New York Criminal Lawyer Blog

Published on: May 4, 2011

A Fort Meyers father is pursued following alleged abduction of his son across state lines

by Stephen Bilkis

Following an intense situation of alleged parental child abduction, a man from Fort Meyers is said to have been found along with his son in the state of Michigan, to the joy of the boy’s mother.

Last October, a young boy in the midst of his parents’ divorce was abducted by his father following a warrant for the father’s arrest. The father and mother had previously divorced, and were sharing legal custody of the child in the form of legal visits with the father. When the father discovered that a warrant was issued for his arrest, he panicked. Following the confirmation of this warrant by way of a patrol car visible near the mother’s home, the father proceeded to flee with the boy.

It is the testimony of the mother that both father and son from Fort Meyers have been found in Michigan; however, as noted by a NY Criminal Lawyer, authorities have not verified this testimony on the part of the mother, who when asked to comment, replied, “I’ve been hoping for this every day. Today is the best day ever.”

Published on: May 3, 2011

California To Crack Down on DUIs State Wide

by Stephen Bilkis

Not one, not two, not even three, but well over one hundred different police agencies throughout the great state of California got together and announced a new plan that would be in place to discourage people from drinking then driving, said a New York City Criminal Defense Lawyer. The plan was to start with the holiday season and then continue into the new year. Don’t take the party on the road, was the new slogan. A catchy, simple reminder that alcohol and cars simply do not mix – no matter what someone may think in a dumb moment of booze induced stupidity.

Young men, fueled with testosterone and who knows what else are the worst offenders, a police spokesperson told a NY City Criminal Defense Lawyer. They drink, drive, and think they can take on the world. They have a self-centered world view where they are king and everyone else exists to simply help them live however they want. Drinking and driving is a problem all over the country, but California has seen its fair share pain and horror. In L.A. alone there were over one hundred and fifty DWI related deaths.

Police recommended many simple steps people can take all in an effort to lessen their likelihood of killing someone while drinking and driving. A New York City Criminal Defense Lawyer indicated that they encouraged people to pick a designated driver, locate public transportation, or make arrangements to stay the night.

Published on: May 2, 2011

Georgia takes steps toward a tougher immigration policy

by Stephen Bilkis

The state of Georgia is taking steps to pass an immigration law similar to that which exists currently in Arizona.

As of March 01, the southern state was in the process of passing a controversial bill that would increase measures to prevent the infiltration, residence and employment of non-U.S. citizens in the state. A N York Criminal Lawyer recognizes that if this measure goes through as planned, Georgia will become the second state to pass such an immigration bill, with Arizona’s current policy being the model.

It is noted that the American Civil Liberties (ACLU) has announced its plan to sue, in the event that the bill includes any freedom on the part of law enforcement to pose question individuals. According to the proponents of this controversial bill, their strong support is due to what they perceive to be a currently insufficient immigration policy. The vote on this proposal is anticipated for the second week of March. The proposal states that one of its main objectives is to tighten security measures by requiring law enforcement officers to request a person’s immigration status. Though it is claimed that reasonable cause must exist for such an inquiry to have validity, there is significant opposition to this proposed measure. It is not stated what parameters exist in reference to “reasonable cause” on the part of law officers, but the threat of lawsuit on the part of the ACLU may very well complicate things.

Published on: May 1, 2011

Arkansas Arrests Former Seattle Deputy

by Stephen Bilkis

A former sheriff’s deputy from King County, Washington, was arrested in Arkansas. The arrest came as part of an investigation that was prompted when the former deputy applied for a job with an Arkansas Sheriff’s Office narcotics task force.

The former deputy had resigned from his post in Washington in order to move closer to his family in Arkansas. However, prior to his resignation, he was already under investigation in Washington State for first-degree theft, which stipulated that he had kept drugs that were assigned to him as a training tool for his K-9 partner. After the former deputy had applied for the Arkansas position, the U.S. Marshals were then notified to assist in the investigation due to the Washington State charges there were pending.

The King County Sheriff’s Office told NY City Criminal Lawyers that they take their position of trust seriously, and once it was learned that the narcotics was unaccounted for that they began an investigation immediately. The Sheriff’s Office spokesperson went on to add that the public trust means everything to them.

Published on: April 30, 2011

Man Charged in Maryland DUI Faces Deportation

by Stephen Bilkis

Two men were arrested in Bishopville, MD, on Saturday, sources revealed. The police report indicates that neither the passenger nor the driver of the vehicle would give their names to the police after they stopped the vehicle. Maryland State Police troopers stopped the vehicle after it was allegedly observed at about 11:18 a.m. Saturday morning going 80 mph in a 55 zone.

As troopers began their investigation following the traffic stop, they soon discovered that the driver did not have a legal driving license and nether of the men had any form of identification on their person. Officers were also unable to discover any form of vehicle registration or proof of insurance.

Further exasperating the situation, both men gave troopers fake names, and the driver had actually provided troopers with a second fake name as well. A NY Criminal Lawyer was also made aware that the driver was arrested for DWI after he failed field sobriety tests. Troopers have probable cause to perform these tests due to the odor of an alcoholic beverage as the driver exhaled. The passenger had also thrown beer cans out of the window as officers approached. After a brief foot chase, the passenger was taken into custody.

Published on: April 29, 2011

A Las Vegas couple charged in the death of their son

by Stephen Bilkis

In the Las Vegas corridor of Nevada, a husband and wife have been found guilty of a primary charge of involuntary manslaughter of their young son, as well as secondary charged of child abuse and neglect.

According to court documents, the man and woman charged in this case were highly negligent of their son, which resulted in a fatal episode that occurred around 2.5 years ago. In June 2008 following the attendance of a church gathering in the community, the couple returned home with their five children and proceeded into their home. Unfortunately, one of their sons was left in the vehicle. A New York Criminal Lawyer notes that the young boy, who at the time was 4 years old, suffered from muscular dystrophy and lacked the physical strength to open the car door and escape.

Approximately 17 hours later, the trapped young boy was found deceased in the family’s vehicle; the cause of death being heat exposure, apparently. The father and mother were taken into custody on March 01 following the result of the trial, which was conclusive in its evidential circumstances and sentencing. Upon being taken into custody the couple was held at $500,000 bail and $250,000 bail, respectively. Charges of child abuse, domestic violence and neglect were also attributed to the couple, in addition to the primary of charge of involuntary manslaughter, according to a New York City Criminal Lawyer.

Published on: April 28, 2011

Refusal to accept responsibility for ones actions puts pressure on judicial system

by Stephen Bilkis

In times of stress or threatening situations, it is amazing how many people try to place blame on something external for their faults. According to a New York Criminal Lawyer, people will say just about anything to get out from between the rock and the hard place that they have found themselves in. Though no one will argue for a moment that the founding fathers of our country were honest and forthright in all of their dealings, explained the N York Criminal Lawyer, it is at least fair to say that they were, at least in some sense, looking out for the greater good of the nation that they were trying to build.   Not so for some people. Take, for instance, the case of an Ohio man who tried to blame his DUI on iconic rock singer Ozzy Osbourne. According to the man charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, the heavy metal music that the driver was playing led him to drive illegally after drinking. This example is a blatant attempt to circumvent the personal responsibility that each of us has to keep both ourselves and our fellow humans safe from harm.   The NYC Criminal Lawyer went on to suggest that the lies and blame that people resort to in situations where they feel threatened, whether or not what they did was wrong, back logs our already strained legal system as the truth is being searched for. What this boils down to is a system that is filled to overflowing with bogus stories, which is a huge waste of time and money for all of us. Essentially, what needs to happen is that people need to be responsible for their failures and mistakes as well as take credit for their successes and strengths. In doing so, our nation will become a better place.   

The Office of Stephen Bilkis and Associates can offer you support and guidance as well as a free consultation when you contact us at 1-800-NY-NY-LAW. We have offices in New York City, including Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and The Bronx and in Nassau County, Suffolk County and Westchester County.Though our legal system may not be perfect, it was set up to protect each and every one of us. If you are unsure about how to proceed once a crime has been committed, please call a New York Criminal Attorney today. A knowledgeable New York Criminal Attorney will guide you through the appropriate channels and allow you to responsibly manage your mistakes.

Published on: April 27, 2011

Massachusetts Road Rage Case Sentenced

by Stephen Bilkis

A 23-year-old medical receptionist was placed on probation for two and a half years after she was found guilty of driving to endanger and of six counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. Her drunken driving charge was continued without finding for two years probation. She must also participate in a first-offenders alcohol driver education program, and was ordered to refrain from drinking alcohol, said a New York Criminal Lawyer.

Leading up to her arrest, the 23-year-old left a Providence RI nightclub after having an argument with someone. She then drove drunk from Providence to Massachusetts on Interstate 95, and had a collision with a car containing six occupants on I-495. She also nearly forced a state trooper off the road, states a New York City Criminal Lawyer.

The other driver at the Providence nightclub supposedly sparked the incident, leading to the chase. However, the medical receptionist accepted responsibility for her actions. The accident took place around 3 a.m. when she repeatedly crashed into the rear of the victim’s car as it drove down the highway. A State Trooper had to take evasive action to avoid a collision as he pursued them down I-495.

Published on: April 26, 2011

Kentucky governor passes a divisive medical bill into law

by Stephen Bilkis

The Governor of Kentucky has recently signed into law a controversial bill involving eye care for residents of that state.

The bill, labeled SB 110, has had a significantly short journey, from its initial overwhelming passage in the Senate to its impressive passage in the House of Representatives in Kentucky. A New York Criminal Lawyer realized that both of these passages occurred within the same week in January, followed by a brief pause in the process until the governor signed the bill into law on Feb. 24.

The main provision of the bill is controversial in nature: on the surface, it allows for optometrists to perform certain types of minor surgery on patients that was once only administered by highly trained surgeons. The governor is quoted as saying, “Access to quality health care is a critical issue for families across the commonwealth”. He went on to promote the decision, declaring, “After careful consideration, along with meeting with many interested parties, today I signed Senate Bill 110 to give Kentuckians greater access to necessary eye care”, according to a New York Criminal Lawyer. Opponents of this decision cite what they believe to be a disastrous result of this law: according to the president of the Kentucky Academy of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, “Optometrists simply do not have the training necessary to perform these procedures or manage the kinds of serious complications that can arise during surgery.”

Published on: April 25, 2011

Maryland Man Sent to Prison for DUI and Car Chase

by Stephen Bilkis

An Upper Marlboro, Maryland, man will spend the next three and one half years in prison after pleading guilty this past January to misdemeanor DUI, and two felony charges of attempting to injure a police officer and eluding unlawfully, a New York Criminal Lawyer explained.

The incident occurred August 7, 2010, when a Culpeper County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled the 35-year old man over on Route 3 near Mount Pony for going 74 in a 55-mph zone. Sources further told a NY Criminal Attorney that as the deputy approached the vehicle, the driver nearly struck the deputy after throwing his vehicle into reverse. With deputies in pursuit at more than 100-miles per hour, the driver stuck another vehicle that was driven by a 22-year old mother who also had her 1-year old son in the vehicle. Following a brief struggle, deputies took the man into custody, and during their investigation deputies learned, the man’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was 0.18, which is more than twice the legal BAC limit in Maryland of 0.08. He was charged with DWI.

Although three other charges against the man were later indefinitely suspended, prosecutors in this case said that the sentence the court imposed sent a clear message to anyone who chooses to take their vehicle and use it as a weapon in an attempt to elude law enforcement officers. He went on to add, “Innocent users of the highway deserve to be protected from this type of conduct.”