Case Results
Mr. Reisig has appeared on many noteworthy criminal cases throughout his legal career. Here are summaries of a selective number of his cases.
Charge: First Degree Drug Charges, Facing 25 Year Prison Sentence
Case: State vs. R. C.
Result: Major charges dismissed, no jail time.
In 2011-2012, Mr. Reisig represented a client who had been charged with an eight count drug offense indictment in Monmouth County. R.C’s most serious charge was being a Drug Leader, which is a 1st degree offense. If onvicted, a Drug Leader must be sentenced to an ordinary term of life imprisonment during which the person must serve 25 years before being eligible for parole. Mr. Reisig filed a lengthy Motion to Dismiss portions of this indictment, including the Drug Leader count.
Eventually, the State agreed to dismiss R.C’s Drug Leader indictable count. In January 2012, R.C. pled guilty to one of the lesser counts of the indictment. In March 2012, R.C. was accepted into Drug Court. Ultimately, R.C. did not serve a day in jail after Mr. Reisig was retained to represent his legal interests.
Charge: Eluding
Case: State vs. J.R.
Result: Eluding Charge Dismissed.
In 2010, Mr. Reisig represented a client who was indicted for Eluding in Ocean County. In June 2010, Mr. Reisig went to trial on J.R.’s behalf. Eventually, a Mistrial was declared based on Mr. Reisig’s legal argument that the State had failed to provide all discovery to the defense prior to trial. The Mistrial resulted in J.R’s Eluding charge being dismissed. The ultimate outcome was that J.R. pled Guilty to a Disorderly Persons offense and a motor vehicle charge.
Charge: Multiple Drug Charges, Client Facing 20 years in Prison
State vs. R.T.
Result: Conviction reversed on Appeal, released after time served.
From 2004-2010, Mr. Reisig represented a client charged in a multiple count drug offense indictment in Monmouth County. R.T. was subject to the Brimage Guidelines since he had certain prior drug offense convictions. If convicted, R.T. could have served in excess of 20 years in state prison.
R.T.’s procedural history is extremely complex. Mr. Reisig defended R.T. during two separate jury trials. The first jury trial ended in a hung jury. R.T’s second jury trial resulted in conviction. The trial judge sentenced R.T. to a 16-year state prison sentence. However, Mr. Reisig’s pre-trial legal argument that R.T. was entitled to an expert witness resulted in the Appellate Division reversing R.T’s conviction.
Then, the New Jersey Supreme Court ordered the trial judge to conduct a hearing to determine if the defense expert would be of assistance to the jury. After a lengthy hearing, the trial court ruled against the defense.
In December 2009, Mr. Reisig successfully appealed this determination and the Appellate Division once again reversed R.T’s conviction. Therefore, Mr. Reisig’s legal argument resulted in R.T’s conviction being reversed twice for the same reason.
In 2010, R.T. was sentenced to time already served and was released from custody.
Charge: 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault, Facing 10 years in Prison
Case: State vs. J.P.
Result: Not Guilty
From 2006-2008, Mr. Reisig represented this client in Monmouth County. He was charged with 2nd degree Aggravated Assault which is a No Early Release Act (“N.E.R.A.”) offense. An N.E.R.A. offense means that an individual must serve 85{74bbbd36a4df8b83bd1805c8c4f34bcc3063e84848f392c2fd8bb03fcdaa883e} of their term before becoming eligible for parole. J.P. was facing up to a 10 year state prison sentence.
In 2007, Mr. Reisig went to trial for the first time with J.P. This resulted in a Mistrial when the alleged victim improperly testified before the first jury. The second trial was held in June, 2008. It lasted two weeks. Mr. Reisig’s closing argument was one hour and forty minutes on his client’s behalf. By contrast, the jury only needed to deliberate for 37 minutes. J.P. was found Not Guilty of Aggravated Assault and was fully vindicated.
Charges: 2nd Degree Aggravated Assault + Weapons Offenses, Facing 10 years in Prison
State vs. J.G.
Result: Jury Found Him Not Guilty of Aggravated Assault
In 2003, Mr. Reisig began representing this client who was charged with 2nd degree Aggravated Assault and related weapons offenses resulting from the stabbing of his neighbor. J.G. was also subject to N.E.R.A. if he were to have been convicted of Aggravated Assault. Upon conviction, J.G. was facing a state prison term in excess of 10 years.
In the pre-trial phase of J.G.’s case, Mr. Reisig successfully argued that the alleged victim’s propensity to become violent while drinking alcohol would be admissible at time of trial.
From February to March 2005, J.G’s trial was held in Monmouth County. The trial lasted a full month. Mr. Reisig asserted an affirmative defense of self-defense on J.G.’s behalf. This trial garnered much attention in the press. The jury deliberated for 5 full days before delivering their verdict. The jury found J.G. Not Guilty of Aggravated Assault in the stabbing of his neighbor.
Charges: 1st Degree Carjacking, 2nd Degree Kidnapping, Criminal Sexual Contact. Facing 30 years in Prison
State vs. A.F.
Result: Not Guilty on all major charges.
In 2003-2004, Mr. Reisig represented this client in Middlesex County on 1st degree Carjacking, 2nd degree Kidnapping, Criminal Sexual Contact and other offenses. Both the Carjacking and the Kidnapping were subject to N.E.R.A. If convicted, A.F. could have been sentenced to more than 30 years in state prison. In January 2004, A.F.’s case went to trial. It lasted for two weeks. Mr. Reisig’s defense on A.F.’s behalf was voluntary intoxication. This is an extremely difficult defense to successfully argue on a criminal defendant’s behalf.
The jury accepted Mr. Reisig’s legal argument and found A.F. Not Guilty of Carjacking, Kidnapping and Criminal Sexual Contact. After the verdict, Mr. Reisig thanked the jury for their service and walked out of court with his client.
The foregoing cases are just a few of the many that Mr. Reisig has successfully defended during his distinguished career.