Charles Centinaro – Bergen County Criminal Lawyer with Almost 30 Years Experience

Former Assistant County Prosecutor

Charles Centinaro is an exceedingly knowledgeable criminal defense lawyer who has accumulated nearly 30 years of experience practicing law in the state of New Jersey. Mr. Centinaro has a wealth of insight into many different aspects of the criminal justice system, having served as an Assistant Prosecutor, a First Assistant Deputy Public Defender, the Director of Juvenile Defense Services for the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender, the Director of the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics, and an educator and presenter providing many continuing legal education programs for fellow attorneys, over the course of almost three decades.

As an Assistant Prosecutor with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, Mr. Centinaro handled a vast array of criminal cases, from investigation through prosecution, including each phase of trial preparation and presentation. He skillfully investigated and successfully prosecuted defendants charged with some of the most serious crimes, such as homicide, aggravated assault, and weapons offenses in the Hudson County Superior Court located in Jersey City, New Jersey. Mr. Centinaro’s duties also included thorough evaluations of each case in the beginning stages, as well as Grand Jury presentation for pending indictments, arraignments, plea negotiations, arguing motions, and representing the state on appeals.

In 2001, Mr. Centinaro joined the New Jersey Office of the Public Defender as the First Assistant Deputy Public Defender for the Mercer Trial Region. During his time there, he represented countless defendants charged with criminal offenses such as drug crimes, theft offenses, and assault charges. With the forethought, talent, and unique ability to tackle the most challenging cases, Mr. Centinaro’s focus concentrated on cases that presented complicated difficulties and issues. Fearless when defending his clients before the trial division of the Superior Court of New Jersey, he was able to secure favorable results even when facing overwhelming odds.

Mr. Centinaro’s role as the First Assistant Deputy Public Defender in Mercer County evolved seven years later, when he was promoted to become the Director of Juvenile Defense Services. Prior to joining The Tormey Law Firm, LLC., Mr. Centinaro worked on behalf of the Supreme Court of New Jersey’s investigative and prosecutorial arm, where he was intricately involved in the various elements of attorney discipline matters. While serving as the Director of the New Jersey Office of Attorney Ethics for nearly 14 years, he orchestrated the investigation, prosecution, and appeals of serious attorney disciplinary matters. With his extensive experience in this realm of the law, Mr. Centinaro has handled attorney disciplinary matters before the state’s highest court, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and been called upon to serve as an instructor for continuing education programs involving attorney ethics.

As an “Of Counsel” attorney with The Tormey Law Firm, LLC., Mr. Centinaro zealously defends clients charged with indictable offenses, disorderly persons offenses, and juvenile offenses involving shoplifting, simple assault, terroristic threats, and weapons charges. When taking on a case, Mr. Centinaro commits all of his understanding of the law and practical experience with every stage of the criminal justice process to fight for his clients. From representing individuals at their first appearance, to adeptly crafting and executing arguments during pre-trial motions, to presenting the best defenses at trials, through criminal sentencing, and the complex task of appeals, Mr. Centinaro puts a career spanning nearly 30 years to work to obtain justice for those accused of crimes in courts across the state of New Jersey.

In addition, Charles is frequently handling domestic violence restraining order hearings in Family Court for the Tormey Law Firm. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in restraining order matters and negotiates civil restraints settlement agreements or proceeds to trial on a weekly basis. He is extremely familiar with all the proofs required to obtain a permanent restraining order in NJ (predicate acts of domestic violence, prior history of domestic violence, and reasonable fear for safety). Finally, he also handles Carfagno motions for clients who are trying to remove a permanent restraining order issued against them in the past.

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey
• U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
• United States Supreme Court
• Massachusetts (Retired)
• Maryland (Inactive)

Education

• Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University Provo, Utah
  • J.D.
• Rutgers College, Rutgers University New Brunswick, New Jersey
  • B.A.
  • Major: Business Administration (Concentration in Accounting)

Professional Associations and Memberships

• New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Model Criminal Jury Charges, Member, 2004 – 2007
• American Inns of Court
  • Barrister in the Richard J. Hughes American Inn of Court, 2001 – 2006
  • Barrister in the Hudson County American Inn of Court, 1993 – 1998
• National Organization of Bar Counsel
  • Served as Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice-President, 2016 – 2019
• Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey
  • Served as Treasurer, Vice-President and President-Elect, 2006 – 2009