It remains critical that you take the situation seriously even if you have no prior criminal record.  Under New Jersey’s Graves Act, you may be facing a mandatory three-year jail sentence before even becoming eligible for parole while serving a sentence that can range up to ten years.  This is the case even if you are a first offender, and this could even be the case if you were charged with being in illegal possession of an imitation handgun. Our experienced weapons offense lawyers can help explore both available defenses and potential alternatives, such as obtaining a Graves Act Waiver, in your case.