Bally’s is one of the most popular hotels and casinos in Atlantic City. Many groups and individuals spend time at Bally’s to have fun gambling, celebrate a bachelor/bachelorette party, or to get away for a weekend. Casinos can often get people’s emotions elevated, especially when alcohol and money are involved. This can often lead to crime, which can lead to serious criminal charges.
If you or a loved one was stopped by casino security and arrested for committing a crime at Bally’s in Atlantic City, contact the Law Offices of John J. Zarych today. Our criminal lawyers for people arrested at Bally’s Atlantic City might be able to take your case and fight to get charges dropped, reduced, and dismissed. For a free legal consultation on your case, call us today at (609) 616-4956.
Arrested by Casino Security at Bally’s Casino
In many of the casinos in Atlantic City, there are both local law enforcement officers and private casino security officers. Casino security officers might have the right to step in to stop violence or to escort an unruly guest off the premises, but they are not police officers. This means that, except in the very specific case of a citizen’s arrest, casino security workers cannot make arrests, put people in handcuffs, or use force against them. While they are allowed to defend themselves and others from violence, they cannot typically use guns, tasers, or other weapons.
If you were “arrested” by one of these individuals before police arrived, you may be able to challenge the arrest. Additionally, if police made an arrest and charged you with a crime without actually verifying any of the information by checking with witnesses or checking security footage, they might not have adequate probable cause to charge you.
Our attorneys will investigate how your arrest happened in the first place and work to get charges thrown out if the arrest was suspicious or illegal.
Charges for Crimes Committed in a Bally’s Casino
There are many crimes that could be committed in a casino. New Jersey’s criminal law code contains various forms of theft, some of which are quite common in casinos. For example, stealing someone else’s chips, stealing from an unattended purpose, or taking someone’s cell phone would be considered theft by unlawful taking. If you stole something from the owner’s presence, the charges could even constitute robbery. Theft can carry high penalties, and robbery is automatically upgraded to a higher offense which could result in years in prison.
Other crimes involve violence or unruly conduct. Disorderly conduct is a relatively low-level offense, but it can still carry hefty fines and potential jail time. This crime involves disturbing or unruly behavior that doesn’t serve a legitimate purpose or involves starting a fight. More serious fighting or violence could constitute simple assault, and if you cause serious bodily injury or use a weapon, the crime could be upgraded to aggravated assault.
When patrons at a casino are drinking, interactions can often become confusing. Many accusations of sexual assault and rape come after a night at the casino, a nightclub, or a bar. If you met someone at the casino that was too drunk to consent to sexual activity, you could be charged with a crime for continuing with any sexual contact with that person. These charges can be very severe and lead to years in prison and years of registration as a sex offender.
Drug charges are also common at casinos. Casinos with bars and nightclubs might attract the use of “party drugs” like MDMA. If you are accused of possessing marijuana, psychoactive drugs, or other illicit drugs at a casino, you could face hefty penalties. Additionally, charges for dealing drugs or distributing drugs to friends could also be filed.
Fighting Criminal Charges from Bally’s in Atlantic City
If you were charged with a crime and now have a pending case in Atlantic City, our attorneys might be able to help. Our attorneys have decades of experience representing defendants in criminal cases in New Jersey, and our experience can be put to use in your case.
Our attorneys will first work to challenge the charges themselves. If there is no probable cause to have you charged with a crime, the charges should be dismissed very early in the case. In charges for “indictable crimes,” New Jersey’s version of felonies, this means having the charges dismissed at a preliminary hearing.
If the charges continue because there is enough evidence to charge you, our lawyers might be able to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution. Most criminal cases do not go to trial. Some are dropped with an agreement to participate in alternative sentencing, such as New Jersey’s Pre-Trial Intervention program. Others end with a guilty plea negotiated with the prosecution. These plea deals can get the charges dropped for more serious offenses, get the fines and jail time reduced, get probation ordered instead of jail time, or otherwise get the charges and penalties you face reduced.
If your case does go on to trial, our attorneys can mount an aggressive defense. We can work to challenge evidence and have it suppressed or blocked from court. We can also present witnesses and evidence in your favor, such as friends who witnessed your encounter with the police and can testify to what really happened.
Contact Our Atlantic City Criminal Defense Lawyers After an Arrest at Bally’s
If you or a loved one was arrested in Bally’s casino in Atlantic City and now needs the help of an experienced criminal defense lawyer, contact the Law Offices of John J. Zarych today. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling casino crimes and defending our clients from minor and serious charges alike. For a free legal consultation on your case, call our criminal lawyers for people arrested at Bally’s in Atlantic City today at (609) 616-4956.
