Whether you have been charged with forging a check or forging a prescription in Mercer County, the Keith Oliver Criminal Law can help. Forgery charges have been on the rise over the years in Mercer County. That is probably do in large part to the prescription drug abuse that has been running rampant throughout New Jersey. If you or a loved one has been arrested and charged with forgery, possession of prescription drugs, possession of heroin, passing a bad check or theft in Mercer County it is important that you speak to an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible about your options. Forgery is a serious criminal offense in New Jersey, if convicted a Defendant could be facing not only a lengthy state prison term but high fines and a felony criminal record as well. If you would like to speak to one of our criminal defense attorneys about your options then please contact us directly at (609) 789-0779. We appear in courts throughout Mercer County including courts like the Mercer County Superior Court, the Hamilton Municipal Court, the Ewing Municipal Court, the West Windsor Municipal Court, the Trenton Municipal Court, the Lawrence Municipal Court and the East Windsor Municipal Court. Our initial consultations are always free, so if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
Forgery Charges in Lawrenceville NJ: N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1
The offense of forgery is governed by N.J.S.A. 2C:21-1. Forgery is a complex offense that covers a variety of different types of conduct. In order to be convicted of this offense, the State must prove beyond a reasonable doubt:
- That the Defendant altered or changed the writing of another without there permission; or
- That the Defendant attempted to use any writing which he/she knew was forged; or
- That the Defendant made, executed, authenticated, issued or transferred any writing so that it purported to be:
- The intentional acts of another who didn’t authorize it;
- The intentional acts of a fictitious person;
- To be a true and accurate copy of an original document where no such original document existed.
The term “writing” includes but is not limited to any of the following:
- Printings;
- Money;
- Checks;
- Coins;
- Tokens;
- Stamps;
- Credit cards;
- Trademarks;
- Access Devices;
- Prescriptions.
In addition, it is important to point out here that the State must prove that it was the Defendant’s underlying intentions to defraud or injure another. Meaning that the State has to prove that the Defendant knew what he was doing when he did.
What are the Penalties for Forgery in NJ?
Forgery is normally going to be a third degree felony offense in New Jersey. If convicted of a third degree felony offense, a Defendant will be facing anywhere between three to five years in a state prison, a fine up to $15,000, a felony criminal record and restitution if applicable. In some rare instances, forgery could be a fourth degree felony. If a Defendant is convicted of a fourth degree felony offense they will be facing up to eighteen months in a state prison, a fine up to $10,000, a felony criminal record and restitution of applicable. Since these are either third or fourth degree felony offenses, a Defendant may be able to take advantage of either the Pretrial Intervention Program or Drug Court. If the Defendant is eligible for the Pretrial Intervention Program they will be afforded the opportunity to walk away from these otherwise life changing charges without a criminal record let alone without serving a day in jail. For more information on the Pretrial Intervention Program or Drug Court please contact us at (609)789-0779.
Hamilton NJ Forgery Attorneys
If you have been accused of forgery, cocaine possession, heroin possession, passing bad checks, theft by deception, burglary, robbery or receiving stolen property in Mercer County the Keith Oliver Criminal Law can help. Our criminal defense attorneys serve all Mercer County including towns like Hamilton, Trenton, West Windsor, Hopewell, Hightstown and Lawrence. We are ready and willing to help assist in anyway possible. If you would like to speak to one of our lawyers about your options then please contact us directly at (609) 789-0779. We can be reached 24/7.