Sexual Assault Conviction Upheld After Appellate Dissent

T.J.M. was accused by the daughter of his girlfriend, with whom he resided, of sexual abuse. T.J.M. was charged with second-degree sexual assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b)), first-degree aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.A.. 2C:14-2(a)(1)) and second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor (N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4(a)) and was ultimately convicted of second-degree sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a minor. Chloe, the child making the accusations, indicated that T.J.M. had abused here over a period of roughly 4 years in the residence they shared and in the defendant's van. The conviction of T.J.M. in the Bergen County Superior Court, Law Division, Criminal part was affirmed by the NJ Appellate Division but a dissenting opinion within the Appellate Division led to an appeal. In a pretrial hearing, the trial judge determined that the defendant's 6 year old conviction for resisting arrest during a driving under the influence (DUI) stop could be utilized to impeach him at trial. Additionally, Chloe's lengthy history of involvement with the juvenile justice system prior to making the allegations against the defendant was limited to defense counsel's cross-examination at trial. The defendant raised, on appeal, Chloe's entrance and presence in the courtroom during summation of the defense and prosecution to which an objection had been raised during trial as well as the fact that person's in the courtroom were identified. The dissenting opinion focused on the cumulative errors set forth above resulting in a deprivation of the defendant's right to a fair trial. During an appeal as a matter of right, in State v. T.J.M., the NJ Appellate Division determined that the dissenting opinion was not correct in its interpretations and focus and upheld the opinion of the NJ Appellate Division affirming the defendant's conviction. Sex crime charges can be levied many years after an alleged incident and can result in incarceration, substantial and irreparable damage to the reputation and lifestyle of the accused in addition to the deprivation of liberty and rights, registration as a sex offender, loss of employment opportunities, possibility of civil commitment and social stigma. If you are accused of a sex crime it is absolutely imperative that you obtain experienced criminal defense counsel to begin working on your defense immediately. For more information about sexual assault, rape, endangering the welfare of a minor, internet crimes, child pornography or other sex crimes in NJ visit DarlingFirm.com. This blog is for informational purposes and not intended to replace the advice of counsel.

Financial Penalty For Sex Crimes Under Sex Crime Victim Treatment Fund (SCVTF)

The NJ Supreme Court recently decided State v. Bolvito, a case pertaining to financial penalties imposed upon sex offenders. Carlos Bolvito pled guilty to first-degree aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(b)), second-degree sexual assault (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-2(a))and second-degree endangering the welfare of a child (N.J.S.A. 2C:24-4) for acts committed with his stepdaughter. As a result of his plea, Bolvito's sentence included payment to the Sex Crime Victim Treatment Fund (SCVTF) pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:14-10. The defendant challenged the amount of his fine as N.J.S.A. 2C:14-10 does not state the factors a sentencing court must consider when setting financial penalties under the SCVTF. The statute merely offers a maximum of $4,000 and the plea was silent as to the amount of the fine. The NJ Supreme Court held that the nature of the offense and the defendant's ability to pay during any custodial sentence and after release. The Supreme Court also held that the sentencing court should provide a statement of reasons for the amount set in order to establish a record for future judicial review. The matter was remanded to allow the trial court to set the SCVTF amount according to these guidelines. Commission of a sexual offense can be discovered many years after the incident or incident and can result in substantial and irreparable damage to the reputation and lifestyle of the accused in addition to the deprivation of liberty and rights, registration as a sex offender, loss of employment opportunities, possibility of civil commitment and social stigma. If you are accused of a sex crime it is absolutely imperative that you obtain experienced criminal defense counsel to begin working on your defense immediately. For more information about sex crimes, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, internet crimes, child pornography, rape, endangering the welfare of a minor or other criminal matters in New Jersey visit DarlingFirm.com. This blog is for informational purposes only and not intended to replace the advice of an attorney.

Futuristic Prevention Policy For Sex Offenders

Sex offenders must be sentenced according to statute, just as those found guilty of other crimes. Under the Sexually Violent Predator Act (SVPA), N.J.S.A. 30:4-27.24 to .38, certain offenders are confined to secure facilities at which they will serve their time, as would anyone convicted of another type of crime. The difference is that these individuals, determined to be sexually violent predators (SVP), will remain in custody upon completion of their sentences. Most people are aware of Megan's Law and the Sex Offender Registry but many are not fully aware of all possible ramifications of conviction, or a guilty plea, for sex offenses. Those considered SVPs under the law and confined for the remainder of their lives have been convicted of violent rape in some cases and downloading child pornography but having no physical contact in other cases. The premise of this lifetime confinement, not simply supervision as most know is a routine result in sex offenses, is that the government is protecting the greater good of society by confining them until they no longer pose a threat. Interestingly, in no other area of the criminal justice system are individuals imprisoned for crimes they might commit in the future. Sex offenses, no matter the crime charged or pled to, bear penalties which will affect you for the rest of your life, even if you reach a plea agreement that may seem favorable at first glance. If you have been charged with a sex crime you should consult an experienced criminal defense attorney immediately in order to protect your rights. For more information on criminal law matters, including municipal court matters, in New Jersey visit HeatherDarlingLawyer.com. This blog is for informational purposes only and in no way intended to replace the advice of an attorney regarding your specific matter.