Author Archives: Jay Butchko
New York DUI/DWI: Some Basics on the Zero Tolerance Law
New York State embraces several laws and programs aimed at reducing drunk driving, especially among young people. One of the laws aimed at reducing underage drunk driving in New York State is the Zero Tolerance law. Some Basics on The New York Zero Tolerance Law The Zero Tolerance law in New York applies to… Read More »
Avoid Making These 3 Mistakes if You Are Facing a Domestic Abuse Charge in New York
New York State takes domestic violence cases seriously, and any person found guilty of the crime faces harsh penalties. The harsh consequences are aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence. For example, when a person charged with assault in the first degree spends five years in jail and pays a fine of around $5,000,… Read More »
Avoid Making These 3 Mistakes If You Are Facing a Drug Charge in New York
According to an article published in the New York Times, the war on drugs is far from over, with over 75,000 people facing drug charges in a single year for drug felonies and misdemeanors in New York alone. A conviction for a drug charge in New York can negatively affect your life. For example,… Read More »
New York Court Rules That Planning and Trying To Hire Someone To Commit a Crime Is Not an Attempted Crime
On November 24, 2020, the New York court of appeals found that an individual’s act of planning and trying to hire somebody to kill their wife and mother-in-law did not equal attempted murder. The court’s decision shows a need to discuss what exactly constitutes “attempt” in attempted crimes. This article discusses the specifics of… Read More »
What Is a Desk Appearance Ticket?
In New York, not every arrested individual remains in custody until their arraignment. Those who receive Desk Appearance Tickets (DATs) after being arrested avoid the detention process. A Desk Appearance ticket allows an arrested individual to go home after an arrest. In New York, people receive DATs for misdemeanors and most E felonies charges…. Read More »
Here Is Why Victims of Assault in the First Degree Do Not Rest Until Perpetrators Are Put Behind Bars
A shooting that occurred in Queens in December 2011 after a Facebook argument left the victim with an amputated leg and a shattered dream. After nine years, Joshua Arrington, now 28, is still on the road to recovery. Before the shooting, Joshua was a high school basketball star who most likely wanted to keep… Read More »
Understand the Passport and Visa Fraud Crimes as Described Under Title 18 of the United States Code
According to the U.S. Department of state, in 2019, 20,690,491 U.S. passports were issued. With a U.S. passport, you can prove your citizenship or identity. Because of the value of a passport, the United States’ government takes passport crimes seriously. Even though most people who seek U.S. passports do so with honest intentions, many… Read More »
New York DUI/DWUI/DWAI: What Are The Consequences for Refusing To Take a Breath, Blood, Urine, or Saliva Test?
One of the most frustrating things for New York drivers is being pulled over for suspicion of DUI/DWI/DWAI. Due to the frustration and confusion that comes with being stopped by a police officer, you might feel tempted to refuse to take a breath, blood, saliva, or urine test, depending on what the officer will… Read More »
Some Basics on Expungement And Criminal Record Sealing
Expungement and criminal record sealing are procedures that offer individuals with prior arrest or conviction records a form of relief from some of the consequences of such records. An example of a consequence that affects formerly arrested or convicted individuals are employers’ denying them work because of the records. These two procedures not only… Read More »
Man Who Stole a Bike Worth $11,400 From a Forest Hills Bike Shop Risks Spending Up to 7 Years in Prison
According to a post on the New York Daily News website, a man stole a bike from a bicycle shop in Forest Hills, Queens, on October 26, 2020, around 6:30 p.m. According to the police, the suspect posed as a customer and told workers at the bicycle shop that he wanted to take the… Read More »
