Human Trafficking and Sexual Assault
Recently, four individuals have been indicted in Trenton, New Jersey on charges of human trafficking, sexual assault, and encouragement of prostitution. Fox 29 News stated, “Darrell Smith, 47, Gabriel Tabor, 28, Shannon Heisler, 37, and Jennifer Willis, 33, were charged following a 19-count indictment returned by a Mercer County grand jury.” Smith was first indicted in March of 2018 and following testimony and further investigation, three more men criminally involved were discovered. Multiple victims are said to be involved in the case.
Human Trafficking Laws and Penalties in New Jersey
Unfortunately, this is far from the only case like this in the United States or even New Jersey. Back in 2014, Burlington County Times noted that New Jersey could easily be a hub for human trafficking due to its diversity and ease of access. Tens of millions of people are trafficked and enslaved around the world and unfortunately, plenty of these victims are currently in the United States. A person convicted of holding a person and enslaving them is up to 20 years. If this crime coincides with kidnapping, aggravated assault, sexual abuse, or involves children in any way, these sentences can be increased up to a maximum of life in prison.
Sexual Assault Charges in New Jersey
As mentioned, sexual assault charges coinciding with human trafficking can turn a 20-year sentence can quickly turn into a life sentence. Sexual assault penalties in New Jersey are also very severe. One can face 10 to 20 years for sexual assault if injuries were inflicted and 5 to 10 if not. These punishments can increase if a minor is involved, or there is kidnapping or assault with a deadly weapon, etc. Given that the individuals indicted committed sexual assault and trafficking, they should be facing a very long prison sentence.
Contact an Experienced Princeton Criminal Defense Lawyer About Your Sexual Assault Charges in New Jersey
Were you arrested or charged with sexual assault in New Jersey? The consequences of a conviction could be severe, leaving you with a permanent criminal record and possibly even sending you to jail. That is why you need to speak with a qualified criminal defense attorney as soon as possible about your case. The attorneys at The Davis Law Firm, LLC have successfully represented clients charged with sexual assault in Hamilton, Trenton, Ewing, Lawrence, and throughout New Jersey. Call 609-587-9100 or fill out the online contact form to schedule a consultation with a member of our legal team. We have an office conveniently located at 2653 Nottingham Way, Hamilton Township, NJ 08619.The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.
