Attorney Joseph D. Lento's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

State of New Jersey vs. A.B.

Feb 15, 2013

OUTCOME: All First, Second, and Third Degree Felonies Withdrawn

My client, A.B., a God-fearing, family man, raised his granddaughter like she was his own child. A.B.'s granddaughter reached her teenage years and found a boyfriend. The boyfriend left much to be de ... sired and A.B. and his wife disapproved of their granddaughter's poor choice. After A.B. expressed his disapproval to his granddaughter, the granddaughter accused A.B. of molesting her. The Camden County Prosecutor's Office indicted A.B. with countless sex crimes as serious as first and second degree felonies amongst many others. I was able to poke hole after hole in the granddaughter's story which resulted in all first, second, and third degree felonies being withdrawn.

Criminal defense

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. L.T.

Dec 01, 2012

OUTCOME: Prosecution Withdrawn

Making headline news, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office decided to no longer call certain Philadelphia narcotics officers to testify in drug cases after determining that the officers' credibi ... lity was too badly damaged. Due to the aggressive defense that I took on my client's behalf prior to this information coming to light, I was able to get the prosecution withdrawn against my client.

Criminal defense

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Penny Chapman

Jun 05, 2012

OUTCOME: Negotiated guilty plea

Penny Chapman was accused of orchestrating the attempted murder of a SEPTA passenger in June 2011 which made international news. As much as this was a case that I wanted to take to trial, Ms. Chapman' ... s defense was seriously weakened because of co-defendants' actions to protect their own interests. In addition, If convicted at trial, Ms. Chapman faced a total of 304 years in state prison and a $625,000 fine. Despite the extreme prospective sentence, I negotiated with the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office for Ms. Chapman to serve a 5 - 10 year sentence. Considering the circumstances, this was a hard-fought win for the defense.

DUI and DWI

State of New Jersey vs. W.B.

May 16, 2012

OUTCOME: DWI Refusal Withdrawn

My client, W.B., was charged with DWI refusal to submit to a Breathalyzer for suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Atlantic County, New Jersey. I presented medical evidence on my client's behalf ... and argued that my client did not "refuse," but rather, was incapable of submitting to a breath test which resulted in the prosecutor's office withdrawing the DWI refusal charge.

Criminal defense

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. L.T.

Jul 07, 2011

OUTCOME: NOT Guilty of ALL Charges!

My client, L.T., and his girlfriend were accused of threatening to kill L.T.'s girlfriend's mother with a handgun. The reason for these accusations was that the girlfriend's mother was upset with the ... couple for something that happened previously and wanted to get back at them by getting them into trouble. L.T. and his girlfriend were charged with serious firearm offenses and related felonies by the Delaware County District Attorney's Office. We went to trial, and through my relentless cross-examination, of the mother, I made it clear to the judge that the mother's story was concocted just to get back at the couple. My cross-examination was so convincing that I won a directed verdict which meant that we, as the defense, did not even have to present our case. Accordingly, the judge had to find L.T. and his girlfriend NOT guilty of ALL charges!

Child custody

C.C. vs. R.V.

N/A

OUTCOME: Custody Granted

My client, a Marine Corps service member, was denied access to his child for most of her life. My client was not in a position to pursue custody at an earlier time because of military service overseas ... . Nonetheless, the other parent continued to be unreasonable with respect to custody. I went to court on behalf of my client to address the matter and I was successful in having my client's custodial rights enforced.

Personal injury

Dog Bite Settlement

N/A

OUTCOME: $200,000 Settlement

My client was attacked by a neighbor's dog and suffered injuries. As a result of my determined negotiations with the neighbor's insurance company, I successfully settled the case and my client was wel ... l compensated for her injuries.

Joseph D. Lento's Legal Cases (17)

State of New Jersey vs. A.B.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. L.T.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Penny Chapman

State of New Jersey vs. W.B.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. L.T.

C.C. vs. R.V.

Dog Bite Settlement