Morris County Lewdness Attorney

NJ Lewdness 2C:14-4

An accusation of lewdness can be incredibly embarrassing for all parties involved. Lewdness is often linked with indecent exposure because both crimes involve sexual indecency in public. Unfortunately, being charged with the crime of lewdness means exposure of a different kind: you could be looking at a lengthy term of imprisonment and a host of serious collateral consequences. Having an experienced, knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer can mean all the difference.

The Tormey Law Firm represents clients that have been charged with sex crimes such as lewdness, criminal sexual contact, and endangering the welfare of a child in Denville, Parsippany, Madison, Roxbury, Rockaway, and Morristown. Our Morris County criminal defense attorneys have successfully handled thousands of cases in New Jersey, in Superior Court and Municipal Court. Our managing partner, Travis J. Tormey, is often called upon as a legal authority in the area of sex crimes. He has been quoted by the Asbury Park Press regarding Megan’s Law registration and, most recently, in the Bergen Record as to his opinion on the rise in reported luring incidents. Another one of our partners, Christopher Perry, was named a SuperLawyer Rising Star in 2018 in the area of criminal defense.

It is imperative that you have an experienced sex crimes defense attorney to combat these charges. Contact the Tormey Law Firm today toll-free at 866-949-6948, or use the online contact form to schedule a free consultation.

Lewdness in New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4

Lewdness is codified under N.J.S.A. 2C:14-4, which provides:

A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he does any flagrantly lewd and offensive act which he knows or reasonably expects if likely to be observed by other nonconsenting persons who would be affronted or alarmed.

A person commits a crime of the fourth degree if:

1. He exposes his intimate parts for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person under circumstances where the actor knows or reasonably expects he is likely to be observed by a child who is less than 13 years of age where the actor is at least four years older than the child.
2. He exposes his intimate parts for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of the actor or of any other person under circumstances where the actor knows or reasonably expects he is likely to be observed by a person who because of mental disease or defect is unable to understand the sexual nature of the actor’s conduct.

Notably, municipalities are not precluded by this section from enacting ordinances regulating dress and thereby restricting nudity not amounting to lewdness. See Belmar v. Buckley, 187 N.J. Super. 107 (App. Div. 1982).

Lewdness Penalties in New Jersey

The crime of lewdness can either be a disorderly persons offense or an indictable offense. A crime of the fourth degree is punishable by a term of up to 18 months in NJ State Prison, while a disorderly persons offense is punishable by a term of up to six (6) months in the county jail. As you can see, a lewdness conviction in New Jersey can carry severe penalties. As a result, it is imperative that you have an experienced sex crimes defense attorney to combat these charges.

Contact a Morristown Lewdness Defense Lawyer Today

The Morris County criminal defense team at the Tormey Law Firm is ready to fight for you and help you achieve the best possible result. Our skilled attorneys can seek to avoid the imposition of a jail term by negotiating an alternative disposition on your behalf. For instance, if you are a first-time offender, we can attempt to negotiate your entry into a diversionary program such as the Pre-Trial Intervention Program (PTI). Successful completion of PTI means a dismissal of your charges, which will allow you to avoid jail and keep a conviction from marring your permanent record.

Regardless of your criminal history (or lack thereof), if you find yourself in a situation where you have been charged with lewdness, it is imperative to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer immediately. Call the Tormey Law Firm in Morristown 24 hours a day at 866-949-6948, or simply use our online contact form to schedule an appointment.