On July 26, 2024, a vicious acid attack outside a residential home in Monroe Township, Gloucester County, left a 42-year-old woman with chemical burns covering more than a third of her body. Following a month-long investigation, police arrested two suspects, Betty Jo Lane and Jmarr McNeil, in Florida.

The suspects are alleged to have traveled from Florida specifically to carry out the attack, which was orchestrated by William DiBernardino, who had a prior relationship with the victim. Authorities discovered that DiBernardino had ordered the sulfuric acid used in the attack and provided a GPS device to track the victim's movements. All three suspects were then charged and apprehended in Florida before being extradited to New Jersey.

Allegations of domestic violence in New Jersey are no laughing matter. New Jersey has broad and strict domestic violence laws, and the Lento Law Firm can defend you from criminal charges if you are facing similar allegations. Call (888) 535-3686 or fill out our online form to speak to our Criminal Defense Team today.

Quick Look at the Criminal Charges

After an event like this, it's no surprise to see prosecutors seeking convictions on a wide range of serious charges, including:

• Conspiracy to commit murder: First-degree a sentence of 10 to 20 years.
• Criminal attempted murder: First-degree a sentence of up to 20 years.
• Aggravated assault: Second-degree, sentence of 5 to 10 years.
• Possession of a weapon for unlawful purposes: Third-degree sentence of 3 to 5 years.
• Stalking: Fourth-degree sentence of up to 18 months.

It's not an exaggeration to say that these defendants may end up behind bars for a large portion of their lives if convicted. If New Jersey is charging you with similar crimes, the Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team should be your first call to protect your rights and bolster your chances of winning in court.

How Domestic Violence Changes This Case

The discovery that one of the suspects, William DiBernardino, had a prior relationship with the victim brings this case into the realm of domestic violence under New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (PDVA). Under the PDVA, domestic violence includes offenses that are not just physical in nature, like stalking.

When the perpetrator and victim have a qualifying relationship, such as a past romantic involvement, crimes like aggravated assault and conspiracy to commit murder can be prosecuted as domestic violence offenses, which often carry harsher penalties. Prosecutors may argue that the accused is a risk to the victim, causing judges to hand down maximum penalties at sentencing.

Extradition to New Jersey?

When most people think of extradition, they imagine a foreign country requesting another country to send an alleged criminal to their territory to prosecute them in court. For years, Julian Assange resided in the Ecuadorian embassy in the United Kingdom to avoid extradition to the United States. Because of massive differences in laws and governmental interests between different nations, international extradition attempts are often long, complicated, and fruitless.

However, extradition exists between different states in America. New Jersey had to make a request to Florida to gain custody of the subjects, who then waived their right to fight extradition, allowing for a quick return to New Jersey.

If they chose to fight extradition, they may have challenged New Jersey's jurisdiction over the case or claimed a lack of sufficient evidence. Still, this very rarely leads to success in court, and compared to international disputes, states typically are cooperative and comply with extradition requests. Recent examples of states refusing extradition requests involved one state concerned about the alleged criminal facing the death penalty in the prosecuting jurisdiction.

The Lento Law Firm Can Protect Your Rights During Complex Cases

When cases involve serious crimes, potential domestic violence, and multi-state involvement and extradition, there are countless opportunities for arrested individuals to incriminate themselves or agree to something that they shouldn't have. Most people don't understand every nuance of the legal system, and that's where experienced criminal defense makes all the difference.

If you are facing serious jail time after being accused of violent acts or domestic violence, the Lento Law Firm can protect your rights from day one. Call our Criminal Defense Team at (888) 535-3686 or contact us through our website to get started on your defense.