Trespassing occurs in a variety of ways and under numerous circumstances. Whether you go into a home you knew you were not allowed to enter, or you walk the grounds of a property that says “keep out”, you can be charged with trespassing. In order to be found guilty of the offense, it must be proven that you had no right to be on the property or that you were given a notice not to trespass but disregarded the warning.
Depending on the nature of the trespass, you will be charged with either a fourth-degree felony, disorderly persons offense, or a petty disorderly persons offense.
The degree of the charge depends on the facts and circumstances of the case. The statute sets forth prohibited conduct that will sustain charges of trespassing. Depending on which of the three categories you fall under, you may face specific penalties for a felony, disorderly persons offense or petty disorderly persons offense.
If you enter a school, school property, home, or utility company, you will be charged with a fourth-degree felony. All fourth-degree crimes subject you to a potential term of 12-18 months in state prison, up to 364 days in county jail, $10,000 in fines, probation, and a criminal record.
If the place you are accused of trespassing is not listed above, you will likely be charged with a disorderly person (dp) offense. For a dp, the judge could sentence you to 180 days in the county jail, order you to pay $1000 in fines, mandatory state penalties, and fees, and possibly place you on probation.
A person will be charged with a petty disorderly persons offense of defiant trespassing if he enters or remains on any premises for which he was given notice not to trespass. This often takes place when a person ignores a “no trespassing” sign or has been told to “stay off the property.” If found guilty of a petty disorderly persons offense, you can do up to 30 days in jail and be ordered to pay $500 in fines and additional court costs and state fees.
Aside from the penalties noted above, New Jersey allows for the alleged victims of the trespassing to recover any financial losses from you. As a result, you may be placed on probation until you pay off the debt of restitution as well as the court-imposed fines. If you fail to pay the fines, the court can suspend your driver’s license. A suspension will only further disrupt your plans to pay back the state and victim because now you must pay a license restoration fee.
Additionally, the social stigma of trespassing can damage your relationship with those in your home, community, and workplace. This is because people think of their homes as a place of respite and any invasion of another’s privacy is just socially inappropriate. Sadly, people suffer in silence and fail to seek legal help for a trespassing charge. As experienced attorneys, we know that there are available defenses and that many people use trespassing as a weapon to punish a former friend or loved one. If you have been charged with trespassing, contact our office today.
Either dealing with a criminal charge or a civil lawsuit regarding your trespassing claim, one of the first things you should do is call an experienced attorney. A Wall, Sea Girt, Pt Pleasant, or Brick criminal defense lawyer can protect you from criminal charges against you. Be sure to consult Peter Bronzino to protect your rights and provide qualified legal guidance every step of the way.
Contact us online or through either our Brick, NJ office, or our Sea Girt, NJ office at 732-812-3102.