Newton Theft and Fraud Lawyers

Criminal Defense Attorneys in Warren and Sussex County, New Jersey

If you’re accused of taking something that doesn’t belong to you, the Sussex and Warren County criminal defense attorneys at the Tormey Law Firm are available to defend your case. With decades of combined experience and the insight of former prosecutors and state troopers, our criminal defense lawyers successfully defend clients in courts in Newton, Frankford, Hackettstown, Phillipsburg, and throughout New Jersey every day.

The New Jersey Criminal Code includes a variety of theft and fraud charges that may be filed against someone including, but not limited to: Robbery, N.J.S.A 2C:15-1; Carjacking, N.J.S.A. 2C:15-2; Burglary, N.J.S.A. 2C:18-2; Theft by unlawful taking, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-3; Theft by deception, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-4; Theft by extortion, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-5; Theft of property lost, mislaid, or delivered by mistake, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-6; Receiving Stolen Property, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-7; Shoplifting, N.J.S.A. 2C:20-11; Bad Checks, Money Orders, electronic funds transfers, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-5; Forgery N.J.S.A. 2C: 21-1; Credit Card Theft Charges, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6(c); and Credit Card Fraud Charges, N.J.S.A. 2C:21-6(h).

Depending upon the particularities of the alleged circumstances, a person could be charged with any of the above theft and fraud offense and be facing stiff fines and imprisonment. Luckily, the criminal defense team at the Tormey Law Firm has handled countless theft and fraud cases before and now they’re ready to defend you. For answers to your questions and additional information, contact our offices today at 973-755-1695 for a cost-free consultation.

Theft and Fraud Charges in Sussex and Warren County NJ

Whether you are charged with theft, shoplifting, robbery, burglary, or carjacking, you probably have many questions about what the charges mean, what potential consequences you’re facing and what the best strategy is to fight the charges. Generally speaking, all of the theft charges under the New Jersey Criminal Code are based on a simple premise: you can’t take something that doesn’t belong to you nor can you use force or threats to do so. Thus, a person is considered guilty of theft if he or she unlawfully takes, or exercises control over, property of another; obtains property of another by deception due to a false impression of law or state of mind; obtains property of another by threatening bodily injury, accusing the other person of an offense, or publicly exposing a private secret; or even taking possession of something that is known to be lost or delivered by mistake. Similarly, a person is guilty of shoplifting if he or she steals merchandise from any store, switches price tags to buy an item at a lower price, or even takes a shopping cart off of store premises.

Additionally, the manner in which a person commits a theft can constitute a separately charged offense. For example, a person is guilty of robbery if, in the course of committing a theft, he injures or uses force upon another, threatens another with bodily injury, or threatens to commit a first or second degree crime. Also, if a person enters a building or remains in a building when not permitted to do so, with the intent to commit an offense, that person is guilty of burglary. When it comes to carjacking, a person is considered guilty if while unlawfully taking a motor vehicle he inflicts bodily injury or uses force upon an occupant of the car, threatens an occupant of the car with bodily injury, threatens or commits a first or second degree crime, or operates vehicle while the owner or occupant is still in the car.

The New Jersey Criminal Code also establishes a criminal offense for issuing a bad check, or paying another person with a check but knowing that the check cannot be honored because an account was closed or because of insufficient funds and then not making good the payment within 10 days of being notified of the bounced check. Likewise, taking or receiving some else’s credit card with the intent to use it or actually using someone else’s credit card or using a counterfeit credit card to make purchases is a crime.

Contact Frankford Theft Defense Attorneys Today

As with all criminal offenses in New Jersey, the totality of the circumstances and accuracy of the alleged charges is always important when it comes analyzing a criminal case for a defendant. Thus, if you are charged with a theft or fraud offense, contact the experienced Sussex and Warren County criminal defense attorneys at the Tormey Law Firm to learn more about your case and how to fight your charges.