Tampering with food, medicine, or cosmetics can lead to panic, and actually has a few times in America’s past. In New Jersey, Tampering is a crime.
When a person tampers with a food, drug, or cosmetic product, or they tamper with a prescription drug, they are violating New Jersey’s statute N.J.S.A. 2C:40-17(a) or (b), Tampering, which makes it a crime of the third degree to do so, and specifically leaves open the possibility of greater criminal charges in the event that the tampering results in injury or worse to others.
While your first thought may be of something like the early 1980s Tylenol murders in Chicago, in the internet era, tampering can be a lot simpler. Last summer, viral videos online showed people opening ice cream packages in stores and pushing their finger in, then closing the ice cream and returning it to the freezer.
Tampering (NJ 2C:40-17(a)) has harsh penalties and it’s possible that you could be charged with this felony offense and face a prison sentence of up to five years.
If you’ve been charged with Tampering in New Jersey, don’t take chances with your future. Call Matthew Reisig today at (732) 625-9661 for a free consultation with an experienced New Jersey criminal defense attorney.