New Jersey Criminal Lawyers Discuss False Accusations

False accusations of criminal offenses can have far-reaching consequences. In a recent case, a New York man was arrested by Pennsylvania state police after he was pulled over on Interstate 78. The police seized two brick-sized packages of soap covered in plastic wrap and tape, assuming they were bricks of cocaine. After taking the man and his passenger to a police barracks, the man allegedly heard the police conspire to record his negative drug test results as positive. New Jersey criminal lawyers report that an alternate version of the story claims that the man’s drug test was a false positive. 

The man was held for nearly a month in Lehigh County Prison. On the day of his preliminary hearing, the police dropped his charges. The whole ordeal cost the man more than $32,000 in bail, attorney’s fees, and the cost of expunging the arrest from his record, for which he sought compensation. He was awarded $195,000 for his damages.

What Can I Do If I Am Falsely Accused of a Criminal Act?

If you are accused of a crime in New Jersey for which you are not guilty, you may need to prove your innocence to authorities. Cherry Hill criminal lawyers can help you do this. After you are arrested, do not speak with police and instead, contact a criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.

 Legal rulings are based on evidence. You need to obtain and make use of all available evidence to you. This can include data showing when and where you were when the alleged offense occurred, such as GPS location records and photographs, testimonies from witnesses, documents related to the case, and an inventory of any pieces of evidence you do not physically have. If a piece of evidence appears to incriminate you, do not destroy or alter it. Although this can be tempting, it will backfire. Leave these pieces of evidence alone and instead focus on using others to demonstrate your innocence. Furthermore, do not speak with the alleged victim or attempt to contact him or her in any way. 

New Jersey Criminal Lawyers at The Law Offices of Michele Finizio Can Defend Your Case Against a False Accusation

If you have been falsely accused of a criminal offense in New Jersey, fight the accusation with the help of our New Jersey criminal lawyers. To learn more, fill out our online form or call 856-888-9059 to set up a meeting with The Law Offices of Michele Finizio. Our firm works with clients from Burlington County, Camden County, Gloucester County, and Salem County.