[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/third-degree-charges-downgraded-to-town-ordinance\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/third-degree-charges-downgraded-to-town-ordinance\/","headline":"Third Degree Charges Downgraded to Town Ordinance","name":"Third Degree Charges Downgraded to Town Ordinance","description":"Endangering the Welfare of a Child Attorney Endangering the Welfare of a Child is a severe criminal offense in New Jersey. Depending upon the nature of the charges and the underlying conduct that is alleged to have occurred, these charges could either be a first degree, second degree or third degree indictable offense. That means […]","datePublished":"2018-10-09","dateModified":"2026-01-05","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/author\/njcriminallawdefense\/#Person","name":"William Fay, Esq.","url":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/author\/njcriminallawdefense\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e9869b68803369cd82f0d8d684c730be056db7c94e3ce06af05f80bee316c35?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8e9869b68803369cd82f0d8d684c730be056db7c94e3ce06af05f80bee316c35?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"The Law Offices of William C. Fay IV","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Logo-footer-vector.svg","url":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Logo-footer-vector.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"url":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/third-degree-charges-downgraded-to-town-ordinance\/","about":["Assault & Threat Crimes","Success Stories"],"wordCount":480,"articleBody":"Endangering the Welfare of a Child AttorneyEndangering the Welfare of a Child is a severe criminal offense in New Jersey. Depending upon the nature of the charges and the underlying conduct that is alleged to have occurred, these charges could either be a first degree, second degree or third degree indictable offense. That means you could be facing upwards of twenty (20) years in a NJ State Prison, if convicted. These types of cases typically involve inappropriate sexual acts or touching of a minor, drunk driving with a minor in the car or any other act that could cause harm to a minor. Prosecutors take these charges incredibly seriously and will punish offenders to the fullest extent of the law. For more information on criminal charges involving\u00a0Endangering the Welfare of a Child\u00a0or\u00a0Sexual Assault, please visit our firm\u2019s website pages on the topic.Third Degree Child Endangering Charges Downgraded to Non-Criminal OrdinanceRecently, I was retained by a client who had been charged with 3rd Degree charges for Endangering the Welfare of a Child. My clients were actually residents of a different country and were only in New Jersey to visit family members. Unfortunately, what was considered customary in their home country wound up being a violation of New Jersey\u2019s Child Endangering Laws. Specifically, they left their child sleeping in a car at night for an extended period of time. When police arrived and broke a window to enter the car and secure the child, my client was arrested and charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child. My client was eventually released from police custody and returned to their home country while I worked to secure a resolution to the matter. Through my representation, I was able to obtain a downgrade of the charges from superior court to municipal court and the eventual plea offer of a local town ordinance. This type of result was quickly accepted by the client and resolved via affidavit. My client never had to return to the United States to appear in court and walked away only paying minor court fees.Mount Holly NJ Criminal Attorneys The law firm\u00a0The Law Offices of William C. Fay IV is a Burlington County NJ Criminal Defense firm that represent individuals accused of criminal offenses in towns like Burlington, Evesham, Mount Laurel,\u00a0Mount Holly, Westampton, Medford, Florence, Moorestown, Pemberton, Maple Shade and Palmyra.\u00a0For an immediate and complimentary consultation with a criminal defense attorney today, please contact our office at\u00a0(732) 339-3897. We handle criminal cases involving charges like Endangering the Welfare of a Child,\u00a0Simple Assault, Aggravated Assault, Sexual Assault, Driving While Intoxicated (DWI),\u00a0Refusal to Submit to a Breath Test,\u00a0Leaving the Scene of an Accident,\u00a0Eluding,\u00a0Possession of Drugs and Shoplifting.\u00a0Do not hesitate to call with any questions or concerns regarding your case or the case of your loved ones."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Third Degree Charges Downgraded to Town Ordinance","item":"https:\/\/njcriminallawdefense.com\/blog\/third-degree-charges-downgraded-to-town-ordinance\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]