No Jail or Prison Time

*NOTE: The below should not be construed as a promise or guarantee of similar results. Results will vary depending on the particular facts and legal circumstances of each individual case.

State v. C.D. – Client was charged with various drug offenses and was detained in jail pending the resolution of his case. C.D. was detained because he had the highest possible score on his public safety risk assessment, due to an extensive prior criminal history, and a lengthy history of failing to appear in court. Ms. Denholtz secured a bed at a long-term treatment center for C.D. and filed a Motion to Re-Open Detention, arguing that the client should be released from the jail directly into treatment for substance abuse. The Court agreed that the root of the client’s problems was substance abuse and agreed to release C.D. from the jail and into a treatment center. C.D. later resolved his case to probation, no jail or prison time.

State v. D.G. - Client was charged with various felony-level drug offenses.  She was detained, pre-trial, because she had many pending charges and a history of missing court.  Ms. Denholtz linked the client with a long-term inpatient substance abuse program.  Ms. Denholtz then successfully argued a Motion to Re-Open Detention, which allowed the client to be released from the jail and transported by the jail directly to an inpatient drug treatment program.  Ms. Denholtz was ultimately able to negotiate a non-felony plea offer where the client received probation and no jail or prison time.   All of the felony drug charges were dismissed.

State v. A.E. - Client was charged with numerous domestic violence and endangering offenses. He was facing 36 years in prison. Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a non-felony disorderly persons offense plea where the client received probation (no jail or prison time). All of the felony charges pending against the client were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

State v. A.M. - Client was charged with a variety of felony and non-felony level offenses for allegedly strangling his partner and damaging her property during a domestic violence dispute. Ms. Denholtz pointed out to the State that the client had a very limited criminal history that was very old, and that the client worked full-time to support his two young children. Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a resolution to a non-felony offense and mandatory fines only (no probation or jail/prison time).

State v. E.F. – Client was charged with serious 2nd and 3rd degree violent offenses and was facing 26 years in prison if convicted. Ms. Denholtz conducted extensive investigation into the allegations and was able to show the prosecutor that the alleged victim changed her story 4 times, making her an extremely uncredible witness. Ms. Denholtz was also able to find evidence that the alleged victim admitted to lying about the allegations because she was jealous of E.F.’s relationship with his children’s mother. Based on this investigation, which significantly impacted the State’s ability to prove its case at trial, the State ultimately agreed to allow the client to plead to a disorderly persons and petty disorder persons offense to resolve the matter. The client was placed on probation and all of the felony charges were dismissed.

State v. J.R. – Client was charged with aggravated assault, criminal restraint, and numerous counts of weapons offenses and terroristic threats for an alleged incident involving his girlfriend. Ms. Denholtz conducted an investigation which revealed that the alleged victim actually had no recollection of the event because she was under the influence of drugs and was suffering from a severe drug addiction. We showed that the client actually helped the alleged victim get sober and that the alleged victim did not wish to pursue charges against the client. Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a resolution which immediately released the client from jail and placed him on probation for two lesser offenses. All other charges were dismissed.

State v. E.R. - Client was charged with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd degree drug offenses as part of a long-term investigation into the importation and distribution of cocaine from Puerto Rico to New Jersey. Client was charged with possession of CDS (cocaine), possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. He was also charged with witness tampering and terroristic threats in a second complaint. Client was facing significant prison time. As part of a heavily negotiated plea deal, Ms. Denholtz negotiated a deal where client would plead to one count of conspiracy, receive 2 years of probation, and saved the client from going to Jail or State Prison. All of the remaining felony charges against him were dismissed as part of this plea deal.

State v. M.P. - Client was college student who crashed his car while under the influence.  The State consistently sought a plea to felony offenses which would effectively end client's college career because he would lose financial aid and job prospects.  Ms. Denholtz put together a mitigation packet for the prosecutor which showed client to enrolled in treatment, obtained letters of support from family, provided proof of college financial aid, and provided college transcript information.  Ms. Denholtz provided a strong mitigation packet to the State and were able to get the State to agree to give Client a DP hindering, DUI, probation, and continued treatment (no felonies or jail/prison time).

State v. X.D. – Client was charged with Aggravated Assault for allegedly beating his sister.  Ms. Denholtz successfully showed the prosecutors that this was a mutual fight between a brother and sister, and Client was not the only one at fault.  Ms. Denholtz negotiated a resolution to Petty Disorderly Persons offense “Mutual Fighting” with payment of mandatory fines (no probation or jail/prison time).

State v. A.D. – Client was charged with 4 felony domestic violence offenses against his mother and her partner (weapons offenses, terroristic threats, and assault).  Ms. Denholtz conducted extensive investigation with the complaining witnesses who ended up changing their statements and saying client did not have a weapon or make threats.  Ms. Denholtz used this information to negotiate a resolution to a petty disorderly persons offense and mandatory fines only (no probation or jail/prison time).

State v. D.A. - Client was charged with aggravated assault.  Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a resolution in this case which allowed the client to plead to non-felony level simple assault and go onto probation (no jail or prison time).

State v. D.M. - Client was charged in 3 cases with felony contempt, trespass, and criminal mischief.  Ms. Denholtz negotiated a disorderly persons offense (i.e., non-felony) resolution with probation (no jail or prison time).

State v. B.C. - Client was charged with 10 felony level aggravated assault, resisting arrest, obstruction, trespass, and weapons offenses.  The client, if convicted, was facing many years in prison.  Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a resolution of the case to just 1 felony resisting arrest charge with a period of probation and 30 days of SLAP.  The remaining 9 charges were dismissed.

State v. J.G. - Client was charged with Aggravated Assault By Strangulation (2nd degree), Aggravated Assault (3rd degree), and related disorderly persons offenses for allegedly strangling and punching his longtime girlfriend.  The State’s plea offer was for client to do 4 years in State Prison.  Ms. Denholtz collected extensive mitigating information about J.G. to provide to the State in seeking a probationary plea offer.  Ms. Denholtz provided the State with letters from J.G.’s employer, church, and treatment team, as well as investigation which showed that the alleged victims did not want J.G. to go to prison.  After extensive negotiations, the State agreed to let the Client enter a plea that would place him on probation for a period of 4 years, and the client would not have to serve any time in custody.

State v. E.O. – Client was charged with 10 felony-level offenses involving multiple burglaries and theft offenses.  Client was facing significant prison time.  Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a plea offer to 1 count of conspiracy to commit burglary with a period of probation (NO jail or prison time).  The remaining 9 felonies were dismissed.

State v. H.A. - Client was charged with a variety of felony drug offenses, shoplifting, and conspiracy to commit shoplifting.  In total client had 9 felony offenses and 6 disorderly persons offenses pending against him.  Client was facing many years in State Prison. Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a plea deal where client would plead to 1 felony offense in exchange for dismissal of the remaining 14 charges pending against him, as well as dismissal of all of the motor vehicle tickets attached to the case.  Ms. Denholtz negotiated a sentence of 1 year of probation and no jail or prison time.

State v. R.S. - Client was charged with felony-level possession with intent to distribute, possession of CDS, possession of drug paraphernalia, and money laundering.  The State executed a search warrant of client’s home that client shared with other people.  They found a large quantity of drugs in common areas of the apartment.  State’s plea offer was initially a 5-year State Prison sentence.  Ms. Denholtz successfully made the State realize that there was no way they could connect the drugs found in the apartment to the Client, because they were found in common areas of the shared apartment (which meant the drugs could have belonged to anyone in the apartment, not necessarily the Client).  Ms. Denholtz negotiated a plea to one disorderly person’s offense (equivalent of a misdemeanor), and dismissal of all felony charges.  Client was placed on 1-year of probation, and Ms. Denholtz successfully argued a motion to end the Client’s probation early after approximately 8 months.

State v. B.D. - Client with no prior criminal history was charged with one count of unlawful possession of a handgun and was facing significant prison time.  Ms. Denholtz researched the background of this gun and was able to show the Judge that the handgun was legally registered to B.D.'s brother, and that his brother asked B.D. to store the gun in his car because he did not want the gun in his home around his children.  Ms. Denholtz put together an extensive mitigation packet to present to the Court.  Ms. Denholtz illustrated for the Court that B.D. was a person who pulled himself out of poverty, got himself an education and a job, and was raising his 3-year-old son full-time.  Ms. Denholtz also showed the Court that prior to this alleged offense, B.D. had never been arrested or charged with a crime.  Through fierce advocacy, Ms. Denholtz was able to convince the assignment judge that a prison term would not serve the interests of justice under these facts.  Because of this, Ms. Denholtz was able to convince the assignment judge to undercut the State’s plea offer and give B.D. probation, with no prison time.

State v. F.P. – Client was charged with felony-level unlawful possession of a air spring gun; possession of a defaced firearm; and simple assault.  Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a plea offer that got all of the felony charges dismissed and the client plead guilty to a petty disorderly persons offense called “disorderly conduct.”  He received a sentence of fines only, NO probation, NO jail time, and NO prison time.  This was an excellent result for the client given the facts and circumstances of this case.

State v. J.C. - Client was charged with felony-level domestic violence offenses when the alleged victim claimed Client was violent against her and damaged her property.  Ms. Denholtz conducted an investigation into the alleged victim’s background and located several prior police reports relevant to show the alleged victim lacked credibility.  In one prior incident the alleged victim called the police to report domestic violence, but the police found that it was the alleged victim who was the aggressor and she was charged with various offenses (aggravated assault, weapons offenses, etc.).  Ms. Denholtz also found that the Client previously received a restraining order against the alleged victim due to her obsessive and violent behavior towards the Client.  Ms. Denholtz successfully showed the alleged victim had a history of making false reports of domestic violence against the Client.  As a result of these investigations, the State’s case against the client was significantly weakened.  As a result, Ms. Denholtz was able to negotiate a PTI resolution for the client which resulted in all charges being dismissed 11 months later.

State v. W.C. – Client with no prior criminal history was charged with 5 domestic violence offenses in 2 separate cases (aggravated assault, terroristic threats, and possession/use of weapons).  Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a plea to a petty disorderly persons offense (other state’s call this a misdemeanor) with mandatory fines only—no probation, jail, or prison time).

State v. A.G. – Client with a lengthy criminal history was charged with felony offenses related to allegations that he threatened his partner by holding a knife to her throat.  State’s plea offer was for client to plead to felony offenses and go on Recovery Court.  Ms. Denholtz conducted investigation in the case which showed that the alleged victim was heavily intoxicated on the date of the alleged offense, which made her less than credible as a State’s witness.  Ms. Denholtz successfully argued a Motion to Re-Open Detention to get the client out of jail and into an inpatient treatment program.  Once there, Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a non-felony plea offer with mandatory fines only and no probation or jail/prison time.  All felony charges were dismissed.

State v. A.S. - Client was charged in 2 cases with aggravated assault by strangulation, contempt, and trespass for a dispute with his sister that allegedly turned physical.  Ms. Denholtz conducted an investigation with a witness who was present in the home at the time of the dispute.  Ms. Denholtz showed the State that this witness would testify that the argument between A.S. and his sister (the alleged victim) was only verbal and did not turn physical.  This significantly reduced the State’s ability to prove its case because it impacted the alleged victim’s credibility in saying that she was physically abused by A.S.  Based on this, the State ultimately agreed to allow the client to plead to two non-felony offenses, and probation (no jail or prison time).  The felony charges were dismissed.

State v. R.C. - Client was charged with one count of aggravated assault and two counts of contempt for allegedly striking his ex-girlfriend in the face multiple times.  Client acknowledged that he was with his ex in violation of a court order but contended that it was his ex who got physical on the date of the alleged incident.  Ms. Denholtz provided the prosecutor with video of the alleged incident which showed that the alleged victim was chasing after the Client, aggressively assaulting and threatening him all while the Client begged her to “get away” from him while he attempted to leave the hotel room.  Ms. Denholtz told the State that this video was “clearly exculpatory” and must be presented to the grand jury.  After grand jury presentation, the grand jurors issued a “No Bill” on the aggravated assault charge and R.C. was only indicted on the contempt charge.  After extensive negotiation with the State, R.C. plead guilty to one count of disorderly persons level contempt.  All other charges were dismissed. The State sought a term of probation but Ms. Denholtz successfully argued at sentencing for mandatory fines only.

State v. P.M. - Client was charged with multiple counts of 1st degree robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, and multiple counts of felony-level theft for allegedly robbing people during a hotel party.  Client was facing decades of time in prison.  Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a plea deal for the client to plead guilty to 1 count of theft, no prison time, and serve a period of probation.  The State wanted the client to serve 1 year in jail.  Ms. Denholtz successfully argued for client’s release from jail after serving 29 days.  The remaining 8 charges pending against P.M. were dismissed as part of the negotiated resolution.

State v. L.J. - Client was charged with 2nd degree weapons possession and related charges.  Ms. Denholtz conducted extensive investigation into the charges and provided the State with evidence showing that the hotel room where gun was found was a shared hotel room that wasn't even registered to Client's name.  Client had no prior criminal history.  The opening offer was State Prison.  Ms. Denholtz pushed the case to trial from initiation.  There were significant proof problems for the State, given the shared nature of the hotel room where the weapon was found.  Ms. Denholtz ultimately negotiated a resolution where Client plead to a disorderly persons offense (similar to a misdemeanor) for lying to the police about his name. He received a sentence of mandatory fines only, no probation, and no jail or prison time. All felony charges were dismissed.

State v. E.A. – Client was charged with eluding law enforcement; aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer; resisting arrest; and three counts of child cruelty or neglect for leading police on a chase through several towns while running stop signs, running her car over medians, and other potentially dangerous driving behavior with her three young children in the backseat of the car.  The State wanted E.A. to serve several years in prison for these actions, but this would have resulted in dire consequences to the Client as she would have lost custody of her children.  Ms. Denholtz successfully convinced the State to allow E.A. to enter a plea with a sentence of probation and no prison time.

State v. E.P. – Client was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and was facing 20 years in prison.  Ms. Denholtz successfully negotiated a non-felony plea offer where the client received a term of probation with no prison time.  All felony charges were amended to disorderly persons offenses for the plea.

State v. U.F. – Client was charged with terroristic threats, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest.  The State alleged that Client damaged property in his mother’s residence and threatened to harm his mother.  He was also alleged to have resisted arrest when the police showed up at his mother’s residence.  The State wanted Client to plead guilty to three charges, go on probation, and complete some form of substance abuse treatment.  Ms. Denholtz was able to show the State that this was aberrant conduct on Client’s part, that he just had one bad night, and that the circumstances of the offenses were unlikely to reoccur because Client engaged in mental health treatment.  Client ultimately plead guilty to three disorderly persons offenses, the felony charge was amended to a disorderly persons offense.  The recommended sentence was mandatory fines only, a discretionary fine, and no probation, jail, or prison time.

State v. D.G. - Client was charged with two counts of theft and one count of conspiracy to commit theft.  Due to the fact that Client had other pending charges, was on probation at the time of these new offenses, and had a horrible history of failing to appear in court, she was detained at the jail pre-trial.  Ms. Denholtz was able to get Client a bed at a long-term inpatient treatment center and filed a Motion to Re-Open Detention, seeking to get a court order to allow Client’s release to the treatment center.  The State opposed this Motion.  Ms. Denholtz negotiated a plea deal with the State that would allow Client to plead guilty to one count of theft and dismissal of all other charges.  The recommended sentence would be 364 days at the jail followed by a period of probation (plus pay restitution).  Once Client plead, she was released from the jail and transported to inpatient treatment.  Approximately 1.5 months later, Ms. Denholtz successfully argued at sentencing that sending Client back to jail to complete her 364 sentence would not help Client (who was doing well in treatment) or the community.  The Court agreed and instead suspended imposition of the 364 day sentence and placed Client on probation.

State v. R.W. – Client was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, one count of possession of heroin, and possession of CDS with intent to use.  Client had an extensive criminal record.  The State’s opening plea offer was a State Prison sentence.  Ms. Denholtz provided the State with extensive mitigation to support the defense seeking a probationary sentence.  This included proof that the client completed extensive substance abuse treatment, a letter from the director of a treatment center showing Client worked his way up from being a driver for the program to being a house manager, transcripts showing Client completed 19 courses in an effort to become a treatment professional, proof Client was involved in his church, and proof Client obtained his CDL license.  The State then revised their offer to a jail sentence.  We rejected that offer.  The State then revised its offer to Recovery Court.  We rejected that offer based on the fact that the client had months of sobriety already under his belt and was a treatment professional so Recovery Court would not be an appropriate option for him.  After months of litigating the case, the issues, and a possible resolution, the State ultimately agreed to Client entering a plea that contemplated 5 years of probation and a suspended 364-day jail sentence.  At sentencing, Ms. Denholtz advocated that given the client’s tremendous efforts to change his life in between the time he was charged and the date of sentence, a suspended jail sentence and long term of probation was not necessary.  The Court agreed with the defense arguments and commented on the fact that it was incredibly rare to see someone with Client’s extensive criminal history to make such a huge positive change in lifestyle at his stage of life (in his 60’s).  The Court imposed a 2-year term of probation and no suspended sentence.  This was an incredible win for the client.