A New Jersey landlord was recently arrested with charges of sexual crimes against 13 of his female tenants. The landlord, a New Jersey resident, owns 18 residential properties in the Elizabeth area. At least 12 of his tenants have come forward with accusations of the landlord coercing them into sexual acts to assist with financial payments.
The defendant is being charged with eight acts of sexual assault, one act of attempted sexual assault, and 14 acts of criminal sexual conduct. The tenants claim that the illegal actions took place from 2016-2020. There are also numerous reports of the landlord reaching out to potential tenants with the opportunity to obtain a rental agreement in return for sexual acts.
The tenants report that they had few other options available, as many of them were dealing with evictions or past due balances. The landlord would receive charges based on the fact that he used a place of power to require sexual acts or favors.
Sexual charges are not the only legal charges that the defendant is currently dealing with. The United States Department of Justice also has a pending investigation against the landlord regarding the Fair Housing Act. The prosecutor also believes that there may be even more tenants who were subject to the defendant’s illegal behaviors, but who have yet to come forward.
Legal Consequences for Sexual Assault in New Jersey
Sexual crimes in New Jersey are a second-degree crime. This can lead to a criminal record and jail time. If convicted, the landlord could be met with second-degree charges, which in New Jersey, could be between 5-10 years in prison.
The landlord’s court cases are still pending, as he was just recently arrested. The defendant claims that he is not guilty. Continue following the news for updates on this crime.
Read more: Can I Have My Sex Offender Record Expunged?
When to Contact a New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer
New Jersey tends to be strict when it comes to crimes of sexual assault. This is meant to protect victims, such as the tenants in this case. But, this can also lead to lifelong legal consequences if you are wrongly charged. In addition to jail time, you could be required to register your location, including each time you move.
Even if a lawyer is unable to get your charges dropped completely, even moving your charges down a tier can mean the difference between jail time or not. Some tiers require parole supervision for life. Even once you have completed jail time, you will need to share your location at all times. This can put restrictions on where you live and work. It could also make it difficult to maintain, or find, employment.
If you are dealing with sex crime charges in New Jersey, it is important that you reach out to an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible. Your lawyer needs time to build your defense and determine your best legal options.
Read more: Were You Charged With a Crime? Here Are 10 Reasons Why You Should Hire a Criminal Defense Lawyer
Contact an Experienced East Windsor 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 East Windsor, West Windsor, Trenton, 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.
Disorderly conduct consists of any improper behavior such as fighting, threats of violence, or creating a dangerous atmosphere.
