Failed Attempt at Escape Lands Inmate with New Charges
A twenty-two year old male for Middletown, New Jersey attempted to escape police custody during a detention hearing in the Monmouth County Superior Courthouse.
On Monday the Defendant was brought over from the Monmouth County Jail to Judge Escandon’s courtroom, which is located on the second floor of the Monmouth County Superior Courthouse in Freehold, so that a Detention Hearing could be conducted. During this type of hearing, the prosecution is seeking to convince the Judge that the Defendant must be detained in the Monmouth County Jail, without bail, pending trial. In order to do so, the prosecution must establish by clear and convincing evidence that the Defendant is a danger to the community, will obstruct the prosecution of their case and/or, ironically enough, that they are flight risk. It is unclear at this point in time whether or not the hearing was actually conduct prior to the Defendant’s attempted escape.
The Defendant was originally being detained in the Monmouth County Jail on simple assault and criminal mischief charges stemming from an incident in Middletown. At some point in time during the hearing the Defendant attempted to make a run for the courtroom door. However, the Defendant did not get very far as he was quickly captured by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Department and taken back into custody. During the scuffle, two of the officers sustained minor injuries. As a result, the Defendant has now been charged with much more serious offenses, including resisting arrest in the third degree, aggravated assault on an officer in the third degree, attempting to disarm a police officer in the second degree and escape in the second degree. It goes without saying, things went from bad to worse for the Defendant in a matter of seconds. He went from facing two disorderly persons offenses, which if convicted could land him behind bars for up to six months to two second degree indictable offenses, which if convicted could land the Defendant behind bars for up to a decade.
Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer Charges in Monmouth County
The underlying degree of an assault charge in New Jersey is typically determined based on the severity of the injury caused or attempted to be caused. In addition to that, certain “classifications” of people obtain heightened protection under the assault statute. Meaning, what would otherwise be considered a simple assault charge based on the injury could be elevated to an aggravated assault charge based on the “classification” of the victim. Pursuant to NJSA 2C:12-1b, a “police officer” by their very nature, receives extra protection when it comes to assault charges. That is why even though the reports indicate that the officers sustained minor injuries, the assault charges are felony offenses as opposed to misdemeanors. For more information on assault charges in Monmouth County, please click the link.
Middletown NJ Resisting Arrest Defense Lawyer
Keith Oliver Criminal Law is a Monmouth County based criminal defense firm that serves all of Monmouth County, including Middletown. Our office is located at 18 Kings Highway, which is right across the street from the Middletown Municipal Court. If you or a loved one has been summonsed to appear in the Middletown Municipal Court or the Monmouth County Superior Court for a criminal offense and you would like to speak to one of our lawyers about your options, then please contact our office at 732.858.6959. One of our attorneys would be glad to discuss the specifics of your case with you.
For more information on this incident, please refer to the Asbury Park Press’s article labeled, Monmouth Sheriffs stymie courtroom escape attempt.
