Trenton cops charged a man who ran after they confronted him, and found 118 decks of alleged heroin on him. The cops claim they saw a drug transaction with this man as the seller. When they confronted him, however, they say he ran. Nevertheless, the cops caught him and found the alleged CDS and currency. Consequently, they charged him with hindering apprehension, heroin possession, heroin possession with intent to distribute, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and obstruction.
On an unrelated note, I had a unique experience while returning today from the Cumberland County Courthouse to my office. Traveling on Route 77, I passed some ponies grazing in a field. I had already seen some horses and cows. But this was the first group of ponies. Eager to snap a photo, I stopped my car, and I engaged the hazard lights. I quickly grabbed my iPhone, and I exited my car. Grazing in separate parts of the field, the ponies noticed me. And a moment later, they began to approach the fence separating them from me. This delighted me. Indeed, it demonstrated their familiarity with humans. I have included a photo of their line-up here. I hope you enjoy viewing it.
Hindering Apprehension, N.J.S.A. 2c:29-3
Under New Jersey law, a person commits an offense if, with purpose to hinder his own detention, apprehension, investigation, prosecution, conviction or punishment for an offense or a violation of Title 39 of the New Jersey Statutes or a violation of Chapter 33A of Title 17 of the Revised Statutes he
- Suppresses, by way of concealment or destruction, any evidence of the crime or tampers with a document or other source of information, regardless of its admissibility in evidence, which might aid in his discovery or apprehension or in the lodging of a charge against him; or
- Prevents or obstructs by means of force or intimidation anyone from performing an act which might aid in his discovery or apprehension or in the lodging of a charge against him; or
- Prevents or obstructs by means of force, intimidation or deception any witness or informant from providing testimony or information, regardless of its admissibility, which might aid in his discovery or apprehension or in the lodging of a charge against him; or
- Gives false information to a law enforcement officer or a civil State investigator assigned to the Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor established by section 32 of P.L.1998, c.21 (C.17:33A-16).
Grading of Hindering Apprehension
An offense under paragraph (3) is a crime of the second degree. An offense under paragraph (1) or (4) is a crime of the third degree if the conduct which the actor knows has been charged or is liable to be charged against him would constitute leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident that results in the death of another person in violation of section 1 of P.L.1997, c.111 (C.2C:11-5.1). Notwithstanding the presumption of non-imprisonment for certain offenders set forth in subsection e. of N.J.S.2C:44-1, the actor shall serve a term of imprisonment which shall be fixed at not less than one year, during which the actor shall not be eligible for parole.
Otherwise, the offense pf hindering apprehension of oneself is a crime of the third degree if the conduct which the actor knows has been charged or is liable to be charged against him would constitute a crime of the second degree or greater. The offense is a crime of the fourth degree if such conduct would constitute a crime of the third degree. Otherwise it is a disorderly persons offense.
Mercer County Criminal Defense Lawyer Michael Smolensky, Esquire, knows how to protect his clients. Mr. Smolensky can provide consultations on all cases regarding hindering one’s own apprehension. Call Now—(856) 812-0321.