An Ocean Township man is facing felony assault and weapons charges after an alleged altercation at the recent Taste of Country Music Festival in upstate New York.
According to Trooper Steven Nevel, a spokesperson for the New York State Police, 52-year-old Bruce D. Belfer, of the West Allehurst section of Ocean Township, was arrested shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 13th at the Hunter Mountain Ski Bowl. He has been charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use and felony assault.
The circumstances that preceded these charges remain undisclosed; however, if the incident had occurred in Mr. Belfer’s home state of New Jersey, he would likely be facing charges for aggravated assault. Under the New Jersey Criminal Code, these allegations are addressed in N.J.S.A. 2C:12-1(b) and can vary significantly in terms of the degree of the charges and associated penalties.
One of the primary determinants of the grading of an aggravated assault charge is the degree of injury sustained by the alleged victim. For example, the law delineates between bodily injury, serious bodily injury, and significant bodily injury. These distinctions are critical when evaluating a case because they serve to indicate the severity of the consequences if a person is convicted. Click here for a comprehensive outline of important definitions in aggravated assault cases.
For additional information related to this case, view the following article: N.J. man charged with assault at a country music festival