Accusations of Child Abuse or Neglect

It is not uncommon to hear about child abuse, child neglect or a sex offense involving a child on the New Jersey evening news or to read about it on NJ.com these days. Never in your wildest imagination did you ever think that you could be accused of child abuse or a sexual offense against a child, or child neglect. Unfortunately, here you are now, searching desperately for an attorney to assist you because you have been accused of just that – an offense against a child.

Being accused of child abuse, a sexual offense involving a child, or child neglect are serious allegations. You need swift and effective legal assistance before the situation spirals completely out of control.

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 2024. Mr. Rotolo has been included on this list since 2006 marking this his nineteenth consecutive year of inclusion. This is Mr. Kearns first 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.

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 charges you may be facing and to expunge your criminal records if and when applicable. Contact Kearns Rotolo Law today!

Child Abuse

Few situations impact the quality of an individual’s life as much as being accused of a crime against a child. Sexual offenses against children, child abuse, and child neglect are serious accusations.

New Jersey State law defines child abuse as anything that impairs, or poses imminent danger of impairing, the physical, mental, or emotional condition of a child.

Physical abuse occurs when a parent or caregiver intentionally inflicts pain or bodily injury upon a child. Emotional abuse is when someone intentionally cause a child to suffer mental anguish. This can occur by frequently shouting at a child, withholding affection or kindness, calling a child names or insulting them.

Child Neglect

Neglect is a form of child abuse defined as the failure of a parent or caregiver to provide proper supervision or adequate care for the child in their charge. The four types of child neglect are:

• Physical—failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter and supervision
• Medical—failure to provide medical or mental health treatment when needed
• Educational—failure to educate or make provisions for special education services if needed
• Emotional—failure to fulfill a child’s emotional needs or provide psychosocial support. Allowing a minor child to use drugs or alcohol is a form of emotional neglect.

Sex Offenses Involving a Child

In these changing times, a conversation on the Internet with someone that you ‘thought’ was much older can be viewed as Internet luring and hence punishable as a sex crime against a child. You could also be in a bitter divorce or custody dispute where false allegations are made to gain the upper hand in negotiations.

Additionally, the interpretation of a child’s description of events may be misunderstood or relayed falsely. Even though a child may later withdraw the accusations, so much damage can be inflicted – marriages broken, jobs lost, but mostly and more importantly your reputation could be tarnished beyond repair and the community trust in you as a person destroyed.

There are additional situations that are becoming more and more common these days because of diverse family arrangements. These situations involve inter-familial child sexual abuse and it includes allegations against relatives such an uncle or aunt, a grandmother / grandfather, stepparents and step siblings or even among brothers and sisters.

No group is exempt from these situations: neighbors, clergy, teachers, youth organization leaders, etc. Quite often situations can be misinterpreted especially involving relationships such as an employer/employee relationship, a juvenile correctional facility guard and an inmate, a doctor / patient., etc.

Whatever your particular situation, Kearns Rotolo Law will defend your rights. Contact Kearns Rotolo Law.

Victor Rotolo successfully argues before the NJ Supreme Court in a case of constitutional import, in which the Court ruled that a DUI conviction cannot be used in any later DUI case for sentencing purposes if, (1) the individual plead or was found guilty, and (2) the individual was not advised of his/her right to counsel and, as to indigent individuals, the right to assigned counsel.