New York

Published on: June 25, 2012

Defendant Claim Law He Was Convicted of Has Been Repealed

by Stephen Bilkis

In 2007, a man was convicted of criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the third degree. The case stemmed from an incident that was witnessed by an on duty uniformed police officer in Chemung County, New York. A New York Criminal Lawyer said the police officer was on regular patrol when he stated that he observed a van pull alongside a jeep that was about twenty to 25 vehicle paces in front of him. He testified at trial that he saw a light-skinned male who was wearing a white sweatshirt that had a design on the sleeves. He was wearing a light colored hat. The man leaned out of the passenger side window in the front of the minivan. He fired a pistol at the jeep and sped off when the officer began to chase him. During the pursuit, the passenger in the front of the van jumped out and ran. The officer followed him on foot and apprehended him hiding in bushes a short distance away. He was still wearing the light colored sweatshirt with stripes on the shoulders but he only had on one boot. The missing boot and the hat were located nearby as was a Sig Sauer P-239 9 millimeter pistol. A magazine that fit the weapon was located in a parking lot near the area where the defendant had fled the van. Ballistic testing on the pistol verified that the weapon was operable and that the bullet and casing evidence from the scene were consistent with the test bullets that were fired from that pistol.

Upon apprehension, the defendant stated that he was not the shooter and that the shooter was actually another man who was in the van. A New York Sex Crimes Lawyer said the trial court did not think that the explanation provided by the defendant was reasonable and he was convicted and sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment. One of the contentions that the defendant made when he filed an appeal was that one of the laws that he was convicted of had been repealed before he was sentenced. The law was repealed after he was indicted and before he was sentenced. The court of appeals agreed that this charge on his indictment should have been dismissed prior to the sentencing phase because the law had been changed.

While it may not seem common, it is more common than one would think. Laws are changed and revised every year, during this time of fluctuation in the laws, people are still being stopped and arrested. Long Island Criminal Lawyer said there is usually a time delay in the time between the change of a law, and the enactment of the changes. An officer and sometimes even officers of the court are not notified immediately upon the change of a law. It can be several months from the time that a law is changed to the time that the information on the change in the law reaches the courts and police officers. During that time, people are still being charged and convicted of the offenses. Defense attorneys are necessary to ensure that the defendant does not have to serve time on a charge that was repealed prior to his arrest. It is unreasonable to have a defendant serve time for a conviction on a law that does not exist at the time that his sentence if read. In this case, the defense attorney caught the problem and filed the appeal that enabled the courts to correct the injustice before the defendant spent years in prison for a crime that was not valid at the time of his sentencing.

Published on: June 24, 2012

Defendant Contends Elements of Rape Crime Not Met

by Stephen Bilkis

A man filed a motion for him to file a late notice of explanation. The man’s counsel has established good reason for late filing of the notice which is attached to the moving papers. As explained on the counsel’s letter, a New York Criminal Lawyer said the alleged criminal acts occurred more than two years ago and making the notice of explanation was difficult. The state of New York noted on the record that they do not oppose the request and the notice will be deemed timely and is directed to be filed.

The second and third branches of the man’s motion concern the counts one and two of the accusation. The count one charged the man with predatory sexual assault against a child allegedly committed when the man was more than 18 years old at which he allegedly committed rape in the first degree against a female who was less than 13 years old. The count two charges was the same crime on the same legal theory against the same complainant. A New York Criminal Lawyer said the counts three and four charges were a criminal sexual act in the first degree with the same victim on the same dates as alleged in counts one and two. The count five charges endangering the welfare of a child encompassing all of the conduct charged in count one through four inclusive.

The man’s counsel first argues that the court should reduce the charge in counts one and two with rape in the first degree with the rule of lenity. The counsel notes that the elements of predatory sexual assault against a child are identical to those of rape in the first degree as charged. Counsel said based on records, the predatory sexual assault against a child is a class A-II felony with a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life and a maximum of 25 years to life. By contrast, rape in the first degree is a class B felony, with a mandatory determinate sentence having a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years, followed by at least five years of post-release supervision. The two crimes also have different plea bargain restrictions with respect to the offense against a child charge. The plea must be at least to a class C violent felony whereas the man may plead guilty to a class D violent felony in satisfaction of a charge of rape in the first degree.

Published on: June 22, 2012

Court Hears Motion To Supress Search Warrant

by Stephen Bilkis

On September 25, 2003, the Associate Village Justice of the Supreme Court, issued a search warrant directed to “any police officer of the County of Nassau.” A New York Criminal Lawyer said the search warrant found that there is probable and reasonable cause for the issuance of the warrant to make a search with the inspector and his agents, between 09/25/03 and 10/02/03 in the hours between 6:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. of the entire premises in 335 Princeton Street, Westbury, NewYork. The warrant categorically states that the seizure of the evidence shall be limited to the taking of still photographs and videotape pictures of the inside and outside of the premises.

The Senior Building Inspector of the Village of Westbury believed that the subject premises has been used or is being used as a two (2) family dwelling and the cellar is being used as an illegal apartment dwelling in violation of sec. 79-2, sec. 83-6, sec. 112-7, sec. 184-4, sec. 248-6 A and sec. 248-283 of the code of the Village of Westbury and NewYork State Multiple Dwelling Law sec. 30 and sec. 34. A Supervisor in the Department of Public Works testified that the garbage generated from the home was 3 to 4 times the normal amount at every pick up.

Subject to the defendant’s motion to suppress, the parties stipulated to the receipt into evidence of the “return” on the warrant indicating what was seized during the search.

Published on: June 20, 2012

Court Discusses Sex Offender Registration Act

by Stephen Bilkis

On January 21, 1996, the Sex Offender Registration Act was created by the legislative body of the New York State legal system. It provided that each offender who commits a sexually related offense, must be registered with the state as a sex offender. A New York Criminal Lawyer said the risk level that is assigned to each offender is based on that offender’s prior criminal history and the chance that the offender will commit the same or similar offence in the future.

When an offender commits a sexually related offense, they are provided with a hearing date where the facts and circumstances surrounding their most recent conviction are compared with any prior convictions. This comparison is designed to look for trends in behavior that could predict the actions of the offender in the future. Since, no one in the justice department, claims to be a fortune teller, there is no truly accurate measure of whether or not, an offender will commit an offense in the future. Bearing this in mind, the courts must look at the actions that this person has taken in the past. Courts have historically been resistant to including previous criminal activities in the measurement of current convictions. Just because a person has offended in this manner in the past does not necessarily mean that the person committed that crime on that date. A Westchester Criminal Lawyer said this contention of law is why it is not admissible for a prosecutor to discuss the offender’s predilection to commit a particular type of offense in court unless they have received prior approval from the court to do so based on a direct link to the offense that is at trial.

That is not the case when discussing the risk for recidivism of a sexually based offender in the legal system. History can show if an offender has an uncontrollable predilection to committing the offense that he is being tried for. For instance, if an offender has committed ten prior rapes, the chances that he will rape again are logically pretty good. However, if a person was convicted of rape under circumstances that were shaky at best, and it is the only offense that is in the person’s criminal history, he is less likely to commit the same or similar offense again. He is certainly less of a risk than the offender with ten like crimes prior to the conviction of his eleventh offense.

Published on: June 19, 2012

Defendant Claims He Did Not Play an Active Role in Drug Transaction

by Stephen Bilkis

A team of police officers conducted a buy and bust narcotics operation. The undercover officer carried bills which had been photostatted and drove to the location where twelve people were standing near the area. The officer called out from his automobile asking if anyone had dimes. A New York Criminal Lawyer said based on records, the word dimes mean a $10.00 bag of heroin. The man then came over to the auto and asked the officer what he wanted. The officer then replied again the word dimes. Then, another man standing a few feet behind the first man asked the officer if he wanted Santa Claus. The officer being unfamiliar with the term ignored the other man. The officer again told the first man that he wanted dimes. The man asked how many and the officer replied to give him two. The man called over his shoulder the word duayduay and another man then walked to a tree about fifteen feet from the auto. He bent down, reached among the cobblestones at the base of the tree and removed some glassine envelopes. The first man told the officer to give him the money and he must give him one extra dollar. The officer gave the first man a ten, a five and five singles. The man then counted it and demanded the officer for another dollar. The officer gave him a five dollar bill and the man returned four singles. As the other man was returning to the car, another person walked over to the tree and the man yelled at him to get away. The other man then walked to the car and handed the officer the two glassine envelopes. The other man told the officer that he should get out of the area fast because it’s hot. The officer then left the area and made a transmission to his back-up team to arrest the two men. The police then recovered narcotics from the cobblestones at the base of the tree. The other man was found to have twenty dollars as recorded bills in his possession while only a single dollar bill was found on the first man.

The issue brought into the court was the argument whether the first man was an agent of the purchaser and whether the trial court’s charge on the defense of agency was damaging to the first man so as to require reversal of his conviction for criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree. A New York Criminal Lawyer said the court then concluded that the first man was not an agent of the purchaser but rather played an active role as seller of the contraband.

As the court admitted the question of the first man’s status in the illegal transaction was a proper question for the jury and one in which they accurately determined that the first man was a seller of drugs. Based on records, it is important to remember that when the undercover officer drove to the prearranged locale, the man was not the only individual on the street, but was part of a group of twelve men. After the undercover officer asked of the congregation if anyone had dimes, the man then voluntarily emerged from the crowd and inquired as to what the officer desired and in what quantity. The second man approached and handed the narcotics directly to the officer. A few minutes later, the first and second man was arrested at which the second man had in his possession the twenty dollars of marked money while the first man was in possession of the additional dollar.

Published on: June 17, 2012

Defendant Takes Issue of Reclassification of Drug Offense to a Felony

by Stephen Bilkis

A man was charged in an indictment of two counts of criminal heroin possession and sale. The first count was due to drug possession and sale committed on October 19, 1973 and the second count was due to heroin possession and sale committed on October 23, 1973.

On September 1, 1973, the legislature of New York passed a law which classified criminal heroin possession and sale as a A-III felony. Being classified as A-III felony, a conviction would be punishable with an indeterminate prison sentence of a minimum of one to eight years (for first time offenders) and a maximum of life imprisonment.

A New York Criminal Lawyer said the accused here seeks a dismissal of the information and the indictment against him on the grounds that the indictment for criminal heroin sale and possession violates his rights to due process, equal protection, and the right against cruel and unusual punishment.

Published on: June 16, 2012

Sex Crime Includes Sex With a Minor

by Stephen Bilkis

A man was convicted of criminal cocaine sale; and criminal marijuana sale when he sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover police officer at nine different times and at nine different places.

A New York Criminal Lawyer said because of the sales of controlled substances to undercover police officers, the police had enough bases for a search warrant. When they searched the man’s apartment they found cocaine there. The man pleaded guilty to criminal sale and was sentenced to a prison term of 7 ½ to 15 years. After his conviction and pending his sentencing, the man was still out on bail. He undertook before the Court to appear whenever his presence was required and he also undertook not to be arrested on new charges.

During the time of his conditional release, the man had sex with a thirteen year old girl who was his neighbor’s daughter. He had sex with her in his apartment five different times. The thirteen year old girl got pregnant and the man moved to a different apartment in another building.

Published on: June 1, 2012

Plaintiff Sues Employer for Sexual Offenses

by Stephen Bilkis

The complainants filed an action that alleges forty-six allegations of fact in support of three causes of action. Their first two causes of action claims include sexual assault by the creation of a hostile work environment and the constructive discharge. The third cause of action is for intentional infliction of emotional distress. A New York Criminal Lawyer said all of the complainants seek for a decision without trial on liability on the entire complaint.

The complaint alleges that the complainants were working at the clinic when they discovered that the doctor had installed and used a hidden camera in the only working restroom.

Consequently, a New York Criminal Lawyer said one of the complainant’s asserts thirty-eight allegations of fact in support of five causes of action. The first two causes of action claim consist of sexual assault by the creation of a hostile work environment, for intentional discrimination and constructive discharge. The third cause of action is for violation of the right to privacy. The fourth cause of action is for intentional infliction of emotional distress. The fifth is for tort. The said complainant seeks to have decision without trial on liability on the first, second and fourth reasons of action. She asserts that she was a medical office clerk at the clinic and at some point the doctor placed an air purifier containing a hidden surveillance camera in the employee’s bathroom positioned five feet away from and at the same height of the toilet seat. She further states that she used the bathroom at least twice a day. When she discovered the unlawful surveillance equipment and the placement of the monitor in the doctor’s office, she resigned.

Published on: May 31, 2012

Defendant Contends Penal Law Unconstitutional

by Stephen Bilkis

The complainants, a prostitute and a patron seek a judgment declaring sections of the Penal Law unconstitutional. The laws prohibit prostitution and patronizing a prostitute.

A New York Criminal Lawyer said the action was commenced and the opponents, the City Mayor and the City Police Commissioner moved to dismiss on the ground that the prostitute and the patron lacked standing. Another opponent, the County District Attorney moved to dismiss on the same ground and also that the complaint failed to state a cause of action. The complaint was dismissed for failure to state a cause of action with leave to re-plead. The complainants filed an amended complaint and all the opponents moved to dismiss on the same grounds alleged by the District Attorney after the first complaint was filed. The complainants filed a cross motion for summary judgment. Before deciding the motions, the Court determined whether any of the prior rulings are LAW OF THE CASE.

The Law of the Case doctrine is a kind of intro-action res judicata or matter that was already settled and cannot be raised again. Within the framework of a single action, it prevents re-litigation of a point already adjudicated in it.

Published on: May 30, 2012

Son Sexually Attacks Mother, Mother Accused of Sexual Abuse

by Stephen Bilkis

A woman who was originally from the Dominican Republic had a son whom she left in the Dominican Republic when she migrated to the United States. She obtained permanent residence status when she married an American citizen with whom she had two other children.

A New York Criminal Lawyer said she was then able to send for her son from the Dominican Republic. He first stayed with his father’s relatives in Florida but later on he moved in with his mother at the house she shared with her American husband and their two children.

Sometime on December 31, 2007, the mother, the son and the stepfather attended a party where they all had quite a bit to drink. The son, who was then 14 years old drank rum at that party they attended. When they came home, the stepfather stayed in the living room to watch television.