New York Criminal Lawyer Blog

Published on: December 15, 2011

Portuguese society columnist murdered in his hotel room

by Stephen Bilkis

A popular Portuguese celebrity journalist was found murdered and mutilated in his New York hotel room, a friend was told by police. The police said the victim had told a close friend that he had started to feel threatened by his young lover.

The victim was a gay activist and society columnist. He was beaten to death. His scrotum was also severed with a wine glass that had been broken during a fight with his lover, who is a fashion model.

The 65-year-old journalist was found in a puddle of his own blood. He was found face up in his room at Inter Continental New York Times Square hotel room on W. 44th St.

Published on: December 14, 2011

Couple receives months for their role in illegal immigrate smuggling

by Stephen Bilkis

A couple from Mission, Texas who plead guilty before a U.S. Court District judge were read their sentences Monday afternoon. Three months ago, they pled guilty to conspiring to hire illegal aliens to work in their tavern. They hired women to work at barmaid, but many times they were forced to work as prostitutes, a source was told.

The 54-year-old male was sentenced to fifteen months in federal prison. He has no chance for parole. He also received two years under supervision because of the federal human smuggling charges against him.

The 43-year-old female received two years of probation, as well as receiving a sentence of six more months of house arrests, a friend said. The woman could face deportation after serving her time because she is an illegal immigrant.

Published on: December 13, 2011

Hearing set for tax collector accused of stealing

by Stephen Bilkis

An evidentiary hearing has been set in the lawsuit against a former tax collector. A Milford Superior Court judge set Feb. 7 as the date for the hearing, a source was informed. Milford is located in Connecticut.

Both the prosecution and the defense will present their evidence for the trail before the judge. The judge will then decide if there is enough evidence for the lawsuit to continue to a trial. Not only will the judge hear about any physically evidence, but also if there are any witnesses to the supposed grand larceny, the judge will talk with them.

The parties involved have the right to know the claims against them and the evidence that the prosecution has. The evidentiary hearing gives both parties the ability to be on the same page. If the judge decides there is not enough evidence, the lawsuit will be thrown out.

Published on: December 12, 2011

Kentucky Accident Ends In Arrest,

by Stephen Bilkis

An accident in the city of Paducah Kentucky over the weekend resulted in arrest, when the man responsible for the accident was charged with driving under the influence, DWI, when he crashed into another car in the intersection of Kentucky Dam Road and US 68 outside of Paducah, said a local familiar with the area.

According to police, the suspect (a fifty five year old male) originally from Paducah, collided with an elderly female Paducah resident and her passenger (both also from Paducah) as she made a left-hand turn off of Kentucky Dam Road onto Highway 68. The suspect, who was traveling along Kentucky Dam Road in the opposite direction, failed to yield or slow, and the suspect collided with the right side of the woman’s car.

One observer said accidents such as these are often challenging cases to prove fault in, when they do not involve external factors (such as intoxicated driving) DUI. Because the intersection has both a turn arrow and a green light, it was impossible for the investigating officers to determine whether the victim of the accident had actually had the right of way at the time of the collision. While this issue is moot during the trial portion of the case, the question of right-of-way could become important during sentencing.

Published on: December 11, 2011

Decrease in drunk driving arrests resulting from harsher penalties,

by Stephen Bilkis

Drunk driving, DWI, maims and kills many hundreds of people every year, and has long been a leading cause of death and accidents on our highways and city streets. It continues to be a prevalent threat to our health and safety on America’s roadways today, but apparently the threat is lessening. Perhaps harsher laws and stricter penalties for driving under the influence have contributed to the decline, as fewer people are being arrested for drunk driving now than just a few years ago, believes a reporter.

Arizona, alone, is a state that has seen and reported a dramatic decrease in the number of people arrested and cited for drunk driving, reports the study. In fact, while over 2700 people were arrested on drunk driving charges last December, that number was substantially lower than the 3600 Arizona drivers that were charged during the same time frame just one year earlier. Across the state, officers stopped almost 30,000 individuals for suspicion of drunk driving, which shows their dedication to keeping the roads safe.

Despite the large number of traffic stops, however, it seems that fewer people were arrested. Fewer arrests means less risk for the general public, affirms the source. Police have stepped up their watch in regards to driving under the influence, DWI, undergoing training and education that enables them to more readily point out those who are putting people at risk. There is something to be said for the ‘no tolerance’ policies that have put into place across the country. Keeping our citizens safe is an idea whose time has finally come.

Published on: December 11, 2011

This Case is all about Domestic Violence

by Stephen Bilkis

Domestic violence whether we admit it or not has been a problem of society even during the early days. Unfortunately, the ultimate victims of this crime are the children. Often times a third party has to step in because both parents are incapable of recognizing that they are in a very menacing situation. Social Welfare may have to step in when the mental, physical and emotional development of the children are being compromised. A New York Criminal Lawyer can explain that social welfare acts as a government arm that ensures the children are safe and not in any kind of danger.

This case is all about domestic violence. The parents has been identified as people who keep on engaging in domestic violence and neither one has the capacity to get out of the vicious cycle of hurting each other. Friends, relatives, neighbors, police officers and even work colleagues have been asked to testify by the court. This procedure was necessary in order to establish a pattern that the parents have been continuously engaging in domestic violence for over 10 years already.

As a result, their eldest daughter has been diagnosed with enuresis or most commonly known as bedwetting at the age of six. The parents along with the eldest daughter were called in to undergo an evaluation at the a county mental health clinic because of their problem with their eldest. Apparently it was found out that the eldest has been playing “referee” or “peace maker” for her parents who were arguing most of the time. These arguments often end up in physical confrontations.

Published on: December 10, 2011

America’s Most Wanted tip helps put a woman behind bars

by Stephen Bilkis

A woman who was featured on America’s Most Wanted was arrested Friday night. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested the 52-year-old woman at Mohegan Sun, a casino in Uncasville, Conn. IEC agents picked her up from the casino floor.

The woman has been on the run since 2006 because she was wanted by New York for conspiracy to engage in human trafficking and interstate transportation of women for prostitution. A reporter was told that she ran a brothel and was being charged with transporting women from other countries to the United States.

American’s Most Wanted had done a feature on her in November 2010. Someone from the casino recognized her as a woman who visited Mohegan Sun often. The person called the show about the sighting.

Published on: December 9, 2011

Man Charged with Felony for Spitting

by Stephen Bilkis

A man who was originally charged with attempted murder for spitting on an emergency room nurse had his charges reduced to felony and misdemeanor assault. He was also charged with harassment, reports a source.

The man, who knew he had Hepatitis C, deliberately spat on an Emergency Room nurse as she tried to restrain him. The man was considered dangerous because he stated he was suicidal and planned to kill himself, according to a report.

While emergency workers attempted to restrain him, the man threatened to spit on anyone who tried to restrain him. The source states the man proceeded to spit in the face of a nurse. Because the man was infected with Hepatitis C, the nurse is currently being tested for the virus.

Published on: December 9, 2011

About the Public Defender Billing Record

by Stephen Bilkis

A Judge shared with a confident about having Public Defenders show to the newspaper media, the billing records for the defense provided to two murders who were convicted. The battle in court was long and costly over this matter. There were a lot of mixed feelings about this in the media and in the judicial system.

The Judge told a source that the Supreme Court in Washington State made the ruling quite succinctly. Apparently, the double murders that took place in 2005 came with billing record that were suspicious and that is why the Judge determined that it should be exposed. The defendants had cost the taxpayers up to two million dollars in the defense of their case. It was when the newspaper sued for the information that it was demanded to be released.

The Judge indicated to the audience that the ruling that one of the defendant’s cost for the case had to be revealed, but the other defendant’s billing record was not forced to be released. The newspaper media has reported that the public needs to know about these things since they are the ones paying for these costs. It was a good victory for those who were eligible to know these things.

Published on: December 8, 2011

Child Support Hearing Set for Family

by Stephen Bilkis

The Family finally got to sit down and have a child support hearing for their case. Their family is involved in a confusing and bitter child custody and child support case, reports a family friend. The case involved the mother, who was murdered, the father who does not have custody and the little boy. Details were not released on the outcome of the hearing or if they reached a settlement even.

The friend says that immediately after a custody exchange with their son, the mother was murdered when she went back to her car. It was later determined at another trial that the mother-in-law was the one who killed her. She did not like the fact that her son and the mother were in a custody dispute over the kids, so she killed the mother. The murder happened in the spring of 2009.

Since the case involved the mother of the father, the father lost custody. There were no details given to the court about if he helped to plan the murder or had even suggested it to his mother. The mother of the child in the custody dispute won full custody of their grandchild. This care was to determine what child support the father was to pay to the grandparents, since they are raising the child. The custody trial was in 2010 and was a long, painful ordeal for all involved since the mother of the child was no longer present. Reports a New York Criminal Lawyer