Mr. Porreca recently defended an individual in Sussex County Superior Court whose girlfriend filed a temporary restraining order against him. This client also filed a cross restraining order against the woman.
After meeting with the alleged victim, Mr. Porreca was able to convince both parties that it was in their best interests to dismiss their restraining orders and instead enter into Civil Restraints.

Mr. Porreca recently represented a defendant in Essex County Superior Court who was charged with theft under NJSA 2C:20-4(a) as well as conspiracy to commit theft under NJSA 2C:5- 2(a)(1).

According to the police, this individual conspired with several others to promise to perform landscaping and other manual labor around the victim’s house. The group were alleged to have kept the money, but never performed the work. Our client was charged with keeping $21,000, making this a 3rd degree offense.

Although this client was initially rejected from the Pre-Trial Intervention Program, Mr. Porreca was able to negotiate with the prosecutor to secure his entry nonetheless. The client will serve one year on PTI, after which his charges will be dismissed.

Mr. Porreca represented a defendant in Essex County Superior Court who was indited on four different very serious charges: 3nd degree conspiracy to commit shoplifting under NJSA 2C:5- 2(a)(1); 3rd degree shoplifting under NJSA 2C:20-11(b)(1); 2nd degree conspiracy to commit robbery under NJSA2C:5-2(a)(1); and 2nd degree robbery under NJSA 2C:15-1(a)(1). The Robbery was the most serious and carried with it mandatory State Prison.

The defendant and his female (girlfriend) co-defendant were alleged to have taken a coat from a Nordstrom store. After exiting the mall, a male loss prevention officer chased the female into the parking lot and physically accosted her. Our client, not knowing who the man was, threw him off his girlfriend and fled the scene.

After lengthy negotiations with the prosecutor taking place over several months, Mr. Porreca was ultimately able to negotiate a plea to 3rd degree conspiracy to commit shoplifting under NJSA 2C:5-2(a)(1), with the client received three years of probation.

Mr. Porreca represented a juvenile in Union County Family Court who was involved in 2 different situations on two different dates. During the first, he was charged with 4th degree aggravated assault under NJSA 2C:12-1B(5)(a); disorderly persons level resisting arrest under NJSA 2C:29-2A(1); petty disorderly persons disorderly conduct under NJSA 2C:33-2A(1); and 4 th degree obstruction under NJSA 2C:29-1A.

The second situation, which was far more serious, involved 2nd degree charges. This juvenile was charged with 2nd degree aggravated assault under NJSA 2C:12-1B(1); 3rd degree aggravated assault under NJSA 2C:12-1B(2); 3rd degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose under NJSA 2C:39-4(d); 4th degree unlawful possession of a weapon under NJSA 2C:39-5(d); 3rd degree terroristic threats under NJSA 2C:12-3(b); 4th degree possession of prohibited weapons and devices under NJSA 2C:39F(1); 3rd degree possession with intent to distribute possession of CDS to distribute under NJSA 2C:35-5B(11)(b); 3rd degree possession with intent to distribute under NJSA 2C:35-7(a).

Throughout the duration of this matter, the juvenile was detained in Union County Juvenile Detention Center. Given the violent nature of his second set of charges, the judge was afraid for public safety.

Regardless, after negotiations with the State, Mr. Porreca was able to negotiate a 24-month probationary sentence for this defendant. Additionally, the juvenile must attend anger management and substance abuse counseling.