New Jersey Aggravated Assault Lawyer

Aggravated Assault Defense Attorney in Totowa, NJ, Specializing in Serious Assault Defense

An aggravated assault charge in New Jersey is frightening, and the consequences can be life-changing. What may have started as a heated argument, a chaotic moment, or an accident is now being treated as a felony-level crime.

Our New Jersey aggravated assault lawyer understands how quickly a situation can escalate, and we’ve helped many people in the exact position you’re facing right now. Aggravated assault can mean years in prison, a permanent criminal record, and the loss of future opportunities.

But these cases are rarely straightforward. Police reports may leave out key details. And intent is almost always disputed.

You deserve a defense team that knows how to challenge every part of the state’s case. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let’s start building the defense you need to protect your freedom and your future.

What Aggravated Assault Means Under New Jersey Law

Aggravated assault is New Jersey's most serious assault charge.

Unlike simple assault, which involves minor injuries or threats, aggravated assault requires one of two things:

• Serious bodily injury to another person
• An assault committed under circumstances that make it particularly dangerous or harmful

Serious bodily injury means permanent disfigurement, permanent loss of a bodily function, or a substantial risk of death.

But you can also face aggravated assault charges even when the injuries aren't serious. New Jersey law elevates assault to aggravated status when you assault certain protected individuals:

• Police officers
• Firefighters
• Teachers
• Healthcare workers

Even a minor injury becomes aggravated assault when the victim holds one of these positions.

Using a deadly weapon during an assault automatically triggers aggravated assault charges.

A gun, a knife, a baseball bat, a broken bottle—anything capable of causing serious harm counts as a deadly weapon. Prosecutors don't need to prove you actually caused serious injury with the weapon. Simply using it during the assault is enough.

Situations That Commonly Lead to Aggravated Assault Charges

• Bar fights that started over nothing and ended with someone in the emergency room: You threw a punch during a heated argument, the other person fell and hit their head on concrete, and now they're in the hospital with a skull fracture.
• Domestic disputes that turn violent: An argument with your partner escalates, you grab a kitchen knife to scare them into backing off, and suddenly you're facing aggravated assault charges for using a deadly weapon—even if you never touched them with it.
• Assaulting a police officer during an arrest: You're being arrested for something minor, you panic and shove the officer, and now you're facing aggravated assault charges on top of your original offense.

Criminal Penalties for Aggravated Assault in New Jersey

Aggravated assault penalties escalate dramatically based on the degree of your charge. Here's what you're facing.

Penalties for 4th-Degree Aggravated Assault

Fourth-degree aggravated assault carries:

• Up to 18 months in state prison
• Fines up to $10,000
• Probation as a possibility

Penalties for 3rd-Degree Aggravated Assault

Third-degree aggravated assault includes:

• 3 to 5 years in state prison
• Fines up to $15,000
• Possible probation for first offenders

Prosecutors have discretion to recommend probation for third-degree offenses, but they rarely do so when the victim is a police officer or when serious injuries occurred. The quality of your defense and your criminal history significantly influence whether you walk away with probation or spend years in prison.

Penalties for 2nd-Degree Aggravated Assault

Second-degree aggravated assault carries the harshest penalties:

• 5 to 10 years in state prison
• Fines up to $150,000

85% of your sentence must be served before parole eligibility under the No Early Release Act.

The No Early Release Act means if you receive an eight-year sentence, you're serving at least six years and nine months before you're even eligible for parole.

Speak with our New Jersey aggravated assault lawyer to understand how we can help get your charges reduced or dismissed.

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  “Great attorney to hire he took care of my expungement for a very reasonable price he was quick efficient very honest and easy to work with. He was referred to me by a family member anyone looking for a good lawyer that's honest and trustworthy I would recommend Camili & Capo.”

  Josephen “Thod” Moslieha
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  “Mr K. Camili great attorney and very professional. All cases was dismissed and great communication with him and his staff. I would recommend him 5 stars.”

  Makaela Diaz

How Our New Jersey Aggravated Assault Lawyer Works to Reduce or Dismiss Charges

Every aggravated assault case has unique facts that determine which defense strategies will work.

But we can show you how we approach these cases so you understand what to expect when you work with us.

Defending Against False or Exaggerated Accusations

False accusations happen constantly.

An angry ex-partner fabricates a story about you threatening them with a weapon to gain an advantage in a divorce. Someone in a mutual fight lies about who started it to avoid their own charges.

We investigate these claims aggressively. We subpoena medical records to verify whether the injuries match the alleged assault. We track down witnesses who saw what actually happened. We examine phone records, text messages, and social media posts that contradict the accuser's timeline.

In domestic cases, we often find that the alleged victim has a history of making similar accusations against previous partners. We bring that history to light because it shows a pattern of false reporting that undermines their credibility.

Injury exaggeration is another common tactic. Someone claims they suffered serious bodily injury requiring hospitalization, but medical records show they received outpatient treatment for minor bruising and refused follow-up care. Or they claim permanent disfigurement, but photos from weeks later show complete healing with no scarring.

Our New Jersey aggravated assault lawyer makes prosecutors prove every element of their case beyond a reasonable doubt. When they can't, we push for dismissal or negotiate significant charge reductions.

Presenting a Strong Self-Defense Argument

People always ask: Does it matter that the other person attacked me first?

Absolutely. It changes everything.

New Jersey law allows you to use reasonable force to protect yourself from unlawful force by another person. If someone comes at you with a knife, you can defend yourself with whatever force is reasonably necessary to stop the attack.

The key is proportionality. You can't pull out a gun and shoot someone who slapped you.

Self-defense cases require establishing who the initial aggressor was.

We've successfully defended clients who injured their attackers in self-defense. We proved the client was defending themselves from an unlawful attack.

Negotiating Reductions to Lesser Charges

Sometimes the facts don't support complete dismissal, but they do support reducing the charges to something far less serious. Our New Jersey assault charge attorneys negotiate these reductions by identifying weaknesses in the state's case.

Prosecutors charged you with second-degree aggravated assault for causing serious bodily injury. If we can prove the injury wasn't actually that serious, we can negotiate down to third-degree.

Discuss your case with our New Jersey aggravated assault lawyer, and learn exactly how we can help.

Why People Trust Camili & Capo, PA, With Their Aggravated Assault Cases

When Krenar Camili decided to become a lawyer, he had no family connections to fall back on, no one to show him the path. He was the first in his family to attend law school. That meant figuring everything out himself.

That struggle taught him something important: when you're fighting for something that matters, you don't take shortcuts. You do the work.

After law school, Krenar clerked for the Honorable Raymond A. Reddin, J.S.C. of the Passaic County Superior Court. He saw how judges evaluate cases, what evidence they find persuasive, and what arguments fall flat. Then he spent over seven years as an Assistant Prosecutor in New Jersey, trying aggravated assault cases from the other side of the courtroom.

As a prosecutor, Krenar built these cases. He interviewed victims and witnesses. He presented evidence to grand juries. He argued sentencing before judges. He won convictions in trials that other prosecutors thought were too difficult to win.

Now he uses that knowledge to defend people facing the same charges he once prosecuted. He knows which evidence prosecutors need to win and which pieces they hope you won't challenge. He knows when they're overcharging, hoping you'll plead guilty to something lesser, and when they actually have a strong case.

Our other founder, Joseph Capo, brings the same commitment to protecting clients' rights. He appears regularly in federal, state, and local courts across New Jersey, fighting for people whose futures hang in the balance. He understands what Krenar understands, the work we do determines whether they spend the next decade in prison or walk away with their freedom intact.

Together, they've accumulated over 35 years of combined experience defending people against serious criminal charges.

We've handled hundreds of aggravated assault cases. We know which defenses work and which ones waste time. We know when to push for trial and when to negotiate. We know how to protect your rights when prosecutors and police cut corners.

Discuss your case with our aggravated assault defense attorney in Totowa, NJ. We can help you.

Contact Our New Jersey Aggravated Assault Lawyer at Camili & Capo, PA, Today for a Free Case Review

You're facing the most serious assault charge in New Jersey. The uncertainty about your future can make it hard to sleep, hard to focus, and hard to function.

You don't face this alone. We stand with you at every court appearance, every negotiation, and every critical decision. We explain your options in language that makes sense. We give you realistic assessments of your situation.

The sooner you call, the stronger your defense. Evidence disappears. Witnesses move away. Opportunities to challenge the charges narrow as time passes. Don't let prosecutors get ahead of you.

Let's discuss what happened and how we can fight these charges.

For help from an aggravated assault lawyer in New Jersey, contact the Camili & Capo, PA, firm online or call today.