Shrewsbury Felony Defense Lawyer
A felony complaint filed in a Shrewsbury municipal court does not stay there. The local court handles the first appearance, and the case then moves up to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and the Superior Court. Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC represents people charged with indictable offenses throughout Monmouth County, along with clients in Ocean and Middlesex Counties and across New Jersey. If you are searching for a Shrewsbury felony defense lawyer, the first thing to know is that the decisions made in the first days, before any indictment, often shape everything that follows.
New Jersey calls felonies indictable offenses, and they are graded by degree. Shrewsbury Borough and Shrewsbury Township each have their own municipal court, and neither one can resolve a serious indictable charge. Those courts handle the early steps, such as the initial appearance and the setting of release conditions, before the matter is forwarded to the county level. Knowing which court sees your case at each stage, and what can be accomplished there, is part of building a defense from day one.
The consequences reach well past a sentence. An indictable conviction can cost you a professional license, a job, a firearm permit, and your standing in a custody or divorce case. Because our firm is built around family law and also handles criminal defense, we look at how a criminal case will ripple into the rest of your life, not only at the charge on the paperwork.
Why Choose Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC for Felony Defense Near Shrewsbury
Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC is a full-service law firm that defends clients in Superior Court and municipal courts on felony (indictable) charges, disorderly persons offenses, DWI, and domestic violence related charges. We serve individuals and families across Monmouth County, including Shrewsbury, Red Bank, Rumson, Middletown, Holmdel, Colts Neck, Tinton Falls, Freehold, Long Branch, and Asbury Park, as well as Ocean County, Middlesex County, and clients statewide. Clients tell us what they value is clear communication: we explain each step in plain terms and we return calls.
Richard Sanvenero, Managing Partner, is a New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Matrimonial Attorney who previously served as a law clerk in the Family Part of the Superior Court of New Jersey. That background matters when a criminal charge collides with family court, which happens often with domestic violence allegations, where a restraining order hearing and a criminal complaint can run side by side. Joshua Cittadino, Founding Partner, brings experience in litigation across real estate, construction, personal injury, employment, and business transactions, which helps when a felony charge grows out of a business dispute or financial dealings. Mike Canarick, Of Counsel, is a tax and estate planning attorney whose knowledge is useful when a case involves tax issues or asset questions.
Our attorneys are admitted in New Jersey, New York, Florida, and the District of Columbia, and several have been recognized by Super Lawyers. The firm works as a coordinated team across family, business, real estate, estate planning, and litigation, so a client facing a felony charge does not have to piece together separate firms when the charge affects a business, a home, or a custody case.
Felony Charges We Defend in Monmouth County
- Aggravated Assault and Assault Offenses: Bar fights, family disputes, and altercations that lead to injury can be charged as indictable offenses depending on the injury and the circumstances. Self-defense, mutual combat, and credibility problems with witnesses are common issues.
- Drug Distribution and Possession with Intent: Charges often come from vehicle stops, searches of homes, or investigations that rely on informants. Whether the search was lawful is frequently the central question. Possession of more than six ounces of cannabis is itself a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
- Theft, Burglary, and Robbery: Property offenses are graded by value and circumstances. Robbery is among the serious offenses that can bar expungement later, which raises the stakes of how a case is resolved.
- Criminal Coercion and Related Offenses: Criminal coercion is a fourth-degree crime, or third-degree when the threat is to commit a more serious crime or the purpose is criminal. These charges sometimes arise from relationship or business disputes.
- Domestic Violence Related Felonies: Allegations of assault, stalking, or threats between family or household members can produce a criminal case and a restraining order case at once, each with its own timeline and consequences.
- Firearm Offenses: Weapons charges and permit problems can carry serious exposure, and a conviction can end the ability to own a firearm. We also handle appeals of denied firearm ID and handgun purchase permit applications.
- Fraud and Financial Offenses: Allegations involving forgery, identity misuse, or business funds are document-heavy and often depend on intent. The firm’s business and tax-side knowledge helps in reading the records.
- Serious DWI-Related Consequences: DWI itself is a motor vehicle offense with its own penalties, but a DWI that involves injury or a suspended license can raise the stakes substantially.
What to Do Right Away If You Are Charged With a Felony
Start by saying very little. Police and prosecutors build cases from what people say in the first hours, and an explanation offered to “clear things up” is frequently used against the person who gave it. You can be polite, give your name, and decline to answer questions until a lawyer is with you. Do the same on the phone, in text messages, and on social media, because all of it can end up as evidence.
Next, get a lawyer involved before the case moves forward. In a felony matter, the early window is when a defense attorney can speak with the prosecutor, preserve evidence such as video that may be overwritten, and address release conditions. If a complaint was signed in a local court, such as the Shrewsbury Borough Municipal Court or the municipal court that sits in Red Bank for Shrewsbury Township, expect the early proceedings there, and expect the serious charge itself to be sent to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office and then to the Superior Court at the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold. Clients in Ocean County would see the courts in Toms River, and Middlesex County matters are heard in New Brunswick.
Gather what you can without confronting anyone: the paperwork you were given, the names of witnesses, photographs, messages, and receipts that fix where you were and when. Do not contact the accuser, even to apologize or to ask them to drop the matter, since that can create new charges or violate release conditions. If a restraining order is part of the picture, remember that a final hearing is scheduled within 10 days of a temporary order, and the outcome can affect custody and housing, so the criminal and family sides need to be handled together. Finally, keep every court date. A missed appearance turns a defensible case into a harder one.
How a Felony Case Is Actually Built and Challenged
Most felony cases are won or improved on the evidence, not on dramatic trial moments. We look at how the stop, search, or arrest happened, whether statements were obtained properly, whether the identification of the accused is reliable, and whether the physical or digital evidence holds together. Motions to suppress, when the facts support them, can narrow or end a prosecution. Witness credibility, inconsistent accounts, and gaps in the timeline are examined closely, and we prepare each matter thoroughly and keep clients informed about their options and likely outcomes.
Resolution does not always mean trial. Some cases are dismissed, some are downgraded to lesser offenses, and some end in agreements that avoid the worst consequences. Diversion routes, such as a supervised treatment program or conditional discharge, can matter a great deal later because completing one opens the door to expungement after six months, and special probation through Recovery Court allows expungement immediately. Knowing where a case might end up shapes how it should be fought from the start.
Records, Expungement, and Life After a Felony Charge
The long-term picture matters as much as the court date. An indictable conviction can generally be considered for expungement after five years, or at least four years under the compelling-circumstances path, though the most serious offenses, including murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, and arson, are barred. Clean Slate relief requires at least ten years since the last conviction and since fines, fees, and supervision were completed. A pending charge makes a person ineligible for expungement altogether, which is another reason the outcome of the case itself deserves so much attention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Felony Defense in Shrewsbury
What is a felony in New Jersey?
New Jersey classifies felonies as indictable offenses, graded by degree, and they are prosecuted in the Superior Court rather than finished in a municipal court. Disorderly persons offenses are the lesser category and generally stay in municipal court.
Will my case be heard in Shrewsbury?
The first steps may happen in a municipal court, since Shrewsbury Borough and Shrewsbury Township each have their own. A serious indictable complaint is forwarded to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office, and the case then proceeds in the Superior Court in Freehold.
Should I talk to the police if I think I can explain?
It is almost always better to decline and speak with a lawyer first. Explanations given early can be incomplete, misunderstood, or used to fill gaps in the prosecution’s case.
Can a felony charge be reduced or dismissed?
Yes, in some cases. Reductions and dismissals often follow from problems with the evidence, the legality of a search or stop, or witness reliability. Each case depends on its facts, and no outcome can be promised.
How long does a felony case take in Monmouth County?
There is no fixed timeline. Cases involving heavy evidence, motions, or expert review take longer, and a case that resolves by agreement moves faster than one headed to trial. Your attorney can give you a realistic sense of timing once the charges and evidence are known.
Can a felony charge affect my divorce or custody case?
It can. A criminal charge, especially one tied to domestic violence, may influence parenting time, housing, and finances. Because our firm handles both criminal defense and family law, we can coordinate the two rather than letting one undermine the other.
What if there is also a restraining order against me?
A temporary restraining order leads to a final hearing within 10 days. If the defendant does not appear, the court can decide the case without them and issue a final order, which is permanent unless changed by the court. A defendant can later file a motion asking the court to vacate it. The restraining order case and the criminal case should be planned together.
Can a felony conviction affect my professional license or job?
Often, yes. Licensing boards and employers may react to an indictable conviction, and some fields have strict rules. Discussing your occupation with your attorney early helps shape decisions about how to resolve the case.
Is possessing cannabis a felony in New Jersey?
Adults 21 and older may possess up to six ounces of cannabis without criminal penalty. Possession of more than six ounces is a fourth-degree crime, so quantity matters. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and carries the same penalties as alcohol DWI.
Can I get a felony expunged later?
Possibly. Eligibility depends on the offense, the time that has passed, and whether you have other convictions or pending charges. The most serious offenses cannot be expunged, which makes the final disposition of the case especially important.
Do I need a lawyer if the evidence seems weak?
Yes. Weak evidence is a reason to have counsel challenge it properly, not a reason to assume the case will go away. Prosecutors can fill gaps, and only an attorney can test what they have.
Serving Felony Defense Clients Across Monmouth County and Beyond
We represent people charged with serious offenses starting in Shrewsbury and throughout Monmouth County. That includes Red Bank, Rumson, Middletown, Holmdel, Colts Neck, Tinton Falls, Freehold, Long Branch, and Asbury Park, along with neighboring shore and inland communities in the county. Our reach continues into Ocean County, including Toms River, and into Middlesex County, and we also take matters from clients across New Jersey. Whichever courthouse your case lands in, the work is the same: understand the evidence, protect your record, and keep you informed.
Speak With a Shrewsbury Felony Defense Attorney Today
If you have been charged or are under investigation, talk with a Shrewsbury felony defense attorney at Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC before you answer questions or make decisions about your case. Call to schedule a consultation, and we will walk through the charge, the court that will hear it, and the options in front of you in plain terms.