Q: Do I need a lawyer to represent this charge in a zoom hearing for walking away from a police officer?

A: Whether you are facing a a disorderly persons charge (NJ does not call them misdemeanors) or an indictable offense, you are facing a criminal record. That is not the kind of thing anyone should be handling themselves.

A: What you’re describing sounds like it may be charged a few different ways, including as Resisting Arrest by Flight. That would be an indictable offense in NJ (aka a felony) and there are many reasons not to want the possible consequences of that offense to follow you around. An experienced criminal defense lawyer will be able to determine your options and help you decide on your best course of action based on the particular facts of the case and your own history. The hearing being on zoom is not an indication that it’s less serious—disorderly persons offenses in municipal courts and indictable offenses in superior courts are being handled virtually across the state right now. It’s absolutely the smarter option to have representation here.

A: Without knowing the statute number of your charge no attorney can tell you what you are facing as your conduct could fall under many charges. The least of which could have the possibility of jail, probation and fines. How much of any of them would depend on what exactly you are charged with. Lastly your prior record will also be of consequence of determining your prior sentence. I suggest that you setup one of the free in office consultations that most of us criminal lawyers offer as anything said over the internet or phone could possibly be used against you in court as you are not protected by the attorney client privilege's here.