The Law Office of Shawn R. Kassman, Esq., defends clients that are in Suffolk County and Nassau County who are charged with a crime of a Misdemeanor, Felony and Violations:

Misdemeanors

- Assault
- Criminal contempt
- Trespass
- Petty Larceny
- Shop Lifting
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Driving with a Suspended Registration
- Harassment
- Menacing
- Drug charges
- Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
  in the Seventh Degree
- Marijuana Possession
- Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
-Domestic violence, shoplifting, petty larceny, robbery, burglary
- Juvenile Charges
- And all other misdemeanor charges as well

Felony Charges

- Grand Larceny
- Robbery
- Assault
- Drug Charges
- Driving While Intoxicated (DWI)
- Sex Crimes
- White-Collar Crimes
- Juvenile Charges
- Forgery
- As well as other serious criminal charges.

When you retain The Law Office of Shawn R. Kassman, Esq., the same attorney will represent you through your court proceeding. This is important so that you know who you can speak with if you have any concerns about your case and you know the person that will be coming to court every time will know what is happening with your case. Oftentimes, when you retain an attorney through other law firms, they send numerous associates leading to confusion and the client paying for legal services redundantly. This does not happen at my firm.

If this is your first time in trouble and have never been in court before, the attorney attempts to speak with the District Attorney on the schedule court date that is given to the defendant.  The attorney will speak with the District Attorney and find out what their position is, the District Attorney looks at a number of things depending upon what the defendant is being charged with, typically the District Attorney will look at 1) The person's criminal history, the District Attorney will  get a background report on all of the defendants prior criminal history. 2) Prior to the District Attorney making an offer to defense counsel, the District Attorney will require this background check. 3) The District Attorney will also speak with the complainant (the person making the allegations against the defendant), if there is a complainant, before making an  offer. 

*Most of the time we are able to work out a plea bargain so that somebody that is charged with a crime will plead guilty to a violation which is not a crime and the defendant will have no criminal record. Or to an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal (ACOD).  An ACOD means that the charges get dismissed either after six months or after a year depending upon what the underlying charges were against the person.

In some instances we are not able to work things out with the District Attorney and a trial is required. There are two types of trials; a bench trial which the judge will hear testimony and the judge will make the ruling, or there is a trial by jury; which is made up of a panel of your peers that are carefully chosen by the District Attorney and defense counsel. In a trial situation, the District Attorney must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty. Witnesses are presented as well as evidence by both sides and a guilty or not guilty verdict is determined.

Three Classes of Criminal Offenses

Felony
A felony is an offense which is punishable by a sentence of imprisonment of more than one year.

Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is an offense punishable by up to one year in jail or a sentence of probation.

Violation and Infractions
These are offenses punishable by up to 15 days in jail and/or a fine. They leave you with no criminal record.