Matthew Sage Receives Young Lawyer Award

Matthew R. Sage, Esq., an attorney of law specializing in personal injury and criminal defense litigation in Toms River, New Jersey, was recently honored with the highly-prestigious Young Lawyer Award by the New Jersey Ocean County Bar Association (OCBA) during ceremonies held on Law Day at the Ocean County Courthouse on May 1, 2010. 

Established in 1980, the Young Lawyer Award is presented annually by the OCBA to attorneys based in Ocean County, who demonstrate high moral character, actively participate in association programs and have practiced law for less than 10 years. Matt Sage was the unanimous choice of this year’s award and chosen by a 12-person committee consisting of past presidents of the OCBA. 

During the annual Law Day activities, the Honorable Frank A. Buczynski Jr., Presiding Judge of the Chancery Part in the Ocean County Superior Court presented Sage with the honor, while citing his exceptional service to the community and OCBA. “I’ve known Matt for many years,” offered Judge Buczynski. “He was an outstanding law clerk and a real team player. He often spoke of how important he believed it was to become involved in the community and to become an active member of our Bar Association.” 

“So, it was no surprise to me that he would be honored for his concerted efforts so early in his career. Matt and the prior recipients of this award are prime examples of why the Ocean County Bar Association is so highly regarded by those who have benefitted from its community spirit,” added Judge Buczynski.

A graduate of the Rutgers University School of Law in Camden, New Jersey, Sage began his own law office in Tom Rivers in March 2010. His practice currently specializes in all types of New Jersey criminal defense and personal injury litigation. This includes the representation of individuals injured by negligence, medical malpractice, faulty products and/or vehicular accidents as well as the defense of persons accused of criminal offenses related to assault, DWI, theft and the possession of controlled substances.

“This was a totally unexpected honor,” said Sage. “I was both extremely surprised and humbled that the senior members of the association would recognize me with this award. This presentation will inspire me to work even harder for my community and the individuals I represent on an everyday basis.” 

Prior to opening his own practice, Sage also served as a law clerk for Judge Buczynski and a judicial intern for the Honorable James P. Courtney at the Ocean County Superior Court. He also worked within several Freehold, NJ-based firms including the Law Offices of Ronald W. Sage as well as Mallon and Santora. 

During this time, Sage also actively supported the ongoing activities of the OCBA as well as served as a coach for the championship team of aspiring attorneys competing on behalf of Monsignor Donovan High School in Toms River in the annual Ocean County Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition. In addition, Sage is also directly involved in the fundraising and sponsorship efforts of the Doug Oland Memorial Scholarship Fund.   

Sage currently resides in Toms River, NJ with his wife Karin K. Sage, who is an attorney of law specializing in commercial litigation at the law of offices of Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer in Woodbridge, New Jersey. He is also an active member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the OCBA, and the American Association for Justice.

Pharmaceutical Consumption Info From The National Institute on Drug Misuse

The NIDA has recently provided a chart displaying past illicit drug use reports. In general, the numbers are rather good, from 2006 to 2007, the number of 8th graders confirming lifetime use of any illicit drug decreased from 20.9% to 19.0%. The noted past year use amongst 8th graders declined from 14.8% to 13.2%. Furthermore, past year prevalence has dropped by 44% amongst 8th graders since the peak year of 1996, past year prevalence has fallen 27% amongst 10th graders and 15% among 12th graders since the peak year of 1997.

Cigarette smoking continues to slide to the lowest rate in the review’s history. Between 2006 and 2007, declines were discovered in lifetime, past month, and daily cigarette use amongst 8th graders. While there were no 1-year reductions for 10th and 12th graders, all grades have continued a lengthier term trend of decreasing cigarette use.These findings are particularly noteworthy since tobacco addiction is one of the leading preventable contributors to many of our Nation’s health problems.

Past year use of marijuana by 8th graders declined from 11.7% in 2006 to 10.3% in 2007. Between 2001 and 2007, past month cannabis use dropped by nearly 25% for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined.

Since 2006, past year steroid use decreased in 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined from 1.3% to 1.1%.

Crystal Meth misuse continues to drop – between 2006 and 2007, lifetime and past year use amongst 8th and 12th graders lessened.

A substantial long-term drop was witnessed in past year alcohol use with 8th graders, down to 31.8% from its peak of 46.8% in 1994. Furthermore, past year use of flavored alcoholic beverages among 10th graders dropped from 48.8% in 2006 to 45.9% in 2007.

Despite these positive trends, there are numerous remaining areas of concern. The NIDA graph documented alarming nonmedical use of Oxycontin and Vicodin by 12th graders.

In 2007, 15.4% of 12th graders noted using a prescription drug nonmedically within the past year. Vicodin continues to be abused at unacceptably high degrees. Thinking toward substance misuse, often seen as harbingers of alterations in misuse rates, were mostly steady. Even so, with 8th graders, perceived risk of harm associated with Ecstasy lessened for the third year in a row. Perceptions towards using Acid also softened with 10th graders this year.

Between 2005 and 2007, past year abuse of Mdma increased among 12th graders from 3.0% to 4.5%; and between 2004 and 2007, past year misuse of Ecstasy increased among 10th graders from 2.4% to 3.5%. The report included several categories including amphetamines, sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers, and opiates other than heroin.

Choosing Your Toms River Criminal Defense Attorney

When a person is looking at criminal charges, more often than not, they are better off discussing their situation with a qualified criminal defense attorney. Regardless of whether or not the person hires the prospective lawyer, getting an initial consultation will provide insight into options that the accused probably didn’t consider themselves. Specifically, the criminal defense attorney will be able to outline a course of action and discuss the consequences of various outcomes.

Experienced criminal defense lawyers know the intricacies of defending against criminal charges. These may include exercising rights, defenses, and other procedural options that most criminal defendants would not be aware of without the assistance of a professional criminal defense attorney. Too many times, a criminal defendant does something that hurts their chances of a more favorable outcome because of a lack of information about what they should be doing.

There are many aspects to defending a criminal case. For example, there are various motion options available that can sometimes be used to get a complete dismissal of all charges before the case is even scheduled for trial. Many of these options are deemed waived if not exercised at the appropriate time.

Keep in mind that each state has various organizations of criminal defense lawyers. Some of those organizations offer referral services or online directories, which you can use to find a defense lawyer in your area. There are also many legal directories that include criminal defense lawyers, some paid for by attorneys, others free.

After you have created a short list of local criminal defense attorneys, be sure to ask some of your questions by phone before you schedule a face-to-face meeting. While some lawyers will provide a free initial consultation, others will charge you a fee. You’ll want to clear this matter up early on in your discussions. Further, you’ll want to get a good idea of the lawyer’s experience in working on cases that are similar to yours.

Choosing the right Toms River criminal attorney is a complex decision that should not be taken lightly. You should talk to your prospective attorney about his/her experience handling criminal legal matters, like yours, in your area.

A DWI Has Serious Consequences

He had gone to a soiree with his company and had a bit too much to drink. As soon as it was time to leave the gathering, he was aware that he had consumed a great deal of booze however he was sure that the simple drive home would be without issue. So, instead of contacting a friend, he got got in his car and commenced his route home. As with nearly all men and women who drive drunk, his faculties were impaired and in just a few moments, he had crashed into a parked car. Fortunately, no one was in the car when it occurred, nevertheless the effects and the damage to his life were irreparable.

The Effects of a DWI

Once the officers stopped him his blood alcohol level was 0.2, in excess the legal limit of .08 and so after being placed under arrest, and confessing his remorse, he was quickly sentenced for his crime, only to realize that things were destined to be far more serious than he estimated. Not only did he need to serve weekend time for his drunk driving conviction, but also in addition, his employment was in danger and his driver’s license was suspended for a year.

A Blunder in Judgment

Even though the person above was essentially an upstanding person, he just like so many people who drink and drive, simply didn’t comprehend how hazardous it can be. Now, he was confronted by the humiliation of having a record and losing his occupation as well as his license, all simply because he utilized inadequate judgment when getting behind the wheel of his car following drinking. Every day, this same type of situation transpires with thousands of people who without thinking put their life and the lives of others in jeopardy. Not only can life turn out to be a tragedy when driving drunk, but moreover the emotional, bodily and financial damage brought on by one experience of drunk driving is staggering. A Drunk driving not only has an effect on the life of the person who was drinking and driving, but it has fallout that affect the lives of all the people who rely on the man or woman who committed the DWI. Besides the threat of jail time, loss of a license and perhaps all driving privileges, other results include a huge increase in insurance if not cancellation, huge penalties, the potential loss of employment and the humiliation of a record.

The Cost of DWI

Regardless of how much you may imagine that having one or two drinks before driving is okay, if you have a crash and are charged with a DWI, the effects will probably be very severe. The risks are far too great and the destruction you can do to your life is simply not worth it. A DUI conviction may vanish after a few years, but a DWI criminal record could stay on your record forever. If you plan on drinking, be sure to give your keys to someone before you even start.

Toms River Criminal Defense: Miranda Warnings

You’ve heard them before. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.” Typically, individuals believe that a police officer is required to provide every citizen whom they stop or with whom they speak their Miranda warnings. However, that is not accurate. The Supreme Court has outlined who needs to be informed of these rights and when.

While, Miranda warnings are named for the famous Supreme Court case, Miranda v. Arizona, the rights do not have their start in that case. Rather, the protections that we refer to as the Miranda rights are constitutional rights which the court decided needed to be provided to certain persons in law enforcement custody.

The exact constitutional limitations that are regularly known as the Miranda rights include the right to remain silent, the right against self incrimination and the right to an attorney during questioning and in court. The court also decided that the warnings contain at least the same level of specificity as it set out in its ruling and that the warnings be meaningful for the persons being questioned.

Some states add additional warnings to the typical Miranda statements that they think are important for the people in their communities. For example, some border states require law enforcement to tell detainees that if they are not U.S. citizens that they have the right to contact their country’s consulate.

The Miranda freedoms need to be spoken by a law enforcement official to an individual who is a criminal suspect and in police custody before they begin to question the detainee about the circumstances surrounding the legal matter. The person is considered to be in state custody if a reasonable woman would believe that his or her freedom to leave is restrained, regardless of whether the officers have formerly arrested the person.

To allow incriminating evidence admissible at trial, officers need to provide the individual with his or her Miranda warnings prior to finding the evidence. A man who is in police custody must be informed of their rights preceding any police questioning. If the person is arrested and the officers do not intend to question the person then the Miranda warnings do not have to be provided.

Possession With Intent To Distribute In Toms River, New Jersey

According to New jersey state law, it is illegal for people to knowingly or purposely retain in his/her possession, or have under his / her control, with intentions to distribute, a controlled dangerous substance. There are many forms of substances described in the NJ controlled and dangerous substance statute. These include things like, but are not limited to, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, lysergic acid diethylamide, and methamphetamine.

Generally speaking, there are 4 elements to a possession with intent to distribute charge that the state has to establish beyond a reasonable doubt to obtain a conviction.

First, the state has to establish that the substance in evidence is the controlled substance that it is believed to be. Second, they must show that the person charged possessed, or had under his/her control, the substance in evidence. Third, that the criminal defendant, if in possession or control of the substance in evidence, had the intent to distribute the substance. Finally, that the criminal defendant acted knowingly or purposefully in possessing or controlling with the intent to distribute the substance in evidence.

There are several major consequences of pleading guilty to a drug charge in New jersey. You will likely have to appear in open court and tell the judge what you did that makes you guilty of the particular crime. You could also have to assert that you realize that if you plead guilty, you will have a criminal record, that you may well go to jail or prison, and that you will have to pay any fines and court costs assessed against you.

You might also have to submit to random controlled substance and urine testing. Additionally, you may possibly be demanded to supply a DNA sample, which could be used by law enforcement for the investigation of criminal activity, and pay for the cost of testing.

In several NJ substance cases, the defendant may lose his/her driver’s license for 6 months to over 2years. Additional penalites might include community service and the loss of the right to vote.

Toms River Prescription Drug Possession

Where a man or woman possesses prescription medicines or drugs, in a manner which falls beyond New jersey law, the man or woman may be charged or indicted for a criminal violation. An arrest and conviction for illegal possession of prescription medications involves considerable fees and penalties, Because these pharmaceuticals are especially powerful and addictive, they are heavily regulated and may be a challenge to obtain legally. An illegal market has therefore derived for these prescriptive medications and arrests are on the surge.

Criminal using of prescription drugs is definitely a challenge that is growing to be increasingly more widespread. Given the ultra powerful and addicting character of painkillers, opiates and psychotropic medicine, authentic use can turn to illegal possession, intent to sell prescribed drugs and also prescription fraud. Pharmaceutical drugs are regarded as Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) under New Jersey Law and may only be possessed or spread as authorized legally. The method in which prescriptions are created by medical doctors and dispensed by pharmacists and pharmacies is set forth in the New Jersey CDS Laws.