Getting charged with a crime as a college student is never planned—you don't expect to have to attend hearings or go before a judge when you're sending in your application. At large universities like Montclair State, however, it's not uncommon for students to get in trouble with the law. Being a college student doesn't insulate you from the outside world, although sometimes it can feel like it. If you're accused of committing a crime while on campus, you'll have to deal with both civil law enforcement and the Montclair State administration.
In this kind of situation, a criminal defense attorney may not be the right choice to defend you. Many attorneys have nothing to do with the university disciplinary procedure you're probably also facing while your criminal case is ongoing.
The Lento Law Firm's Criminal Defense Team, however, understands student defense. We also have a New Jersey Student Defense Team of attorneys that helps students with university disciplinary procedures, so we know what a difficult situation you're in. We're uniquely positioned to defend your charges at Montclair State. Call our firm today at 888-535-3686 or fill out our confidential contact form to schedule a consultation.
Criminal Charges at Montclair State University
If you're arrested while on MSU's campus, you'll have to deal with local law enforcement and the local courts. The university also has a responsibility to report you to law enforcement if officials discover that you may have engaged in illegal activity on campus. For any crime you're charged with, you'll most likely need a two-pronged defense approach: One for your criminal case and one for the Montclair State disciplinary proceedings.
Some of the most common crimes college students get charged with at MSU include:
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Underage Drinking: Anyone under 21 may not possess or consume alcohol in New Jersey. Doing so is a misdemeanor (known as a “disorderly persons offense” in New Jersey), which could carry a fine of up to $1,000 and jail time of up to 180 days. Other related crimes like public intoxication or possessing a fake ID are also crimes.
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DWI: For a first-time DWI, you can lose your license for three months. You can also get up to $400 in fines, 30 days in jail, and an annual surcharge of $1,000 on your auto insurance.
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Illegal Drug Possession: Possessing drugs like cocaine, heroin, or MDMA, or having prescription drugs that aren't prescribed to you, like Xanax or Adderall, can result in criminal charges. Possessing some illegal narcotics can lead to felony charges (known as “indictable offenses” in New Jersey), which can lead to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
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Assault: Physical altercations after an evening of drinking or drug use can lead to arrest and charges of simple assault, mutual combat, or even aggravated assault, depending on the injuries inflicted.
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Sexual Assault: Sex crimes, such as rape, criminal sexual contact, and indecent exposure, can happen both on campus and in off-campus housing between MSU students. Sexual assault is an indictable offense in New Jersey, which carries a prison sentence of 5-10 years and a fine of up to $150,000. The penalty is even higher if it's aggravated sexual assault.
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Disorderly Conduct: Rowdy behavior might seem normal at parties, festivals, or sporting events, but if it goes too far, it can lead to disorderly conduct charges, including trespassing or vandalism.
- Hazing: Students who participate in extracurriculars at MSU might get accused of hazing if they take initiation rituals too far. New Jersey law makes hazing a crime, which can result in up to five years in prison and up to $15,000 in fines.
These crimes aren't the only ones college students may be charged with, of course. Getting charged with a crime can also lead to a conduct violation charge from MSU, as most of these crimes are also prohibited by the Student Code of Conduct. Some university conduct violations can even lead to criminal charges, such as a charge of criminal trespassing for returning to campus while on suspension.
As a university student, you have two sets of disciplinary proceedings to deal with. It can be confusing and overwhelming to keep track of your university disciplinary case and your criminal case. MSU makes it clear that your university discipline continues regardless of what happens in your criminal case.
Our Criminal Defense Team can handle the criminal proceedings so you can focus on your schoolwork. Neither university authorities nor local courts care that you have a term paper due and don't have the time or energy to focus on a criminal charge. But the Lento Law Firm does, and we understand the unique challenges you face as a college student charged with a crime. We can provide the defense and guidance you need.
Municipal Courts for Disorderly Persons Offenses
Montclair State is a huge campus of 252 acres spread out over Montclair, Clifton, and Little Falls. It also sits in two counties: Passaic and Essex. Since it's so spread out, the court you'll have to deal with after getting charged depends on the nature of the crime and where on campus it took place.
For disorderly persons offenses, your case will be handled by a Municipal Court. For indictable offenses, you'll have to deal with a County Superior Court.
County Superior Courts for Indictable Offenses
For a disorderly persons offense charge that happened on the MSU campus, you may end up in one of four Municipal Courts:
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Montclair Municipal Court: Located at 647 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey, 07042. Phone: (973) 509-4774.
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Woodland Park Municipal Court: Located at 5 Brophy Lane, Woodland Park, New Jersey, 07424. Phone: (973) 345-8100, ext. 102.
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Clifton Municipal Court: Located at 900 Clifton Avenue, Clifton, New Jersey, 07011. Phone: (973) 470-5860.
- Little Falls Municipal Court: 225 Main Street, Little Falls, New Jersey, 07424. Phone: (973) 256-2400.
Student Disciplinary Proceedings at Montclair State
If you are charged with an indictable offense, you will have to deal with a County Superior Court:
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Essex County Superior Court: Located at 65 Nelson Place, Newark, NJ 07102. Phone: (973) 693-5931.
- Passaic County Superior Court: Located at 77 Hamilton St, Paterson, NJ 07505. Phone: (973) 653-2910.
It's extremely important to present yourself at the right courthouse when you're summoned for hearings, meetings, or trials. If you're unsure, you can always phone the courthouse to double-check. Our Criminal Defense Team of attorneys can also keep track of this for you, in addition to filing all needed paperwork, preparing you for court appearances, and giving you all the latest updates on your case.
How Can a New Jersey College Student Defense Attorney Help You?
If you've been charged with committing a crime on campus, you don't need just any local criminal defense attorney. You need a lawyer with experience defending college students. The Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team represents university students in Montclair, Clifton, Woodland Park, Little Falls, and throughout Essex and Passaic Counties. We understand the distinct challenges of your case and how your status as a college student might affect the outcome.
Our Criminal Defense Team can advocate for your rights and provide a solid defense for the crimes you're charged with. When you hire our team, you can expect:
- A thorough, independent investigation into your case that gathers all the evidence available
- Clear explanations of your case and what your options are throughout the entire process
- Advice on how to deal with the misconduct proceedings at your college or university
- Analysis of all potential defense strategies for your case
- Filing pre-trial motions to exclude evidence or have your charges dismissed when appropriate
- Exploring all alternatives to resolving your case, such as negotiating a plea agreement or pre-trial intervention
- Representing you in court if you decide to contest the charges at trial
We stand by your side with legal guidance and support to handle your criminal case at MSU. You've worked hard to get your college degree. Getting convicted of a crime can derail all the progress you've made and prevent you from pursuing future career opportunities. Our New Jersey Criminal Defense Team will work diligently to help you avoid losing what you've put in the effort to achieve.
Contact the Lento Law Firm for Montclair State University Criminal Defense
The first ever federal anti-hazing legislation was enacted recently, bringing increased attention to hazing on college campuses and increased risk in defending against criminal hazing charges. Don't do this alone. We're ready to help you defend the criminal charges against you. Don't let a single mistake put your college degree—and your future—at risk. With our experience representing criminal defense and college student defense cases, we have the background to build you a strong case and work toward a favorable outcome.
Call The Lento Law Firm Criminal Defense Team at 888-535-3686 to schedule a consultation. You can also fill out our contact form, and a member of our team will get back to you.
