Five people were recently arrested in New Jersey after the authorities received complaints of a disturbance that may have involved gunshots. According to a news report in The Star Ledger, the incident occurred on South Stevens Avenue in South Amboy. Officials say they found a baseball bat and a 9mm semi-automatic handgun at the site of the disturbance. The five individuals, ages 23 through 31, face a number of charges. Among the many charges are disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and terrorist threats. It is unclear if anyone was actually hurt during the alleged incident.
Penalties for possession of a handgun without a permit or for unlawful possession of a firearm can become even more serious if the authorities believe the suspect had the weapon for unlawful purposes. Under N.J.S.A. 2C: 39-4: “Any person who has in his possession any firearm with a purpose to use it unlawfully against the person or property of another is guilty of a crime.”
If the prosecution can prove that the item was a firearm, the defendant possessed the firearm, the defendant had the intent to use it against a person or property and that the firearm was going to be used unlawfully, the defendant could face substantial penalties. It is common in these cases for a conviction to result in months or even years of incarceration. Anyone facing these types of charges has it in their best interest to seek out skilled legal representation before discussing the case with the authorities.
The experienced Princeton weapon violation defense attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein handle many types of assault and weapon possession charges.