Hello everyone! I wanted to join the site and ask you New Jerseyans for a little help for a nice guy who's about to get the shaft from the State of NJ, Roxbury Twp. Michael is a young man who is self-made, employs 30-40 people, has a 5 year-old daughter and a new wife, and is going to stand trial tomorrow in Roxbury for an "illegally possessed handgun".

 

Mike lives and operates his business in the Jupiter, Florida area. On his way home to upstate NY, he was stopped by police in Roxbury, completely oblivious to the idea that people in NJ were restricted as to their 2nd Amendment rights as there are no such draconian restrictions in Florida.

 

The gun was in it's case and locked under the seat of his truck. The officer asked him to step out of his truck (which he did), and then asked his wife if it would be alright if they searched the truck. She consented to the search without a thought (probable cause is extremely questionable here), and the officer discovered the gun.

 

For anyone in the area who is all about the Right to Bear Arms, this is a good opportunity to support an incredibly hard-working and reliable young man who made the mistake of thinking that he lived in a free country. Please show up to Roxbury court tomorrow and let him know that he isn't alone in his thinking about how ridiculous and detrimental the NJ gun laws are.

 

Thanks a lot for any and all who can attend, and please feel free to forward this message on to any group you know of in the area who would have an interest in the case's outcome.

 

In Liberty, Matt

Do you have any media links for some background on this guy?

How come this guy isn't covered under FOPA's safe passage provision? Is there more to this story?

How come this guy isn't covered under FOPA's safe passage provision? Is there more to this story?

 

This is why I went looking for some media information and haven't found any. Locked in truck would seem to qualify for FOPA. Maybe a loaded magazine was in the gun?

 

Why did the cop search? Was it a pure fishing expedition? Young wife and 5yo suggests someone who is under 25-35. Maybe he's got a lot of tats on his neck or something.

Whats the rest of the story. Seriously? Warrants? Two words.. Brian Aiken

This is why I went looking for some media information and haven't found any. Locked in truck would seem to qualify for FOPA. Maybe a loaded magazine was in the gun?

 

Why did the cop search? Was it a pure fishing expedition? Young wife and 5yo suggests someone who is under 25-35. Maybe he's got a lot of tats on his neck or something.

SOUNDS like a bad job on the part of the officer without any more information than what we've been give so far. Like you said mal..there' a whole lot of detail missing here

 

ETA: Wait one, if he is going to "Trial" in Roxbury, i'd be interested in seeing exactly what charges there are. Even if it was just CJP (arraignment) that would be done in the County Superior Court not Roxbury Twp Municipal.

Nope, no tattoos or anything like that, perfectly clean, well built American stock farmboy type. I don't know what "FOPA" is (freedom of passage agreement? is my guess). The actual event was over a year ago, the trial is just tomorrow. I've known the whole family since I went to work for his dad when Mikey was just a kid. Doesn't do drugs or even drink really, maybe a beer on Christmas kind of guy (the only day he ever takes off).

 

The cop was definitely on a fishing expedition, of that there is no doubt. Everything about the truck is legit, white 2010 Chevy 3/4 ton 4wd with some fat-ish tires on it with company logos all over the place.

 

Just got off the phone with his mom, she says "they talked to the lawyer and the prosecutor and they both say everything's going to be fine", but that's Jersey and those are Jersey lawyers. I trust the best lawyer on the planet about as far as I can throw them. When the prosecutor tells you there's nothing to worry about, you know he's full of **** or he'd have ceased to pursue the case a long time ago. His parents are worried sick.

Nope, no tattoos or anything like that, perfectly clean, well built American stock farmboy type. I don't know what "FOPA" is (freedom of passage agreement? is my guess). The actual event was over a year ago, the trial is just tomorrow. I've known the whole family since I went to work for his dad when Mikey was just a kid. Doesn't do drugs or even drink really, maybe a beer on Christmas kind of guy (the only day he ever takes off).

 

The cop was definitely on a fishing expedition, of that there is no doubt. Everything about the truck is legit, white 2010 Chevy 3/4 ton 4wd with some fat-ish tires on it with company logos all over the place.

 

Just got off the phone with his mom, she says "they talked to the lawyer and the prosecutor and they both say everything's going to be fine", but that's Jersey and those are Jersey lawyers. I trust the best lawyer on the planet about as far as I can throw them. When the prosecutor tells you there's nothing to worry about, you know he's full of **** or he'd have ceased to pursue the case a long time ago. His parents are worried sick.

 

 

Once again... Why was he pulled over? Why was he charged?

 

Whats his full name.

Who is his lawyer? Did he get an NJ gun rights attorney or did he stop looking for a lawyer after he got past AAAAAAA lawyers in the phone book?

Once again... Why was he pulled over? Why was he charged?

 

Whats his full name.

 

 

He didn't get pulled over, he was already pulled over (can't remember why he was pulled over, checking the trailer or something). His name is Mike Zimmer.

Who is his lawyer? Did he get an NJ gun rights attorney or did he stop looking for a lawyer after he got past AAAAAAA lawyers in the phone book?

 

I have no idea who his lawyer is, I'm afraid of that myself.

SOUNDS like a bad job on the part of the officer without any more information than what we've been give so far. Like you said mal..there' a whole lot of detail missing here

 

ETA: Wait one, if he is going to "Trial" in Roxbury, i'd be interested in seeing exactly what charges there are. Even if it was just CJP (arraignment) that would be done in the County Superior Court not Roxbury Twp Municipal.

 

 

From the Roxbury website, this backs up what you're saying. If he's going in front of the Judge in Roxbury, maybe it isn't as bad as it seems.

 

Roxbury Township Municipal Court is responsible for motor vehicle and traffic violations, quasi-criminal offenses (i.e. disorderly and petty disorderly person offenses), municipal ordinance violations, certain penalty enforcement actions (i.e., Weights & Measures; SPCA), including fish and game violations, within its jurisdiction.

 

Charges of a more serious offense, "Indictable", are sent to the Morris County Prosecutor's Office in Morristown Superior Court. These cases are either brought before a Grand Jury in Superior Court or downgraded and remanded back to Roxbury Municipal Court to be heard.

 

From the Roxbury website, this backs up what you're saying. If he's going in front of the Judge in Roxbury, maybe it isn't as bad as it seems.

 

it is what it is Mal..Them's the rules, I don't make em up.

it is what it is Mal..Them's the rules, I don't make em up.

 

I wasn't disputing it, just noting that you were correct and you would be someone who is familiar with the system. I happened to have read that when looking for something on Mr Zimmer so I copied it over.

If he's going to trial tomorrow on a weapons charge, it will be in Morristown.

FOPA = Firearms Owners Protection Act.

I'm not exactly cure where the actual court is, I just know that he was arrested in Roxbury, NJ. I know nothing about the area.

I'm not exactly cure where the actual court is, I just know that he was arrested in Roxbury, NJ. I know nothing about the area.

 

Find out. Figure out why he is going in front of the judge. To a prosecutor in NJ, if it's going to be OK, be ready for a royal surprise when they present some whoppers to the judge that you weren't expecting. "In light of the cooperation of Mr Zimmer, we're going to suggest 1 year in lockup, $50,000 fine, credit for any time served."

Maat922,

I think what everyone is getting at is, we believe your story and we want to show support and we certainly know that NJ gun laws are ridiculous and put good people in perilous positions, but, we want to verify that there isn't something else to the story. If we get behind something like this, and then we find out that he has a violent criminal history or something (totally making that up but you get the point) the media will have a field day with it and say that we support criminals with guns or some such nonsense. So, we have to verify. That means that we need to see the court documents and read them for ourselves and make an informed decision. Obviously, it's the 11th hour so it's too late to be able to do all of that. But, if things don't go well tomorrow, please post a copy of the court documents (or email them to me - my email is in my signature block below - and I'll post them for you) and perhaps we can bring some attention to the matter.

 

If things go well tomorrow, I would still like to see the court documents. It may be helpful when we speak to legislators.

Maat922,

I think what everyone is getting at is, we believe your story and we want to show support and we certainly know that NJ gun laws are ridiculous and put good people in perilous positions, but, we want to verify that there isn't something else to the story. If we get behind something like this, and then we find out that he has a violent criminal history or something (totally making that up but you get the point) the media will have a field day with it and say that we support criminals with guns or some such nonsense. So, we have to verify. That means that we need to see the court documents and read them for ourselves and make an informed decision. Obviously, it's the 11th hour so it's too late to be able to do all of that. But, if things don't go well tomorrow, please post a copy of the court documents (or email them to me - my email is in my signature block below - and I'll post them for you) and perhaps we can bring some attention to the matter.

 

If things go well tomorrow, I would still like to see the court documents. It may be helpful when we speak to legislators.

 

 

Roger that, understood. To my knowledge Mike's never been in any serious trouble, maybe drinking underage when he was in high school or something like that but nothing serious. The kid's an adamant workaholic capitalist and spends all of his time either working or buying a new apartment building/rental house nd/or with his daughter. If I can get copies of his docs I most certainly will pass them along to you so you can at least use them perhaps to your advantage in your state.

Roger that, understood. To my knowledge Mike's never been in any serious trouble, maybe drinking underage when he was in high school or something like that but nothing serious. The kid's an adamant workaholic capitalist and spends all of his time either working or buying a new apartment building/rental house nd/or with his daughter. If I can get copies of his docs I most certainly will pass them along to you so you can at least use them perhaps to your advantage in your state.

 

Thank you. Please let us know how things go today.

Thank you. Please let us know how things go today.

 

OK, apparently he got probation. He still has to go back in November for something or other, haven't yet gotten the whole story. I also found out today that the original charges consisted of 4 felonies (!?). I don't think anyone associated with the case including him fully understand anything about it other than the cops and lawyers. If I can find out any specific details I'll definitely post them. I only saw his dad for about 10 minutes tonight and he was pretty spent from all the driving and general stress.

 

Thanks for the concern shown here for sure though.

I would like to know WHAT led to the charges.. if he was driving through NJ.. and the gun was UNLOADED.. and inaccessible.. (per FOPA) he should really fight it to the end.. now if there are details we are unaware off (gun was loaded for example) then he should be thankful..

I would like to know WHAT led to the charges.. if he was driving through NJ.. and the gun was UNLOADED.. and inaccessible.. (per FOPA) he should really fight it to the end.. now if there are details we are unaware off (gun was loaded for example) then he should be thankful..

 

I personally would never "be thankful" for a tyrannical government "granting me mercy" for excercising my 2A rights under any circumstances. That's the mindset of a subject. I'd rather go to prison than be a subject. Good people break bad laws. But that's just me.

 

When/if I can get any real details of the case I'll pass them along.

It is also my understanding that in NJ if the police officer has to ask for permission to search you car then he doesn't have probable cause and the search may not stand up in court anyway. I could be wrong.

Sounds like he made out well. New Jersey is one of the few states where you could only serve 3 years for murder, but get 7 years for having 17 round magazines in your possesion. You gotta be careful around here.

If you can't get the court documents, please let us know as much of the following as possible:

 

Name of the case

Plaintiffs full name

Name of the Judge

County

Docket Number

 

...we will then look it up.

If you can't get the court documents, please let us know as much of the following as possible:

 

Name of the case

Plaintiffs full name

Name of the Judge

County

Docket Number

 

...we will then look it up.

 

 

Ok, I got some details straight from the horse's mouth today. Mike was in NJ on his way to NY to pick up some guns that he inherited from his uncle. A shotgun, a rifle, some ammo, and he had his own personal gun with him before hand; thus, 4 felonies (possession of ammo is a felony?? WTF?).

 

As for the other questions, all I know so far is that he was in whatever county Roxbury is in and his name is Michael Zimmer. I'll give him a shout tomorrow and see if he can tell me the docket # and judge's name, etc.

 

OH, Mike's never had a run-in with cops, not even a speeding ticket. He has to go back on November 17th so they can decide if it's necessary to keep him on probation (or something like that, I didn't really get that part).

Ok, I got some details straight from the horse's mouth today. Mike was in NJ on his way to NY to pick up some guns that he inherited from his uncle. A shotgun, a rifle, some ammo, and he had his own personal gun with him before hand; thus, 4 felonies (possession of ammo is a felony?? WTF?).

 

As for the other questions, all I know so far is that he was in whatever county Roxbury is in and his name is Michael Zimmer. I'll give him a shout tomorrow and see if he can tell me the docket # and judge's name, etc.

 

OH, Mike's never had a run-in with cops, not even a speeding ticket. He has to go back on November 17th so they can decide if it's necessary to keep him on probation (or something like that, I didn't really get that part).

 

 

if the guns were not immediately accessible FOPA should apply..

FOUR felonies?

 

"on his way to NY to pick up some guns"

 

What could the four be? He hadn't picked them up yet.