Terrorist Threat Charges

Successfully represented I.W. in Middlesex County Superior Court. I.W. was charged with a 2nd Degree Robbery, enhanced to 1st Degree as a result of multiple co-defendant juveniles alleging he, as the adult, directed them to commit the Robbery. I.W. was facing a jail term of a mandatory minimum ten (10) to twenty (20) years in prison. After extensive motion practice and plea negotiations resulting in a 3rd Degree Receiving Stolen Property followed by a contested sentencing, Mr. Kessous was able to persuade the Court to avoid any jail term. Even the Co-Defendants who, unlike I.W., purportedly cooperated with law enforcement were unable to fare as well.

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 defended R.M.P. in the Somerset County Superior Court. He was initially charged with an Attempted Murder that would have resulted in prison sentence of well more than ten (10) years. This charge culminated from an allegation of a gang related brawl where the Defendant admitted to police that he struck a brawl participant while driving away from the melee, striking the victim and crushing his legs. Contradictory statements suggesting that the action was intentional existed. Nonetheless, a negotiated plea agreement was effectuated amending the charge from 1st degree Attempted Murder to 3rd degree Aggravated Assault. Subsequently, Mr. Kessous successfully advocated to the Court that the Defendant should receive only a time-served sentence.

Successfully defended S.M. in a Municipal Court in Middlesex County for a charge of Driving While Intoxicated and Refusal to Provide Breath Samples upon request. S.M. was purportedly observed by a pair of “Good Samaritans” who claimed they observed him drinking an alcoholic beverage while walking out of liquor store and then continue to drink as he drove away. While following him, they contacted 911 and claimed they were directly observing repeated motor vehicle infractions consistent with an intoxicated driver. After the police became directly involved and arrested S.M., he refused to provide breath samples. Mr. Kessous was nonetheless able to resolve the matter to a dismissal of the Refusal charge, saving S.M. what would have been an additional minimum four (4) to twelve (12) month term of suspension of his driving privileges as well as additional fines and mandatory installation of the Ignition Interlock system into his vehicle.

Successfully defended J.D. in Monmouth County. Initially charged with a 3rd degree crime of Aggravated Assault with an automobile, J.D. was specifically accused of attempting to “run down” her estranged spouse during the course of a domestic dispute. After discussions with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, the matter was remanded as a Disorderly person’s offense to the local municipality. Subsequently, J.D. entered a guilty plea to a mere local ordinance/non-criminal violation of being loud in public and paid a fine less than $200. All other charges, even the reckless driving ticket, were dismissed.