The Morris County gun crime defense attorneys at the Tormey Law Firm once again helped a client beat criminal charges and avoid jail. Our client was charged with third degree unlawful possession of a weapon and third degree terroristic threats. The charges stemmed from an alleged violent incident in Morristown, NJ, with prosecutors claiming that our client used a BB gun.
The criminal charges against the client were very serious and he faced a potential prison sentence of 3-5 years in New Jersey State Prison. Fortunately, he had the experienced criminal defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm on his side. We diligently reviewed the case and managed to get our client admitted into Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI), an alternative sentencing program that allows entrants to have their charges dismissed after meeting certain requirements.
BB Gun Charges in Morris County, NJ
It may hard to believe, but BB guns are considered firearms in New Jersey. According to N.J.S.A. 2C:39-4(b)(2), it is illegal to possess a handgun that is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air, and ejecting a bulled or missile smaller than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person. The possession of such weapon is a crime of the third degree in the State of New Jersey.
As for terroristic threat charges, which our client initially faced, N.J.S.A. 2C:12-3(a) stipulates that a person is guilty of a crime of the third degree if he threatens to commit any crime of violence with the purpose to terrorize another or to cause evacuation of a building, place of assembly, or facility of public transportation, or otherwise to cause serious public inconvenience, or in reckless disregard of the risk of causing such terror or inconvenience.
In the case of our Morristown NJ client, the potential consequences of a guilty conviction included prison time of 3-5 years, a fine of up to $15,000, and a permanent record of the criminal conviction. That’s why it was so important for him to have a skilled criminal defense attorney representing him throughout the legal process.
If you are facing criminal charges such as the unlawful possession of a weapon or terroristic threats, contact the seasoned Morristown NJ gun charge lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm to learn more about how we can defend your case. Our attorneys are available now to assist you. We can discuss your case over the phone or schedule a free consultation.