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Howell man charged with sexually assaulting 13 year old girl
Viktor Zhadanov, 26, of Howell was charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old Morris County girl he met in an online kids’ chat room, after police found him alone with her in his SUV at 1 a.m.
The girl allegedly reported that she had previously met Zhadanov on another occasion when she performed a sex act on him. They allegedly met in a kids’ online chat room where he used the name Slave and claimed to be 15 years old and from Newark.
Zhadanov gave a statement and told police that he drove from his home in Howell to meet the girl on a few occasions but he denied knowing her age or that he engaged in any sexual activity with her. However, there is no indication as to how he claims met her.
This case will likely turn on whether or not the State can prove the computer evidence. If they can’t, the entire case will turn on the girl’s credibility. You kind of have to wonder about a 13 year old girl that is allowed to go out at 1am and what type of family she comes from. Thus, he may have a decent shot here.
Story is here.
Crisis counselor charged with sexual assault of 4 children
Jerry Jones, a crisis intervention counselor who works for the Union County Division of Youth Services was arrested on charges of sexual assault involving four children. The children range in age from 6 to 14 years old. He is charged with three counts of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of second-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor.
The investigation began after a boy told his parents that Jones had assaulted him and a further investigation revealed additional victims. This sounds like a real tough case as it is really four cases. Thus, to win, a defense attorney would have to win all four cases. The State has to just win one in order to put him away for a long time.
His best bet is to work out a deal and to work it out sooner rather than later. With his older age, you want to stay away from anything that could be a de facto life sentence.
Story is here.
Man charged with sexually assaulting 10 year old in New Brunswick
Jeffrey Hagood, of Commercial Avenue in New Brunswick has been charged with aggravated sexual assault, sexual assault, and endangering the welfare of a child in connection with his alleged assault off a 10 year old girl. There is no indication as to how he knew this girl, but my guess is that she was the daughter of a girlfriend or other friend that was staying with him.
The case started with an anonymous tip to DYFS and he was eventually arrested. Again, my guess is that he made a statement where he admitted to the assault. Otherwise, these cases are tough to prosecute without a statement.
Story is here.
670 pot plants seized from alleged pot farm
Eric Defelice was arrested and charged with first-degree maintaining and operating a controlled dangerous production facility. The farm allegedly used hydroponics techniques and was located inside a single-family dwelling at 110 N. 10th St.
Police allege that he operation seems to have been running fora few years because of the equipment that was found at the home. That consisted of hydroponics equipment, transformers, high-voltage lights, a self-contained exhaust ventilation system and an air purification unit and fan.
This is a tough case as it would be tough to take this case to trial. It is hard to argue that you didn’t notice 670 marijuana plants in your house and that someone else must have put them there. You also can’t say that these are for your own use. I’m sure the police had a search warrant and those are rarely easy to attack.
I would want to know more about his life and whether he was a big pot guy or whether he was living an expensive lifestyle. I’ve had cases like this before and have had great success at focusing more on the character of the client than the facts of the case.
Story is here.
One bad search: Low cost dwi attorney nj
I always like to check my web stats and see how people got to my blogs. However, I was a little concerned today when I saw this search result: “low cost dwi attorney nj”. First of all, I have no idea how that search term pulled up this blog. Second, I am not a low cost anything attorney.
This is just my opinion and I’m not going to beat a dead horse here but I have to at least say it once. Trying to cut costs on attorneys could really lead to very bad results. I know, I see it all the time. I think most people know this but to many people are just so concerned with saving money when it comes to lawyers that they think they can get something for nothing.
If you didn’t already know, lawyers are expensive! But look at it this way, if you had to get surgery that could save your life or improve your health, would you go with a guy in a back alley for $500 or a guy in a nice hospital for $5000? For whatever reason, some people don’t make this connection when it comes to lawyers.
Here is another way to think about it. Look at all of the people that hire decent attorneys. Are they all nuts? If they were able to make the money in the first place, they probably know what they are doing.
Now don’t get me wrong, spending more money doesn’t always equate to great results. I just met with a couple who spent a ton of money on a celebrity attorney that didn’t seem to do much for them. I would have charged them about an 8th of what this guy charged and I could have probably got a better result.
I’ve met with so many people that wasted their money with cheap attorneys. The saying “I wish I would have hired you first” is heard often. But this is not about me or my firm. Its about getting a good attorney and getting what you pay for. If the attorney you meet with is a little more than another attorney, make sure you are getting some value.
Here is another quick example. When I go to a court, I usually have only one file. Other attorneys have 10 and they are running around like crazy. Do you honestly think that the attorney with those 10 files can give the proper attention to all 10 files or is my client better off because he has my complete undivided attention?
8 men arrested in 1,000 pill a week prescription drug ring bust
Frank J. Stillo Jr. of Pohatcong Township, was charged with being the leader of a narcotics trafficking ring and conspiracy to distribute Oxycontin and other controlled dangerous substances. His bail is set at $200,000 bail.
His two sons and five others were charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled dangerous substances. Those arrested are Jonathan W. Stillo, Brandon M. Stillo, Anthony Giammona, Ronald P. Richie, Richard Faranda, Alexander E. Johnson and Daniel Moore.
Authorities said that Frank Stillo would obtain Oxycontin and other prescription drugs in Essex County and distribute them in Warren County to people who would in turn distribute the drugs to others. They allege that about 1,000 pills a week were being purchased and distributed, ranging in size from 10 to 80 milligram pills and in price from $10 to $65 a pill. The arrests capped a more than three-month undercover drug operation.
Story is here.
20-year-old from Marlboro charged with 15 drug-related crimes for allegedly using teenage girls to sell marijuana
Michael Lobianco, of Marlboro, is being held in lieu of $320,000 bail after his arrest on Saturday. Police allege that two girls, 15 and 16, conducted a series of transactions in Keansburg involving marijuana purchased by Lobianco for distribution.
He is charged with two counts of using a juvenile to distribute a controlled dangerous substance, two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, two counts of conspiracy, two counts of possession with the intent to distribute and seven counts of possession with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a public building, park or school. In other words, he is facing a ton of problems.
There are no other details of the incident, but I would like to know more about this case. How did the police link these girls to him? Do these girls have any credibility? There are a number of defenses here depending on the evidence. Either the State has some good evidence or they have a few hunches.
Story is here.
Aide at Private School in Wall Township arrested for sexual assault
Another day, another school sex case. This time it wasn’t a teacher, but a teacher’s aide at the Rugby school in Wall Township, New Jersey. Little is known at the moment except that a school bus driver overheard some children talking about a possible relationship between Brandi E. Shroyer and another student. Shroyer was arrested at her home in Spring Lake Heights and posted a $100,000 bond to get out of jail. Clearly she has some money and will likely get a good attorney to fight this case.
Story is here.
Sweep of alleged gang members leads to several arrests
As gang membership increases in New Jersey, arrests of gang members and leaders will also increase. These cases are difficult from a defense perspective because the stigma of belonging to a gang, on some occasions totally false, will have an impact on plea negotiations and sentencing.
Over the past week in Middlesex County, the following men were arrested and identified as alleged members of the Latin Kings street gang: John Jiminez and Sfand Rajazadeh of Carteret. Both were charged with distribution of controlled dangerous substances. The following men were arrested and identified as a member of the Bloods gang: Ahmed Dempsey Simpson of New Brunswick (charges of drug distribution, distribution of drugs on public property, possession of drugs and possession of a handgun); Tyrone Taylor of Woodbridge; David Roman of Perth Amboy; Johnny Elliot of Carteret; and Jamar Carpenter of Perth Amboy, (all for distribution of drugs); and Marcus Vasquez of Perth Amboy for possession of a weapon.
Lakay Lewis of New Brunswick was identified as an alleged member of a gang known as the 5 Percenters. He was charged with three counts of drug distribution including on public property and possession of a handgun.
Danny Soto of Carteret was identified as an alleged member of Netas. He was charged with distribution and possession of drugs.
Story is here.
Should you get an expensive, “big name” attorney?
I really don’t understand some of these “big name” attorneys. You see a lot of them on TV. They don’t really accomplish much but they pay a lot of money to a PR firm to convince everyone that they are these amazing attorneys. As a result, they also charge a ton of money.
Don’t me wrong, I have no problem with an attorney charging what the market will bear. However, I do have a problem with people paying money for just a slick name with no substance. In my opinion, that is just a rip-off.
I had a couple come into my office today to discuss their three sons who are in jail for the same offense. They hired a big name attorney to one son and the other two had public defenders. They were charged with assault but the parents claim that they were all innocent. Apparently, the attorney had a lot of problems with the judge and prosecutor even though both men are great people who have never given me any problems.
This attorney charged them 6 to 8 times what I would have charged them and I am not even close to a cheap attorney. They were actually rather happy with the attorney and mostly blamed the system for the situation. However, when I asked about what was done on the case, it didn’t seem like much was done for all of this money. There were no motions filed when it seemed like at least 5 should have been filed.
There was also no sentencing brief filed which is just crazy. When they left my office, they said what many clients in their position say, “I wish I would have hired you”. Of course, now they have no money for me to put some of the toothpaste back in the tube.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, when you hire an attorney, make sure that he or she has some type of plan. In addition, hire the attorney based your trust with him or her and confidence in their track record and experience. Don’t be fooled by TV appearances and other slick marketing tricks. Some of the best attorneys I know are not flashing their face all over TV and magazines every day.
Tonacchio Law LC 