Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Obama Commutes Sentences, Making Statement about Nonviolent Drug Offenses
On October 6th, President Obama commuted sentences for 102 federal prison inmates incarcerated for drug crimes, providing justice for individuals who were automatically cast as “career offenders” under federal law years ago and who were subject to unfair minimum mandatory sentencing. This brings the total number of sentences the president has commuted to 774,… Read More »
Hit and Run Accidents in New York: What Constitutes Unlawfully Leaving the Scene?
Every year, thousands of people are injured, or worse, in hit and run accidents, and data from 2015 shows that 38,000 incidences were reported that year in the state of New York alone. A hit and run accident can develop for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the driver was intoxicated or otherwise distracted and… Read More »
What is Self-Defense?
If you have ever looked up self-defense on the Internet, you will see numerous classes offered in Rockland County alone. When you think of self-defense classes, you might imagine someone wearing a padded suit, approaching another person in a slow and calculated manner. The “attacker” takes aim at the “victim” who then asserts their… Read More »
Bergen County DWI Arrest Results in Minor Traffic Violation
In an interesting twist of fate, Francisco Almonte, who was arrested in March of 2016 for alleged drunk driving, was ultimately charged in August only with a minor traffic violation consisting of failure to use a turn single. According to the evidence presented at Almonte’s trial, Bergen County Public Safety Director, Ralph Rivera Jr.,… Read More »
When is a Crime Considered a Hate Crime in New York?
In August of this year, two Rockland County rabbis were shocked to find themselves victims of a disturbing act of violence in their Clarkstown Town homes. Living only a few houses apart, within a matter of minutes, a group of teens allegedly set off loud fireworks on the property of each of the rabbis…. Read More »
New Jersey Lawmakers Propose Law to Expand Distracted Driving Definitions
Imagine driving down I-287, there is a lot of traffic and you are running late to an event. You hear your cell phone alert you to incoming text messages. It could be your kids, your parents, your boss or maybe someone else who needs to urgently communicate something to you. You pick up the… Read More »
DUI Arrests In Bergen County: What You Need To Know
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides that every day, 28 people die in accidents that are related to alcohol-impairment. In its most recent data, the CDC shows that the state of New Jersey saw almost 2,000 alcohol-related automobile deaths between the years of 2003 and 2012. Fortunately, most drinking and driving… Read More »
Drug Trafficking in New York: Getting Busted Can Land You in Prison for Life
The headline reads, “Pearl River grandparents accused of selling thousands of painkillers”. This past May, Linda Rose Famelico and Aniello Famelico were arrested on felony drug charges after investigators found nearly 2,000 prescription pills, $18,000 in cash and a large quantity of marijuana. This is not Famelico’s first drug charge and in 2013, she… Read More »
Driving Another’s Car Without Permission in New Jersey: What are the Consequences?
Earlier in August, 47 year old Eduardo Huaman of Bergen County was given permission by his boss to retrieve items from the company’s work van. After gaining access to the vehicle, he apparently drove away in it and Mr. Huaman’s former supervisor called the police to report the vehicle stolen. Shortly after the report… Read More »
When are Teens Tried as Adults in New York?
Jean Sanchez was 13 years old when killed another 13-year-old boy in May of 2014. His defense team argued that refusing to hear Sanchez’s case as a juvenile was a violation of his constitutional due process rights. The judge, however, refused this argument and ordered Sanchez to be tried in adult court. Although studies… Read More »