Theft Crimes & Burglary to Shoplifting

Successfully defended A.R.A. in a city municipal court in Middlesex County for a DWI allegation. As a result of Defense motion practice, the purported per se or “presumptively guilty” Blood Alcohol Reading of .13 was excluded by the Court from being presented by the State at the time of trial. Ultimately, the DWI violation was dismissed. The Defendant entered a guilty plea to reckless driving and received a thirty (30) day loss of his driving privileges. This result saved the Defendant thousands of dollars in surcharges as well as increased insurance costs and at least (6) months of his driving privileges.

Successfully represented T.H. in a Municipal Court in Monmouth County for Possession of Marijuana while at a concert at the PNC Arts Center. While this matter was proceeding, T.H. also was subsequently charged in a separate incident while at the Jersey Shore in Ocean County. T.H. confessed to the possession of the marijuana on both separate occasions. Nonetheless, as a result of extensive motion practice in both towns, respectively, both charges were ultimately dismissed, in their entirety, on procedural technicalities developed by Mr. Kessous. Thus, T.H. was saved from county jail, extensive fines, a criminal record and the humiliating experience of having to provide random urine samples over a period of a year in a probationary program for otherwise 1st time offenders.

Successfully defended K.T. for various driving infraction allegations within a municipal court in Middlesex County. The consequences were serious as our client was already on driving probation with the NJMVC (formerly DMV) where any “moving violation” would result in an extensive administrative suspension of J.T.’s driving privileges. After negotiations, Mr. Kessous resolved the moving violation to a non-moving, no-point violation deemed “non-moving” by the NJMVC (formerly DMV), thus precluding the suspension.

Successfully defended J.V.R. for an Indictment for 2nd Degree charges of an automobile Burglary and Possession of a Firearm in Mercer County. If convicted, J.V.R. would have been susceptible to a prison sentence of 5 to 10 years, subject to NERA 85% ineligibility for Parole. Furthermore, as a Legal Permanent Resident and not a U.S. Citizen, he was also susceptible to deportation following his prison sentence. As the J.V.R. was positively identified by the victim and the police having garnered a Mirandized confession absent counsel, the case was difficult. Nonetheless, after fully gauging the facts and circumstances of the case, Mr. Kessous was able to resolve the matter with the Prosecutor and the Court to merely a Disorderly Persons (misdemeanor) offense of Trespassing. This resolution maintained a fine of less than $200 and no additional incarceration or probation. It further gave J.V.R.’s immigration attorneys the ability to fight for him to be able to maintain his legal status in the U.S.

Successfully defended T.C. for careless driving ticket in a municipality in Ocean County arising out of a motor vehicle accident. As a CDL, T.C. was facing ramifications to his employment as a result of the allegations. The charge was ultimately dismissed.