to 20 years state prison – potentially more depending on prior convictions
- Fine up to $500,000.00
- Loss of License
- Mandatory drug penalty fines
- Second Degree Offenses
- Up to 10 years state prison
- Fine up to $175,000.00
- Loss of License
- Mandatory drug penalty fines
- Third Degree Offenses
- Up to 5 years state prison
- Fine up to $35,000.00
- Loss of License
- Mandatory drug penalty fines
- Fourth Degree Offenses
- Up to 18 months state prison
- Fine of $15,0000
- Loss of License
- Mandatory drug penalty fines
Drug distribution cases are one of the most serious crimes you can be charged with because of the penalties involved. Jenna Casper Bloom has tried numerous drug distribution cases and has handled thousands of drug distribution cases that were resolved by way of plea agreement or a dismissal. She knows how to read lab reports, look at the chain of custody, and aggressively attack the state’s “experts” which are usually just police officers that have attended various trainings offered by their departments. Additionally, she can make the argument that it is a straight possession case, not a distribution case even though the State is attempting to prove otherwise.
Drug Charges on or near school property or public property in Flemington, New Jersey
Another component of drug distribution cases is being charged with distribution within 1000 feet of a school or 500 feet of a public facility like a park or housing. If you arrested in Trenton for example, because of the number of schools and public housing, you are guaranteed to be in one of these zones no matter where you are arrested in the town. These charges carry additional penalties, most notably the required period of parole ineligibility. If you are charged with a third degree offenses and looking at five years state prison, the state can require that you serve 2.5 years of state prison time before you are eligible for parole. Normally, you would be eligible for parole after only service one year of state prison.
Drug Court in Flemington, New Jersey
One of the best options available besides a straight dismissal to resolve your drug offense case is by way of Drug Court. Drug Court is a unique experience in New Jersey. The Judge, Prosecutors and Defense Attorneys work together to make sure the individual has the best possible outcome as well as received any treatment that is necessary. It is five years of intense probation but is available to individuals who normally would be facing state prison as a result of their charges. Once the five years of completed, an individual is eligible to have all their criminal charges expunged from their record. This is not offered by any other program in New Jersey.
An individual can enter drug court by two ways. One is voluntary where the individual applies to drug court, the prosecutor agrees to let them in, and then the individual has a drug and alcohol evaluation to determine if they need treatment. If it is determined that they don’t need treatment, then they will not be allowed to participate in drug court. The second way is mandatory where the Judge sentences you to drug court, whether you have applied or not. You would still need to have a drug and alcohol evaluation showing that a need is there for drug rehabilitation.
Schedule a Consultation With Flemington Attorney Jenna Casper Bloom
Jenna Casper Bloom has over fourteen years experience handling all criminal matters including thefts, drug offenses, weapons offenses, sexual assault, aggravated assault, domestic violence, Megan’s Law offenses, Graves Act, DWI/DUI, traffic tickets, Pre-trial intervention, gun cases, marijuana charges, and expungements. She has handled cases from all stages and hearings including motions to suppress, Miranda hearings and has extensive trial experience. She provides an aggressive defense for any crime that one is charged with which results in her clients receiving favorable outcomes. Additionally, many times Jenna Casper Bloom gets cases dismissed for her client or plead guilty to a lesser offense. She has also argued probation and parole violation hearings which resulted in her clients being able to stay on probation or parole and not return to prison. She especially has experience with detention hearings, allowing her clients to be released pending their trial instead of languishing in jail.
If you can be charged with the crime, Jenna Casper Bloom has experience in defending it. She practices in Mercer County, Hunterdon County, Warren County, and Somerset County as well as in the towns of Trenton, Flemington, Clinton, Raritan, Annandale, Union, Pennington, East Amwell, West Amwell, Lawrenceville, Ewing, and Princeton.
Jenna Casper Bloom will treat you as the person you are, not the crime you have been charged with. Contact her today for a free consultation.
