Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Handling False Accusations
The thought of going to jail or paying fines for a crime you did not commit can be scary. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for innocent people to end up paying hefty fines or in jail after being accused of committing crimes they did not commit. A false accusation can happen for a variety… Read More »
Senate Bill S854A: New York Passes Bill That Legalizes Adult Use Of Recreational Marijuana
Legalizing recreational marijuana has been one of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s priorities for some time now. However, over the years, the Governor’s efforts to legalize cannabis have failed. For instance, in 2019, legalization efforts failed because of disagreements and hesitation from some lawmakers. Finally, after years of trying, Governor Andrew Cuomo has legalized recreational marijuana…. Read More »
Tampering With Physical Evidence: Understanding This Crime
The act of tampering with physical evidence is considered a class E felony in New York. If found guilty of this particular crime, you could end up going to jail or facing other harsh penalties. Therefore, to understand this crime, you must first understand what the New York Penal Law defines as “tampering with… Read More »
Tampering With a Witness: The Differing Degrees of the Crime
It is unlawful for anyone to tamper with a witness in New York. Prosecutors in New York do not take this crime lightly. If found guilty of witness tampering, you could end up serving a jail term of up to 1 year or one of up to 25 years. The amount of time a… Read More »
Drug Charges: Some Important Terms You Need To Know About
After being accused of a crime, you must understand some crucial aspects of the particular crime you are accused of. Therefore, when charged with a drug crime, you should understand the penalties associated with the specific drug crime you are accused of committing. For instance, suppose you stand accused of criminal possession of a… Read More »
What Is the Meaning of “Possession With Intent to Sell?”
New York highly condemns drug crimes. If you stand accused of any drug crime in New York, you should work with a qualified criminal defense attorney. The penalties associated with drug crimes are quite strict. One type of drug crime that can land you into a lot of trouble in New York is “drug… Read More »
Causes of False Confessions
Thousands of people across the U.S. are in prison due to wrongful convictions. In fact, it is believed that there are more innocent individuals in American jails today than ever before. Wrongful convictions happen for a variety of reasons. For example, flawed facial recognition software can lead to a wrongful conviction. Cases of law… Read More »
Tips for Choosing the Right New York Criminal Defense Attorney
The New York criminal defense attorney you hire to help you with your criminal case can make or break your case. An attorney may not guarantee you freedom or less severe penalties, but the right attorney will do everything possible to help your case. Therefore, you must hire the right criminal defense attorney if… Read More »
Is It a Good Idea for a DUI Defendant To Represent Themselves in Their New York DUI Case?
New York law does not require DUI defendants to have lawyers represent them, although most defendants choose to hire lawyers. Therefore, a DUI defendant has the right to and can represent themselves in their New York DUI case. However, the vital question here is not whether a defendant can represent themselves in their New… Read More »
How Much Will It Cost Me To Hire a New York Criminal Defense Attorney?
When charged with a criminal offense in New York, you should hire a criminal defense attorney without hesitation. Before hiring an attorney, defendants usually ask many questions. One of the questions defendants ask is how much it costs to hire a criminal defense attorney. That is a valid question, and you have every reason… Read More »