New York Criminal Lawyer Blog

A woman in Arizona was found guilty of participating in the deaths of a father and his daughter. The killings took place in 2009. The woman, an anti-illegal immigration activist, and two men forced their way into the family's home, claims a New York Criminal Lawyer. The two men shot and killed the man and his daughter and wounded the man's wife. The wife survived and called the police to report the killings. She says that she misses her family and blames the woman for destroying her life.

The woman, who is the head of an anti-illegal immigration watchdog group called the Minutemen American Defense, claims she is innocent and did show any remorse for her actions during the trial. This lack of remorse may have prompted the jury to sentence her to death, reports a New York Criminal Lawyer. In addition to being convicted of first-degree murder, the woman is the third woman in Arizona currently on death row. According to the district attorney, even though the woman may not have actually shot the man and his daughter, she planned the attack and got the two men to follow through with her plans.

It is suspected that the woman suffers from emotional problems and may have been abused as a child. She claims she targeted the man because he was a suspected drug dealer. She told news reporters when asked about what she had done that no one with children should sell drugs. No drugs or other illegal substances were found at the home when police arrived on the scene. The apparent motivation for invading the man's home was to steal jewelry, money, drugs and other items to help fund the Minutemen American Defense, says a New York City Criminal Lawyer. Jewelry belonging to the family was found by police at the woman's home. After finding the jewelry, the woman was arrested and taken into police custody.

To gain entry into the home, the woman and two men posed as border patrol officers. The man, his wife and daughter were all natural-born United States citizens. They lived ten miles from the Mexican border. The two men suspected of firing the weapons that killed the man and his daughter go on trial sometime this year. The two men may also receive the death penalty if convicted of killing the man and his daughter.

Whether you have been charged with murder, sex crimes, a drug or theft crime, it is important to seek legal guidance as soon as possible. Stephen Bilkis and Associates there at your side throughout the legal process to offer advice and counsel.

It’s a sad day when the ice cream truck driver in your local neighborhood is arrested for driving under the influence. And, not just driving under the influence, but being nearly three times over the legal threshold, reported the New York Criminal Lawyer.

It’s a very lucky thing that the man was arrested, as he could have harmed others. As it was, the truck driver did almost hit a child and that is why the police were called. When they arrived on the scene, the trucker fell out of his ice cream vehicle and staggered over to the police. When asked what his address was, he gave them the date of his birth instead.

The man was arrested on the spot, indicated a Manhattan Criminal Lawyer, and was charged with DWI and spent some time in jail, sobering up. This case could have turned out a lot worse than it was, considering the man’s blood alcohol content was 0.227. In other words, he was more than just impaired; he was pretty much unable to function, talk, or walk coherently and had no business being behind the wheel of a vehicle. That being said, despite his arrest and time spent in jail, he is entitled to a well thought out defense.

Everyone charged with a criminal offense whether it be a DWI, assault or drug charge, is entitled to a vigorous defense. It is important to contact legal counsel right away if you have been arrested. Do not talk to the police or volunteer any information. Save the discussion of what you were doing for your lawyer.

It’s the law of the land that says those who are charged with a crime must be considered to be innocent, until they are proved guilty. Even in drunk driving cases, there are defenses that may be used to assist the driver to retain their license, have their sentence mitigated or possibly thrown out of court.

The important thing to remember is that even though something may “look” like it’s a crime or that the driver was drunk, there are cases where what you see is “not” what actually happened. Anyone charged with a criminal offense is entitled to have their say in court and the only way that will happen is with the assistance of a qualified legal counsel.

Contact the law offices of Stephen Bilkis and Associates for advice and guidance. We will advise you of your legal options and provide you with a free consultation. We have offices in New York City, including Manhattan, Staten Island, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens. We also have locations in Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, as well as Westchester County. Call us today at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW.

This is a disturbing case in which a man under the influence of alcohol started to drive his car after his girlfriend had been arrested. He was taking over and trying to drive as there was no one else around to drive him. Sadly, the man drove his car into a tree and killed the woman’s 5-year-old boy, reported the New York Criminal Lawyer.

The ultimate result in this case was that the man was found guilty of aggravated driving under the influence and will do three to fourteen years in prison. This crash was particularly horrific in that it happened at high-speed and the little boy had no chance.

The facts of the case appear to be that the man driving the car stated that the police ordered him to drive after his girlfriend was arrested. He claims he argued with them that she was his designated ride. However, that argument didn’t go over with the police, as the girlfriend was driving with a suspended license.

The man took off in the car and a high rate of speed, slammed violently into a tree, bounced off the tree into a fence and the eventually tore up a pine tree by its roots. When arrested, his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. The little boy was alive when emergency response crews arrived at the scene, but died later in hospital.

Despite what this case may have looked like on the surface, there was a stated defense for this man and that was he was a victim of entrapment and necessity – meaning that he only got into his car to drive because a police officer ordered him to drive and said he’d be arrested if he didn’t do as he was told. The girlfriend in this scenario informed the police the man was drunk.

However, there was rebuttal testimony that indicated the girlfriend had actually pleaded with the police to let the man drive the little boy home.

Whether you have been charged with DWI, sex crimes, gun possession or assault, it is important to ensure that your rights are

A 16 year old girl and a 13 year old boy are shot and killed after talking back to their 50 year old new mom, as reported by a New York Criminal Lawyer. The mom didn’t deny the shooting and killing of these two children.

The mom was already confronted once by police a few months earlier when they went to her residence for an abuse call. The mom would slap her children in the face for talking back. The police couldn’t really do anything at that time for lack of evidence. A police spokeswoman said that this seemed like a normal incident of high tension between a frustrated mom and teenage children. The police didn’t think this woman would eventually shoot her children.

The daughter had been going to a school counselor because of her own lashing out at her mom. She regretted how bad she had talked to and treated her mother. The counselor did say that she was told the mom would sometimes slap the children in the face for talking back. This really frustrated the teen girl who was used to being grounded for discipline and not hit. The counselor told the teen that a mother should not be slapping anybody in the face.

The hitting did continue to get worse. One time the mom hit the girl in the face for about 30 seconds on the way home. Once home she tried to continue hitting her but the teen caught her mom’s hand, stopped the hitting and decided to stand up to her mother instead of allowing her to keep physically abusing her.

The mom is a step-mom and not the birth mom. The children would often tell the mom that she was not their mom and this lead to more hitting and helped increase the frustration felt from the mom and the children.

After shooting her children, this 50 year old Tampa lady is being held without bond until her trial. The trial date has not been set and she is being help in a Florida State Correctional Facility.

Whether you have been charged with domestic violence, a drug crime, or a theft crime, don’t ever go to trial without the help of qualified legal counsel. Even if it looks hopeless and you are facing serious charges, don’t give up.

A man held for 14 days in 2003 for alleged ties to a terror suspect has filed a lawsuit against a former Attorney General. The man claims that he was stopped at Dulles International airport in Virginia and taken to various places throughout Virginia, Oklahoma and Idaho for questioning. During these sessions, the man was grilled on various subjects including his religious beliefs, ties to terrorism groups inside and outside the United States and his relationship with the terror suspect police officials had in custody, reports a New York Criminal Lawyer. The man was eventually released and never had to appear as a material witness. The other man's trial resulted in an acquittal in 2004.

The man, a U.S. citizen, converted to Islam while attending the University of Idaho. It was there that he struck up a friendship with the other man accused of terrorism. On that day in 2003, the man was on his way to Saudi Arabia to learn more about his religion, study the language and learn more about the culture when he was detained at the airport. The man currently lives in Saudi Arabia and is being represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

This case will probably end up being heard in front of the Supreme Court. While most agree the court will side with the Attorney General, some believe the decision to do so will be a tough one. The man's case rests on the fact that he was wrongfully detained as there was no evidence he was a part of any criminal activity or that he knew of any terror plots against the U.S., explains a New York Criminal Lawyer. The man also claims that law enforcement coerced him into answering questions because they told him he was to be a material witness during the other man's trial.

Newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan has recused herself from this case since she used to be President Obama's solicitor general. The remaining justices will hear the case and make their judgment based on the evidence presented. This is relatively new legal territory as the Supreme Court has heard few of these types of cases since 9/11. They must take into consideration the political climate at the time and the rights of the man suing former Attorney General Ashcroft. This decision may affect future court cases heard in the Supreme Court and in other courts throughout the United States.

If you have questions about pending legal proceedings, or have been charged with a drug possession, a theft crime, or white collar crime, contact legal counsel right away to ensure that your rights are protected.

An elementary school principal has been arrested for obstructing officers. The incident occurred Monday evening as police responded to a burglary call and was in the process of arresting the boyfriend of the principal’s daughter. At some point during the time that police were on the scene, the principal became loud and belligerent which led to the accumulation of a crowd outside. It was at that point that police say they had no other choice than to arrest the principal as her commotions were arousing the gathering crowd of onlookers. The principal’s daughter has stated that her mom was only questioning the officers and had done nothing wrong.

The day following the incident, the principal was noticeably absent from school, as the local school board had placed her on suspension with pay pending an investigation, which they say is standard procedure. The local parents and students were left wondering what happened and why should the incident have led to her being suspended from her job when she was apparently doing a good job with the children. Some other parents, however, are asking some different questions, such as how can a school principal lecture their children on anger management when she cannot control her own temper.

A New York Criminal Lawyer has also learned that the principal has had some controversy in the past that was a function of her job. The resulting investigation of the on-campus spanking was inconclusive.

There are so many other factors that have not discovered as of this writing, and we are still awaiting comments from local law enforcement officials and from the local school district. Both are continuing their investigations. Thus far, there have been no indications as to why the principal lost her cool, or why she did not heed the law enforcement officers when they advised her to remain calm or they would have to arrest her.

In the meanwhile, the principal was released on a $150 bail and is awaiting the results of the schools investigation that will determine how soon or even if she can return to work.

When you have an encounter with the legal system, it can be a frightening experience, as many just do not understand the way it works. Whether you have been charged with sex crimes, burlgarly, assault or other criminal matter, it is important that your rights are protected. our legal team and Stephen Bilkis and Associates are fully qualified to stand up for you or your loved one and work to resolve the issue and get you back on the path that you need to be.

A New York Criminal Lawyer has learned that one man who was getting a haircut has stabbed another man. While this in itself may not seem terribly out of the ordinary, the result is that one New Haven, CT, man is in the hospital and another is due in court on March 22 to answer to first-degree assault charges.

For the sake of this story, so as not to mention any names, we will refer to the man getting the haircut as man A, and the other as man B. The incident began when man A was sitting in a chair at an apartment while getting a haircut. About halfway through the haircut, man B walks into the apartment. Man A and man B had been arguing earlier and man A thought that man B had come to the apartment to harm him. Before it could truly be determined whether man B had the intentions of doing man A any harm, man A slashed man B in the back with a pair of scissors.

When police arrived at the apartment, man A was taken into custody without incident. As of this writing, the local police department has not returned calls left by a Long Island Criminal Lawyer . It has been learned however, that man A is also wanted by authorities for a second-degree failure to appear warrant that was issued for a previous arrest. No information on the victim (man B) can be learned at this time. Man A had cuts on his face and back and was being treated, but expected to recover.

The really bizarre thing is that during the course of the investigation, a photo of man A’s mug shot was spotted, which the alleged suspect is sporting half of a rather large afro type hair style, while the other half of his head had already received a hair-cut.

Thus far, there is no further information available, especially as to what the initial argument was about, or whether man B had actually gone to the apartment to finish the argument.

If you have been charged with assault, battery, or other crime, contact Stephen Bilkis and Associates for guidance and a free consultation. We have locations to serve you throughout the New York area, including offices in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. We also have locations in Westchester County, and Nassau Couny and Suffolk County on Long Island. Call us today to schedule a consultation at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW.

A man was convicted in Chicago of killing a young boy when he crashed his car into a tree. The boy was five-years old, reports a New York Criminal Lawyer. The incident occurred after the boy's mother was arrested for driving with a suspended license. The police officer at the scene took the mother into custody, but allowed the man, who was under the influence, to drive the boy home. The man was sentenced to three to 14 years in prison.

The initial incident took place in the Chicago neighborhood. The boy was eventually killed not too far from where his mother was arrested.

Throughout the trial, the mother of the boy insisted that at the time of her arrest, she told the police officer at least three times that the man was drunk and that she was the designated driver. She claims that the officer ordered the man to drive the boy home and even threatened to arrest the man if he did not comply. The man's blood-alcohol limit was twice the legal limit at the time of the accident. While driving, the man lost control of the car and slammed into a tree. The car then hit a fence and uprooted another tree, says a Manhattan Criminal Lawyer. The man claims he had no choice but to follow the police officers orders or face being arrested just like the mother.

The officer on the scene denies the mother's story. According to the district attorney, the mother actually pleaded with the officer to let the man take the boy home. Witnesses at the hospital where the boy died stated they overheard the mother telling a relative that she did indeed ask the officer to let the man drive. The district attorney also claims several other inconsistencies in the man and the mother's story. Apparently, the jury felt the same way and convicted the man of killing the boy.

It is unclear if the mother will face additional charges. The boy was killed last spring. The man was only recently sentenced for causing the boy's death. The lawyer for the man stated during the trial that the man was a victim of entrapment because he was forced by the officer to drive while under the influence. The lawyer also claimed that is was "necessary" for the man to follow the police officers orders.

Contact a Stephen Bilkis and Associates when facing legal issues. Whether you have been charged with a DWI, drug crime or sex crime, we can ensure that your rights are protected. Our legal team will listen to you and expertly represent your side during a trial or during other legal procedures.

A mother was driving drunk in a school zone this last week in front of an elementary school. She was obviously under the influence after being seen crashing into a stop sign and then continuing to get in line at school in order to pick up her daughter from the elementary school according to a school crossing guard.

The Florida Highway Patrol responded to this accident as it was initially called in as a hit and run, explained a New York Criminal Lawyer. The school crossing guard actually recognized the woman and immediately called the school to notify them.

Of course all this happened at about 3:00 as students where being dismissed for the day from school. The Florida Highway Patrol found this lady waiting in line ready to pick up her daughter from the school as they responded to this call. At that time the police took her into custody and tested her blood alcohol level. She was well above the legal limit as she took the breath test. This mother tested at 2 ½ times the legal limit.

The legal limit is set at .08 and this lady had a blood alcohol level of .20. She wasn’t just charged with a DWI but the arrest included the fact that she had committed a hit and run by not stopping after running over the stops sign. This caused a lot of anger and outrage from the other parents waiting in line to pick up their children.

A Stephen Bilkis and Associates can help you if you are being charged with a felony. Stand up for your rights and get help today. We have offices to serve you throughout the New York area, including locations in Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, the Bronx, and Brooklyn. We also have locations in Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, and Westchester County.

A New York Criminal Lawyer has learned that a former county official that lost her job after being arrested on corruption charges has been collecting unemployment benefits. Her former boss had approved the unemployment benefits before he left office, even though she had been charged with more than one felony for her alleged part in bids for county projects. The charges allege that the former county official directed contract awards either to companies that she owns, or to companies that her friends own.

The current County Board President reported that the unemployment approval was in place before she took office. The county commissioners had originally directed the former Board President to fight the unemployment benefit claim, but the claim was processed and approved regardless.

There is much discussion in the county at this time, as to how the former county official can be eligible for unemployment benefits, given the fact that she had been fired, arrested, and charged with multiple felonies. Her former boss had filed for unemployment benefits himself after losing his reelection bid. His claim was denied since as an elected official he had not paid anything into the system, reported a Bronx Criminal Lawyer.

During a recent interview, the former County Board President could not understand how his filing for unemployment “was such a big story.” Yet during the course of the interview, he did not address why he had approved his aide’s claim for unemployment benefits when the county commissioners had requested that it be fought due to the fact that she was charged with crimes against the county and the taxpayers.

There was something that the former Board President did address in the recent interview. He stated that he is seeking employment with a hospital in Turkey. He went on to say just how excellent the health care is in Turkey, and how much cheaper it is than here in the United States. His implication, it would seem, is to discover just how the hospital system in Turkey can be so good, yet can provide health coverage to its citizens at affordable pricing.

The legal system can be very complicated and intimidating at times, it is important to seek legal counsel that has the skills to traverse the system for you in order to achieve your desired results. Whatever the charge, it is important to act promptly and contact Stephen Bilkis and Associates. We will ensure that your rights are protected through every stage of your legal proceedings.

We have offices throughout the New York area, including locations in Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx and Brooklyn. We also have locations in Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, as well as Westchester County. Call us today for a free consultation at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW.

A 19-year old female has been charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, which a felony that if convicted carries a maximum sentence of up to two years.

Before we continue, we must add that while some of the events contained in this article may seem bizarre, they are a factual representation of a true event that occurred within a large metropolitan city, and was first reported in one of its major newspapers. The names are being withheld due to privacy concerns of the parties.

It all began with the purchase of a hamster for the 19-year olds’ 9-year old brother. Her older brother, who is 25 and at the time was angered over something, had intentionally kicked the ball that the original hamster was in, which in turn threw the hamster from the ball. As a result of this action, the hamster died, the New York Criminal Lawyer was told.

The 25-year old brother, having felt absolutely horrible about what had just happened sought to make things right for his younger brother and bought him three new hamsters. While this may seem like the right thing for him to do, his 19-year old sister did not think too much of this and in the process she picked up one of the hamsters and “slammed it to the floor.” The hamster, of course, died on impact due to “blunt force trauma and liver damage.”

Thas yet to discover how the local animal society or local law enforcement first learned of this incident, but we had the chance to ask one local official about the incident. The local animal society told the New York Criminal Lawyer that animal cruelty laws apply to all animals regardless of size, and that the felony charge against the 19-year old female, as well as two additional misdemeanor charges of torturing animals and endangering the welfare of a child will also be pursued. Charges have not been filed against the 25-year old son.

The hamsters are no longer staying with the family. They were taken to a friend of the 25-year old son for safekeeping.

Criminal law can often take many twists and turns. Whether you or a loved one has been convicted of a drug crime, a weapons charge or DWI, it is important to ensure that your rights are protected at all times.

It’s a tough environment these days when it comes to finding work to pay the bills. Sometimes that means taking jobs you might not normally consider, because you know you need to keep food on the table. In this case, indicated a New York City Criminal Lawyer, a former cocktail waitress found herself in a difficult situation at work. She stated in her federal lawsuit that she was fed handfuls of drugs and then expected to have sex with the customers.

There was no doubt a hostile work environment for this woman. She worked for one of the largest club operators in her area as a cocktail waitress. The work conditions just got to be too much for her and she chose to quit, move on and file a lawsuit.

The lawsuit was actually filed with several allegations in it that included assault, sexual harassment and conspiracy. Now this lady would have had a choice as to which type of lawyer she would need to file her complaint seeking compensation.

Given that it’s a federal lawsuit, she may have opted to discuss her situation with an employment lawyer. Since many lawyer’s specialize in more than one area, it’s like the attorney would have also been able to handle the other issues listed in the complaint as well, from a plaintiff’s perspective, added the Brooklyn Criminal Lawyer.

However, if this case was to proceed criminally, the defendant would also need legal counsel, as all defendants charged with a criminal offense are entitled to a thorough and well thought out defense in response to the charges.

Considering this case from the defendant’s point of view, the charges may well be refuted and proven wrong is there was any evidence that the woman who brought the lawsuit had a history of using drugs. In the alternative, if she was considered to be an escort or other sex trade worker then that information could also be used at trial to rebut her allegations.

In addition, there would likely be some background investigative work done on a case like this to check into the woman’s work history and find out what her friends and co-workers have to say about her, on and off the job.

Whether you are contending with a sex crimes charge, a weapons charge or theft crime, it is important to ensure that you rights are protected at every stage of your legal proceedings. Contact Stephen Bilkis and Associates for advice and a free consultation at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW today. We have offices located in all boroughs of New York, including the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan and Staten Island. We also have locations in Nassau County and Suffolk County on Long Island, as well as Westchester County.