When should I contact an attorney?
You should retain the services of a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible after you are contacted by police about any alleged criminal activity. Even if you believe that you are under investigation by police, you should strongly consider retaining legal representation right away. In any case, you should never speak to the police or investigators […]
Raise-the-Age movement gaining steam
New York is one of only two states in the country that routinely sentences 16- and 17-year-olds as adults, with an estimated 800 minors in that age group serving time in one of the state’s adult prisons. However, there has been a concerted effort to curb that practice and raise the age of criminal responsibility […]
Why should I hire a private criminal defense attorney?
While public defenders play a critical role in the Westchester criminal justice system—especially in regards to the services they provide defendants that would be capable of affording a private defense attorney—it is not uncommon for public defenders to be carrying several hundred cases at any given time. So, although public defenders will certainly have your best […]
Questions to ask a criminal defense attorney
The process of selecting a criminal defense attorney can be overwhelming; however, it will likely be critical to your case that the attorney you decide to work with is best suited to your particular needs. With that in mind, the following questions may serve to help you get a feel for the kinds of questions you should […]
23 arrested for selling heroin
A year-long investigation by a multi-agency task force led to the arrests of 23 people for allegedly selling heroin across Westchester, according to a press conference held at the Department of Public Safety Headquarters in Hawthorne on January 13. 15 suspects are facing federal charges while another 8 face state charges following the bust. More than $1 […]
What to do if you believe your rights have been violated
While police misconduct may occur with a disturbing regularity across the country, there are a number of effective strategies which victims may employ to hold police officers and agencies responsible for any instance of misconduct. Should you ever become the victim of police misconduct, the ACLU outlines a few things you will need to keep in […]
10 charged with DWI in Westchester over Thanksgiving weekend
The Westchester County police charged 10 drivers with DWI-related offenses over the holiday weekend at different checkpoints across the county, Port Chester reported on December 2. Eight drivers were charged in Mount Vernon, six of whom were arrested at a sobriety checkpoint located at the Oak Street exit ramp on the Bronx River parkway. The other two […]
27-year-old charged with murder in Westchester
Last month, Yonkers resident Luis Blanco’s body was found stabbed and shot in Ossining, New York. His body was discovered by a jogger on the morning of August 24. The body was not identified until recently. Joaquin Recinos-Garcia was charged with second-degree murder. He owed Blanco a total of $1300, according to Ossining Detective Lt. […]
What can I do if I am under investigation for a criminal offense?
In the event that you are contacted by police who are pursuing an investigation into a criminal offense, or if you have any other reason to believe that you may be under investigation, you must remember that you may exercise your right to remain silent. The moment after you are aware that you are under investigation, […]
I-95 traffic stop prompts drug arrests
A traffic stop for a suspected speeding violation on I-95 resulted in the arrests of two 24-year-old’s, both residents of Connecticut, on drug-related charges, the Macro Insider reported on January 2. State troopers pulled Savannah Williams over at around 3:10 p.m. on Thursday. After a quick investigation, authorities came to believe she was driving under the […]