Bergen County Criminal Sexual Contact Attorneys

If you or a loved one has been charged with criminal sexual contact, then you or your loved one are facing a serious charge that may lead to some harsh consequences. A conviction or a plea of guilty cannot only potentially turn you or your loved one’s world upside down, but it can lead to possible prison time, supervision for life, and registering as a sex offender among many other things. Our firm, the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall, has the experience and knowledge to defend your or your loved one against this charge since we have:

  • Over two-hundred (200) years of combined experience
  • A team of ten (10) criminal defense attorneys that devote their entire practice to criminal law
  • Our firm has seven (7) former prosecutors
    • Three (3) of our attorneys were former county prosecutors and held directorial positions of the Drug, Gang, and Gun Task Force, Major Crimes Division, Trial Division, Juvenile Division
  • One (1) of our attorneys is Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Criminal Trial Attorney, a distinction held by less than 1% of attorneys in this State
  • One (1) of our lawyers was recently selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars 2020 list for New Jersey which is a highly credentialed, peer-influenced, third-party validated, and a patented process that only 2.5% of the attorneys in this New Jersey are selected to this list
  • Selected to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40

A Criminal Sexual Contact charge has serious consequences, and you or your loved one need serious attorneys to handle these allegations. We have three (3) offices located throughout Bergen County. We have offices in Paramus, Hackensack, as well as Fort Lee. Call one of our offices for a free consultation at 201-429-9783, we’re available 24/7.

Hackensack Criminal Sexual Contact Lawyers

N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3(b) Criminal Sexual Contact

N.J.S.A. 2C:14-3(b), also known as criminal sexual contact, is a serious crime that can impact the rest of you or your loved one’s life if convicted. The statute (2C:14-3(b)) states, in part, that:

  • That a defendant is guilty of criminal sexual contact if he or she commits an act of sexual contact with the alleged victim as set forth in 2C:14-2c (1) through (4), which is the following:
    • The defendant uses physical force or coercion yet the alleged victim doesn’t sustain a severe personal injury
    • The defendant has a supervisory or disciplinary power over the alleged victim because of the defendant’s legal, professional or occupational status since the alleged victim is:
      • either on probation or parole
      • detained in a hospital, prison, or other institution
    • the alleged victim is at least sixteen (16) but less than eighteen (18) years old
      • The defendant is related to the alleged victim by blood or “affinity to the third degree” or
      • The defendant watches or disciplines the alleged victim by his/her’s legal, professional, or occupational status, or
      • The defendant is “a resource family parent, a guardian, or stands in loco parentis within the household”
    • The alleged victim is at least thirteen (13) but less than sixteen (16) years old and the defendant is at least four (4) older than the alleged victim

What is Sexual Contact?

Sexual contact differs from sexual assault. The ‘main’ difference between the two is that under sexual contact there was no form of penetration. Sexual contact under NJ law (N.J.S.A. 2C:14-1d) is:

  • When the defendant intentionally touches the alleged victim or has the alleged victim intentionally touch him/her. This is done:
    • Either directly or through the clothing of the alleged victim or defendant’s intimate parts. Intimate parts may include:
      • Genital or anal areas
      • Sexual organs
      • Inner thigh
      • Buttocks
      • Groin
      • Breasts
    • The defendant purposely touches the alleged victim or has the alleged victim touch him or her to:
      • degrade or humiliate the alleged victim
      • be sexually aroused
      • get sexually gratification

What are the Penalties for Criminal Sexual Contact?

If you or a loved one is convicted of criminal sexual contact at the Bergen County Superior Court, then you or your loved one are looking at serious consequences. Criminal Sexual Contact is a fourth (4th) degree indictable (felony). This means that if convicted at the Bergen County Courthouse you or your loved one will be exposed to the following penalties:

  • A maximum of eighteen (18) months in State prison
  • Register as a sex offender under Megan’s Law
  • Parole Supervision for Life (PSL)
  • Up to a $10,000.00 fine and other court costs

Criminal Sexual Contact Law Firm in Bergen County, New Jersey

To ensure that your rights will be protected to the fullest extent allowed by law, it is important that you engage an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after being arrested for a sex crime. Set up a free initial legal consultation with the Law Offices of Jonathan F. Marshall at any of our three (3) of our locations in Bergen County (Paramus, Hackensack, and Fort Lee) today to get started on a strong legal defense. Feel free to call us at 201-429-9783, we’re available 24/7.