Articles Posted in Current Events in Criminal Law National

The New York Times recently featured an article concerning the prevalence of pain pill distribution rings throughout the United States. New York is no exception to this general trend. In fact, there have been several reports of illegal prescription drug rings in Staten Island and Manhattan, often times involving large distribution rings and physicians who…

According to multiple news sources, NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor pleaded guilty on Thursday (January 13) in his highly publicized case involving an underage prostitute. Although he was initially charged with the felonies of Rape in the Third Degree (Penal Law Section 130.25[2]) and Criminal Sexual Act in the Third Degree (Penal Law Section…

On June 14, 2004, night club owner Neville Wells struck with his vehicle and and killed 37-year-old Judith Gubernikoff on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. A grand jury charged him with one count of murder in the second degree and assault in the first degree (both under depraved indifference theories), and one count each of vehicular…

Most of us have read about the recent Charlie Sheen affair at the Plaza Hotel. According to the New York Post, Sheen offered $12,000 for sex with actress Capri Anderson. Under New York’s Penal Law, Patronizing a Prostitute, PL 230.03:A person is guilty of patronizing a prostitute in the fourth degree when he patronizes a…

Lil Wayne will be sentenced today in Manhattan Supreme Court after pleading guilty to attempted criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree in October 2009. According to the New York Post, he is set to receive a one year sentence. It is interesting to note that this is the same charge to which…

In the famous case of Brady v. Maryland (373 U.S. 83), the US Supreme Court in 1963 expanded Constitutional due process rights for criminal defendants by requiring prosecutors to disclose exculpatory material to defense counsel. “[T]he suppression by the prosecution of evidence favorable to an accused upon request violates due process where the evidence is…