Located at 2100 Pacific Avenue, Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino is one of the largest, oldest, and most popular casinos in the area. Established in 1979, today Caesars features 3,400 slot machines, over 130 table games, and 10 different restaurants. Ocean Tower includes Qua Baths & Spa, while the Centurion Tower features the Bellezza Salon. Lucky gamblers can take their winnings to the Playground Pier shopping mall, which offers high fashion and luxury goods from Louis Vuitton, Armani Exchange, Gucci, Coach, and the Apple store.
While most trips to Caesars are full of fun and entertainment, there’s also potential for a visit to end in arrest. If you or someone you love was charged with a crime at Caesars Atlantic City, our attorneys are here to fight the charges on your behalf.
Our Attorneys Represent Defendants in Atlantic City, NJ
At the Law Offices of John J. Zarych, our skilled and knowledgeable team of defense attorneys brings over 45 years of experience to every case we work on. We handle a wide variety of misdemeanor and felony casino crimes, and offer legal services in both English and Spanish. We consider it our privilege to represent the people of Atlantic City, including but not limited to the neighborhoods of Ducktown, Bungalow Park, Chelsea Heights, Venice Park, the Marina District, the Inlet, Bader Field, Lagoon Island, and Westside Atlantic City.
We understand that this is a stressful and nerve-wracking time in your life, but our casino crime lawyers will be there to guide and support you at every step of the way. To start talking about your case in a free and completely confidential legal consultation, call the Law Offices of John J. Zarych at (609) 616-4956 today. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can start exploring your legal options together. Se habla español.
Criminal Charges at Casinos: Assault, Disorderly Conduct, Theft, Fraud
Our attorneys defend clients charged with a wide variety of indictable crimes (felonies) and disorderly persons offenses, or DP offenses (misdemeanors). Some of the more common allegations which tend to arise in casino settings include, but are not limited to, the following:
Assault – Assault is divided into two categories: simple assault, which is charged when the victim’s injuries are relatively minor, and aggravated assault, which is charged when the victim’s injuries are severe, permanent, or life-threatening. Aggravated assault can also be charged for pointing a gun at somebody. Simple assault is a DP offense or petty DP offense, while aggravated assault can be graded as a crime of the fourth, third, or second degree.
- Check Fraud – Check fraud is the technical term for writing a bad check, or a check which will bounce due to insufficient funds. Check fraud is a DP offense if the check or money order value is less than $200. If the value is at least $200 but less than $1,000, it is a fourth degree crime. If the value is at least $1,000 but less than $75,000, it is a third degree crime. If the value is $75,000 or more, it is a second degree crime.
- Disorderly Conduct – Disorderly conduct can be charged when a person fights, makes threats, or creates a dangerous situation in a public setting, such as a gambling establishment. It can also be charged for public swearing, or using other offense or obscene language. Disorderly conduct is a petty DP offense.
- False Public Alarms – This is a broad offense which can involve pulling a false fire alarm, calling 9-1-1 when no medical emergency exists, or reporting a false bomb scare. Depending on the circumstances, a false public alarm charge may be graded as a crime of the fourth, third, second, or first degree.
- Harassment – Harassment can be charged for a variety of reasons, which include making anonymous phone calls at strange hours, making obscene calls, threatening to harm someone, or “engag[ing] in any other course of alarming conduct or… repeatedly commit[ing] acts with purpose to alarm or seriously annoy [an]other person.” Harassment is generally a petty DP offense, but becomes a fourth degree crime if the alleged harasser is on probation or parole.
- Theft – New Jersey’s criminal statutes distinguish between many specific types of theft, including theft by extortion, theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking or disposition, shoplifting, theft of services, receiving stolen property, and theft of lost property or property which was delivered to the wrong person. Depending on the nature of the charges, theft may be a DP offense or a crime.
- Trespassing – Trespassing can be charged when a person enters or hides out in any private or commercial property without proper authorization to do so. Unlike burglary, trespassing does not require intent to commit an additional crime in or on the property, other than the act of trespassing itself. Trespassing may be a petty DP offense, DP offense, or fourth degree crime, depending on the circumstances.
What Are the Penalties for Crimes and DP Offenses?
DP offenses and petty DP offenses, which are heard in municipal court, are not actually crimes. Instead, they are categorized as offenses, which are violations of a less serious nature. Unfortunately, the fact that DP offenses are not crimes does little to mitigate the situation for a defendant who is convicted, because a DP offense conviction will still result in incarceration and/or probation, as well as fines, just as a crime would.
That being said, the penalties which may be imposed for crimes are substantially more severe, particularly with regard to the potential fines which can be ordered. Maximum criminal fines and jail/prison sentences in New Jersey are explained below, based on offense grading:
- Petty DP Offense – Fine up to $500, up to 30 days in jail
- DP Offense – Fine up to $1,000, up to 6 months in jail
- Fourth Degree Crime – Fine up to $10,000, up to 18 months in prison
- Third Degree Crime – Fine up to $15,000, up to 5 years in prison
- Second Degree Crime – Fine up to $150,000, up to 10 years in prison
- First Degree Crime – Fine up to $200,000, up to 20 years in prison
If you or someone you love was placed under arrest at Caesars Atlantic City Hotel and Casino in New Jersey, it’s critical to act rapidly. Don’t wait another day to seek experienced legal help: call the Law Offices of John J. Zarych right away at (609) 616-4956 to set up a free and completely private legal consultation. Our lines are always open for your call, including nights, holidays, and weekends. Se habla español.
