A Trenton man who was attempting to seek information on restraining orders, loses his cool and attempts to attack a State employee in Mercer County.
City Man Facing Assault & Obstruction Charges
The incident took place on February 20, 2018, on the second floor of the Mercer County Civil Courthouse, which is located at 175 South Broad Street in the City of Trenton. Apparently the Defendant, a twenty-five year old male, was seeking information on restraining orders when argument ensued between himself and a State employee. The Defendant, who is alleged to have been the provoker of the argument, escalated the situation even further when he smashed a protective window in an attempt to physically assault the State employee. Following the incident the Defendant was able to flee the courthouse before he could be apprehended. The Defendant remanded at large for almost a month until an anonymous tip lead to his apprehension on Monday. Mercer County Sheriff Jack Kemler stated “I am grateful to members of the public who called in anonymous tips to help us locate this violent person”.
According to the Trentonian, the Defendant was formally charged with aggravated assault, criminal mischief and obstructing the administration of law. Fortunately, the State employee was not injured as a result of the incident. Due to the nature of the charges, the Defendant was most likely taken to the Mercer County Jail, where he will remain pending a Detention Hearing. The Detention Hearing will determine whether or not the Defendant will remain in custody without bail, pending trial or released on bail.
Charged with Assault in Trenton New Jersey?
How can the Defendant be charged with assault when he never actually hit the victim?
In New Jersey, the assault statute allows for someone to be charged with either simple or aggravated assault, even if the Defendant never actually strikes the alleged victim. NJSA 2C:12, which governs all assault charges in New Jersey, allows for the prosecution to prove their case, if they can establish that the Defendant caused or attempted to cause some form of injury to the victim, whether it be bodily injury (i.e. simple assault), significant bodily injury (i.e. 3rd degree aggravated assault) or serious bodily injury (i.e. 2nd degree aggravated assault). So, in the case referenced above, the State will be able to prosecute the Defendant on aggravated assault charges even though it does not appear that he ever struck the State employee.
Assault Lawyers in Trenton New Jersey
Assault charges are taken very seriously in New Jersey and the ramifications if convicted could land a Defendant behind bars for up to a decade. As you can see from reading above, the assault statute in New Jersey opens the door for someone to prosecuted even if they never actually make contact with the alleged victim. If you have been charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, stalking or served with a temporary restraining order in Mercer County, the Keith Oliver Criminal Law can help. Our office appears in courts throughout Mercer County, including courts in towns like Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrenceville, Hopewell, Princeton, Robbinsville, West Windsor and East Windsor and defends those accused of assault. If you would like to speak to one of our lawyers about your options, then please contact our Hamilton Office at 609-789-0779 or you can try contacting us online.
For more information on this incident, please checkout the Trentonian article labeled, Trenton man arrested for courthouse assault.
