Central Islip Criminal Lawyer Suffolk County DWI NY

If you have been charged with a crime, whether it’s a felony or a misdemeanor, we are available to help you at the Law Office of Shawn R. Kassman Esq. We represent individuals charged with shoplifting, petty larceny, robbery, drug charges, traffic violations, suspended licenses, gun charges, DWI, DUI, trespassing, prostitution solicitation, juvenile crimes and all other criminal offenses. Our Central Islip criminal defense law firm is successful in getting good results to help individuals in their time of need.

Criminal Law

There are two situations in which you will need an attorney when charged with a crime:

1) After a police officer has determined that you have committed a crime, you will be given a notice to appear in criminal court on a specific day and at a specific time. You also might have to post bail at the precinct. This often occurs when a person is charged with a violation or misdemeanor, which are not serious crimes. It is not until the court date that we can attempt to plea bargain the case so you don’t have a criminal record. However, if you have a criminal history, the district attorney will not offer you as favorable a plea bargain as someone who has no criminal record.

2)If you are arrested and have to spend the night in jail, you will be brought in front of the judge for an arraignment. An arraignment is when the court informs you of the charges. The judge either will set bail or release a person on his or her own recognizance.

If you are faced with either of these situations, contact an attorney immediately. The police often are not truthful with individuals charged with a crime and tell the individual to sign a statement. This is one of the worst things you can do. You do not want to give the police any statements; the statements may be used against you and will affect our ability to plea bargain your case and get the best offer possible. There are hearings to seek that any oral or written statements be thrown out of court, these are hearings that are done before a trial. So it is in the defendant's best interest not to make any written or oral statements. When you have an attorney, the police are not allowed to take any statements from you that might be detrimental to your case.

If you are charged with a crime through either of the above situations, the jury or judge must find you guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

An attorney also can get the best plea bargain offer available. Most people do not realize that pleading guilty to any crime often has consequences on future employment when a prospective employer runs a background check. Also, if a person accepts a plea bargain that involves a misdemeanor offer, the person might not be eligible for certain government jobs or might even be fired from his or her current job when the employer learns about the criminal record.

Our Central Islip law offices are available 24/7. We are conveniently located down the street from the court house and can assist you with your criminal defense at your time of need. Please call us toll free at 888-545-2944 or locally at 631-232-9479.

Three Classes of Criminal Offenses

Felony

A felony is punishable by imprisonment of more than one year.

Misdemeanor

A misdemeanor is punishable by a jail term of up to one year or probation.

Violation and Infraction

A violation and infraction are punishable by up to 15 days in jail and/or a fine. They are not crimes and do not result in a criminal record.

When we represent you, we will meet with the district attorney to explore the settlement or dismissal of your criminal case.

If this is the first time you’ve been charged with a crime, Shawn Kassman will speak with the district attorney about your case on your first court date. Mr. Kassman will discuss the DA’s position regarding your case, which is determined by the criminal charge and your criminal history, based on a background criminal history report. Before the DA may make an offer to the defense counsel, he or she requires this background check. The DA will speak with the complainant (the person making the allegations against you) before making a settlement offer.

We usually are able to negotiate a plea bargain, allowing you to plead guilty to a non-criminal violation. This prevents a criminal record. Mr. Kassman also may negotiate an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal, which means your charges are dismissed six months to a year later.

In some cases, a trial is necessary. There are two types of trials: a bench trial, in which a judge hears testimony and makes the final ruling, and a jury trial, in which jurors hear testimony and issue a verdict. In either type of trial, the DA must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Mr. Kassman is an experienced trial attorney who will protect your rights and fully investigate your case.

If you would like to discuss your criminal matter, please call Shawn Kassman or a member of his legal team at 631-232-9479. We represent clients located in Central Islip (main office location), Holtsville (office location), Bayshore, Brentwood, Oakdale, Sayville, Port Jefferson and Riverhead and both Suffolk and Nassau counties.

Juvenile Crimes

Crimes committed by children under the age of 18 can result in a tough legal struggle. However, Shawn Kassman and his staff have immense experience in representing juveniles in court. Whether the crime is a felony (punishable by more than one year in prison) or a misdemeanor (punishable by less than one year in prison), the Suffolk or Nassau County court’s plan of action is determined by its belief of intent in the criminal’s action. While serving the common good, a child may be tried as an adult as a result of specific crimes and thereby sentenced to adult prison or ordered to a court-appointed juvenile facility. Others are sentenced to probation. Results are determined by the severity of the crime and if a criminal record exists.

Mr. Kassman and his staff will attempt to keep your case out of court and provide a plea bargain to ensure the best result. Contact Mr. Kassman and his legal team at 631-232-9479.

Shoplifting

Shoplifting is defined as a person taking an item or items from a store without purchasing the items first. If the items in question are valued at less than one thousand dollars, you may be charged with petty larceny, a Class A Misdemeanor in New York. Punishments for Class A Misdemeanors range from community service, probationary periods, fines, or up to one year in jail.

If you are caught shoplifting, the offense is your first for shoplifting and the merchandise is valued at less than a certain amount, the district attorney will offer to reduce the charge from a misdemeanor to an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal if you complete a one-day program called Stoplift. This means the charges will be dismissed as long as you stay out of trouble for six months.

If the merchandise is valued above a certain amount or if the shoplifting offense is not your first, then you likely will have to do community service in order for the charges to be reduced to a violation, which is not a crime, and will have to pay a fine.

If you have been charged with shoplifting, contact an attorney as soon as possible. Often, a retail store will send a written request to the defendant to pay for the items he or she attempted to shoplift, even though the merchandise was not damaged and never left the store. The store usually not only requests reimbursement for the items but asks for triple the price it charges normally. We advise clients not to pay the store any money. Once somebody makes a complaint it is out of the persons or companies in ability to determine what is going to happen with the case in the plea bargain phase when it comes to shoplifting charges from Department stores.

Due to the uncertain nature of punishment, it is best to request the assistance of our law offices soon after the incident so we can best serve you. Don’t plead guilty to an offense without first consulting Shawn Kassman, a lawyer with tremendous experience defending shoplifting cases. Whether a simple mistake or oversight on your behalf, or a case of mistaken identity, Shawn Kassman will aggressively fight for you.

Even if the shoplifted items have been returned, your name and contact information may be requested from the store where an incident occurred. Though the situation may seem closed or forgotten, it is important to contact Shawn Kassman and our legal team so we can help you assess the situation and assert your rights. Please call 631-232-9479.

Robbery

Robbery is defined as the forcible theft of property. Robbery charges are very serious and require several elements: first, the theft of another person’s property; the use of force or intimidation in the theft of the property; the lack of the owner’s consent to take possession of the property; and the intent to steal the property. Punishment for robbery is often prison time, and may range from less than a year to twenty-five years.

The wide range of punishment varies based on the degree of severity with each element in a robbery charge. Robbery charges may also include other charges, such as assault charge or weapons violations, and may become overwhelming very quickly. Shawn Kassman has exceptional experience in navigating robbery cases, ultimately fighting for your rights and negotiating a better outcome for you.

We strongly recommend calling Shawn Kassman or a member of our legal team at 631-232-9479 if you have been charged with any form of robbery. We represent clients located in Central Islip (main office location), Holtsville (office location), Bayshore, Brentwood, Oakdale, Sayville, Port Jefferson and Riverhead and both Suffolk and Nassau counties.