Assault
Assault is defined as attempting to cause, or purposely and knowingly causing, bodily injury to another person without legal justification. These charges can lead to serious consequences, and it would be prudent to retain the representation of counsel experienced in this area of law. Anthony P. Kearns III, Victor A. Rotolo and the attorneys at Kearns Rotolo Law have that experience.
Anthony Kearns and Victor Rotolo are experienced trial attorneys prepared to provide you with legal counsel from the moment you are charged through trial, if necessary. Whether dealing with minor criminal offenses or more serious criminal charges, Messrs. Kearns, Rotolo and the other attorneys at Kearns Rotolo Law will provide the representation you need to protect your rights.
Anthony P. Kearns, III, Former Two-Term Hunterdon County Prosecutor
Anthony Kearns has experience working on both sides of the criminal justice systems and has garnered statewide recognition as a criminal defense attorney. He is the only Hunterdon County prosecutor to date to have been appointed to that position for two terms, giving him the distinction of being Hunterdon County’s longest serving prosecutor. This experience afforded Mr. Kearns unique insight into how the State prepares and prosecutes criminal cases, which he now uses to mount skilled and powerful defense of the charges against his clients.
Mr. Kearns was chosen for membership to the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 Trial Lawyers in 2024, an invitation-only professional organization composed of the premier trial lawyers from each state or region who meet precise qualifications as civil plaintiff and/or criminal defense trial lawyers.
Victor A. Rotolo, Trial Attorney with More Than Four Decades of Experience
Victor Rotolo, a former officer with the Elizabeth, NJ Police Department, has 40-plus years’ experience as a practicing trial attorney in the State of New Jersey. During this time, he has represented thousands of clients in all stages of litigation throughout the courts of New Jersey and has successfully argued cases before the New Jersey Supreme Court as well.
New Jersey Super Lawyers List
Anthony P. Kearns and Victor A. Rotolo have been included on the List of New Jersey Super Lawyers for 2025. Mr. Rotolo has been included on this list since 2006 marking this his twentieth consecutive year of inclusion. This is Mr. Kearns second year of selection. The list of New Jersey Super Lawyers is generated by the Thomson Reuters organization which employs the following methodology and set of standards to compile the list each year. Super Lawyers Selection Methodology [No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court.]
Martindale-Hubbell Rating
Both Anthony P. Kearns and Victor A. Rotolo have achieved the highest rating of “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, the oldest nationally recognized legal reference company in the country. Martindale-Hubbell employs the following methodology and set standards to determine ratings. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings Methodology. [No aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court.]
Certified Civil Trial Attorney
Victor A. Rotolo is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney.
“A certified attorney is more than just an attorney who specializes in a particular area of law. A New Jersey attorney who is certified by the Supreme Court as a civil trial attorney must have:
- been a member in good standing of the New Jersey bar for over 5 years
- demonstrated a substantial level of experience in civil trial law
- been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with his or her work
- taken and passed a written examination in civil trial law.”
Source: Supreme Court of New Jersey, Board on Attorney Certification, Brochure on Certified Civil Trial Attorney. See Rule 1:39: Specialty Certification of Attorneys.
Degrees of Assault
Actions that may constitute assault can range from spitting in someone’s face to an attack with a deadly weapon resulting in non-serious bodily injury. There are varying degrees of assault:
- Simple assault
- Aggravated assault
- Assault by auto or vessel
Simple Assault
A simple assault is considered a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail and up to $1,000 in fines. Examples of simple assault include threatening to inflict harm on someone, hitting, slapping, or pushing. Often a charge of simple assault will result from fights in which participants have mutually engaged. Simple assaults usually result in minor injuries.
Aggravated Assault
Aggravated assaults, on the other hand, occur when a person causes or attempts to cause serious bodily injury upon another person or causes non-serious injury with the use of a deadly weapon. Serious bodily injury is defined as an injury that carries a substantial risk of death or that causes serious and permanent disfigurement or the extended loss or impairment of the function of a body part or organ.
In New Jersey, aggravated assault is an indictable offense. Depending on circumstances surrounding the assault, a person can face second, third, or fourth-degree charges. Some examples of aggravated assault include:
- Attempted murder
- Poisoning, including the administering of date rape drugs
- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Maiming
- Deliberately attempting to inflict a communicable disease through biting, spitting, etc.
The Consequences
Being convicted of assault carries serious penalties of fines and jail time ranging from 6 months to 20 years, depending on the severity of the charges. A record of conviction can also affect your ability to get an education or secure employment or housing. Representation by an experienced criminal attorney can help protect your rights.
Messrs. Kearns and Rotolo draw on experience from both the legal and judicial systems to develop strategies for helping their clients’ legal issues. Together with their legal team, they will work to defend you against any criminal or assault charges you may be facing. Contact Kearns Rotolo Law today!