Articles Posted in Current Events in Criminal Law New York

The most serious crimes in New York state law are classified as Class A-I felonies; one of these Class A-I felonies is Murder in the First Degree, Penal Law Section 125.27. The majority of homicides in New York are prosecuted pursuant to Penal Law Section 125.25 (Murder in the Second Degree). However, especially violent and…

Have you been arrested for bringing a gun to a New York City Airport? There is an age-old principle of law which says that ignorance of the law is no excuse for breaking it (ignorantia juris non exusat); if it were, one could claim a defense to every crime on the grounds that he/she was…

New York state’s highest appellate court – the Court of Appeals – is set to hear oral arguments on an interesting appeal involving the charge of Enterprise Corruption under Penal Law Section 460.20 entitled People v. Western Express et al. The decision could have a major effect on the prosecution of these cases in New…

This evening, the New York Post is reporting that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has indicted at least one person, Anna Gristina, for running an underage prostitution ring in Manhattan. Shockingly, this brothel on East 78th Street – which will implicate a long roster of wealthy and prominent johns – purportedly had police protection from…

Over the course of the last four days, the NYPD arrested 141 people in New York City as part of “Operation Take Back” . Basically, undercover officers approached people on the sidewalk and offered to sell them Apple products (iPhones and iPads) at deeply discounted prices. Those people that purchased the goods were then charged…

ESPN.com is reporting that Syracuse police are re-opening an investigation into allegations that a Syracuse University assistant basketball coach molested two underage ballboys beginning in the 1970s. The story reports that the criminal statute of limitations – or the deadlines for bringing a criminal case against someone – is five years. That is only somewhat…

On November 17, thousands of protesters massed in or about the Wall Street area as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The NYPD was prepared and sent hundreds of officers to the area in anticipation of several scheduled protests. Many of the protesters were arrested and are currently being processed for various misdemeanors and…

Recently, the news media has published numerous reports of corrupt and out-of-control New York police officers. The federal authorities arrested eight current and former police officers for running an illegal gun-running operation, approximately 17 police officers were indicted for a ticket-fixing scandal in the Bronx; another officer was arrested for attempting to steal from a…

Traditionally, the crime of “Unlawfully Dealing with a Child” has been employed in cases involving the sale of alcohol to a minor, as subsection two of Penal Law Statute 260.20 makes it a class “A” misdemeanor to give or sell an alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21. Prosecutors and police are…

As former prosecutors who now practice criminal defense, we have collectively dealt with hundreds upon hundreds of drug cases over the years. Throughout these years each of us has seen people from all backgrounds and professions walk through the courtroom doors to face drug charges. Whether the person is arrested and “put through the system,”…