Assault

February 20, 2012

The Value of Investigating a New York Assault Arrest: New York Criminal Lawyers Obtain Dismissal of Felony Assault Case

Any New York criminal lawyer can tell you an allegation is merely an allegation. It is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt, or, for that matter, proof of much at all. Whether you are arrested for a fight involving a neighbor or a stranger, the burden on the prosecution is to not only establish the probable cause that legitimized a police arrest for Assault, but also they burden is on the People to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt. Despite this legal requirement and the recognition that an arrest is not proof of any guilt, allegations are often devastating. For a client of Saland Law PC, this pain was overwhelming until our New York criminal lawyers were able to secure a dismissal in his felony Assault case.

Prosecutors charged our client with Assault in the Third Degree (New York Penal Law 120.00) after our client allegedly struck another man and opened up a laceration on his forehead. Normally a misdemeanor crime, this Third Degree Assault was prosecuted as a felony due to the allegation that the barrages of punches were part of a verbal tirade against the complainant because of the alleged victim’s perceived homosexuality. Under New York State law, a misdemeanor crime can be elevated to a felony offense if it is classified as a “hate crime.”

February 5, 2012

Do Puncture Wounds from being Stabbed Automatically Establish Serious Physical Injury in a New York Felony Assault Case?

by Jeremy Saland

Generally speaking, the practice of criminal law is neither scientific nor mathematical. While a New York criminal lawyer may be methodical in his or her dissection of legal issues and the use of prior cases decisions to prove a particular point of law, criminal law in New York is constantly morphing and growing. Whenever advocating for a particular point of law, having the most recent court rulings on the particular issue at hand is critical. It can make the difference between being charged “as is” or obtaining a dismissal or reduction of your case from a felony to a misdemeanor.

One area of New York criminal law where the principles above are illustrated is in the arena of New York Assault crimes. Essential to any New York Assault case, whether it be Assault in the Third Degree (New York Penal Law 120.00), Assault in the Second Degree (New York Penal Law 120.05) or Assault in the First Degree (New York Penal Law 120.10), is the existence of some form of injury. The threshold for this injury is “physical injury” in misdemeanor NY PL 120.00 crimes and “serious physical injury” for crimes involving the felony offense of NY PL 120.05. Whether or not the prosecution is able to prove “serious physical injury” as opposed to the lesser “physical injury” makes the difference between facing up to seven years in state prison or one year in a local or county jail such as Rikers Island (not that any institution is where you would want to be).

January 6, 2012

Prosecuting a Case of Third Degree Assault (NY PL 120.00) without a Victim: The Excited Utterance Rule in New York

by Jeremy Saland

As a New York criminal attorney who works on behalf of clients in the criminal trial courts throughout the New York City area–from the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan into the counties of Westchester and Rockland– I pick up on the strategies employed by the respective District Attorney’s Office. Equally important, having served as a Manhattan prosecutor for over seven years, I witnessed first hand Assistant District Attorneys pursuing these strategies. As I also saw them, I’ve noticed a trend amongst Assistant District Attorney’s trying to corroborate the allegations in a complaint and further cases even where a complainant is not cooperative. A recent case, The People v. Joseph Valentine, 2009KN083896, NYLJ 1202516492758, at *1(Criml, KI. Decided September 8, 2011) is a great illustration of this trend and thus is a case worth examining in this blog.

Mr. Valentine was charged with Assault in the Third Degree pursuant to NY PL 120.00(1), Menacing in the Third Degree pursuant to NY PL 120.15, Criminal Obstruction of Breathing or Blood Circulation (choking) pursuant to NY PL 121.11(a), and Harassment in the Second Degree pursuant to NY PL 240.26(1). The arresting officer had responded to a “radio-run” (911 call) for a family dispute. The complainant, Ms. Ingram, who is the defendant’s girlfriend, was outside of the house hysterically crying and explained to the officer that Mr. Valentine had choked her.

November 1, 2011

New York Penal Law 120.00 Deals & Offers: Potential Lesser Pleas in New York Criminal Courts Part II

by Jeremy Saland

In a previous entry, I addressed the crime of Assault in the Third Degree pursuant to New York Penal Law 120.00 as well potential deals or offers one could expect in New York City courts (as well as elsewhere in the state). Once again, if you intentionally (or recklessly) cause physical injury to another individual and thereby cause substantial pain, you have perpetrated this misdemeanor crime. Although there are very important nuances to this statute that can and should be addressed by an experienced New York criminal lawyer, the purpose of this blog entry is not to address the crime itself, but deals one might expect from the prosecution.

Outside of an outright dismissal, procedural dismissal (“speedy trial” and CPL 30.30), or acquittal at trial, there are few options other possible dispositions beyond what was previously addressed. The three remaining dispositions are as follows:

July 15, 2011

Oscar Fuller, the One Punch Bandit, and Second Degree Assault: A New York Criminal Lawyer’s Analysis of a Potential Overcharge

by Jeremy Saland

Oscar Fuller, the man accused by prosecutors of obliterating the petite Lana Rosa with one punch, was arraigned on an indictment charging Assault in the Second Degree in Manhattan Supreme Court earlier this April. According to District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., what began as a dispute over a “trivial matter – a parking spot – turned into a vicious and senseless act of violence with dire consequences.”

While I do not believe anyone can credibly argue that Ms. Rosa, who recently awoke from a coma after fracturing her skull, was not hurt catastrophically, legal minds can certainly debate whether or not DA Vance made the wrong (or right) charging decision in this case. Make no mistake, DA Vance had “no choice” but to present this matter to a Grand Jury. If he did not present the case to the Grand Jury, the jury of public opinion would not embrace the top prosecutor well. If the case was presented to the Grand Jury and they did not indict, then DA Vance could always explain that he must respect the process whether he agreed or not with the outcome. Regardless, the Manahttan District Attorney’s Office is now saddled with proving a one punch felony that may not merit such a prosecution based on the actions of the accused as opposed to the end result.

April 13, 2011

Top Criminal Case Result: New York Criminal Lawyers Obtain Dismissal of Third Degree Assault (NY PL 120.00) in NYC Court

by Jeremy Saland

The New York criminal lawyers at Saland Law PC are pleased to announce the dismissal of all charges against a client in a New York County (Manhattan) Criminal Court. Our client had been arrested for and charged with Assault in the Third Degree (New York Penal Law 120.00), Endangering the Welfare of a Child (New York Penal Law 260.10) and Harassment in the Second Degree (New York Penal Law 240.26). Unquestionably, this dismissal was the best result our client could have hoped for.

Police arrested our client after the father of her child claimed she attacked him in a hospital room where the child was receiving medical treatment. Unfortunately, the child suffers from a serious physical issue. The complaint against our client alleged that she struck the “victim” with her closed fist and elbow in his face while also scratching his face and neck. Because the six month old child was in the hospital room at the time of the alleged altercation, our client was also charged with Endangering the Welfare of the Child.

March 8, 2011

The “One Punch” Felony Assault: Will Intent or Only the Actual Injury Dictate the Ultimate Resolution in the Oscar Fuller Assault Case

by Jeremy Saland

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr. is in an unenviable predicament. One one hand he has Oscar Fuller, a man with a criminal record who is not a particularly sympathetic fellow, and in the other, Lana Rosas, a petite woman potentially on the edge of death or a vegetative life. Politically, “throwing the book” at Fuller is a no-brainer. Yet, is the charge of felony Assault in the Second Degree, New York Penal Law section 120.05(1), truly the right charge in this case or is it really just a reach? In DA Vance’s defense, because of the extent and nature of the injury to Ms. Rosas, he likely had no other choice but to present the matter to a Grand Jury to make the charging decision – and it did just that. The Grand Jury indicted the defendant on the charge of Assault in the Second Degree, a felony. The question that now has reared its head is whether the sadness and despair of this case played too great a role in the grand jury’s decision making process or did an objective view of the evidence dictate that Mr. Fuller’s actions were felonious?

Before proceeding any further, there are a few statements I must make. First and foremost, I do not think many people can grasp the pain that has fallen upon Ms. Rosas and her family. Regardless of the criminal charges, they have all suffered and we all hope that she can recover to live a normal life. Second, none of us, outside of those intimately involved in the case, know the evidence and facts beyond what we read or see in the local media. Because of this, in assessing this case, I will address the blog entry in a more vague approach while trying to tie it back to Mr. Fuller’s case. That is, if a person strikes another person once with his fist, and as a result, the victim suffers a horrific injury such as as swelling in the brain and a resulting coma, is the appropriate charge a felony or misdemeanor Assault?

February 10, 2011

Misdemeanor Assault in the Third Degree (NY Penal Law 120.00): Potential Deals & Offers for Assault in New York Criminal Courts Part I

by Jeremy Saland

Whether you were arrested for Third Degree Assault (New York Penal Law 120.00) or you were given an Assault Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) in the New York City area, the potential offers or deals are ultimately the same. Certainly, one New York criminal defense attorney may have a different approach to get the best deal over another lawyer, but the potential crimes and violations you may obtain are all found in the New York Penal Law.

Generally, Assault in the Third Degree (NY PL 120.00) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. In New York City (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx), that year for an Assault arrest and conviction would be served on Rikers Island. Obviously, your New York criminal lawyer will advocate fiercely to prevent that from happening. So, assuming that you cannot beat the case on factual, legal or procedural grounds, what are the potential offers you can expect to discuss with your New York criminal defense attorney? The following is a list of those dispositions:

December 19, 2010

Making a Misdemeanor Assault in the Third Degree a Second Degree Felony in New York: When an Object Becomes a “Dangerous Instrument” & a Weapon

by Jeremy Saland

As I have noted in earlier entries, a misdemeanor Assault in the Third Degree (New York Penal Law 120.00) can be “bumped up” to a felony Assault in the Second Degree (New York Penal Law 120.05(2)) if the alleged perpetrator uses a “dangerous instrument.” As a New York criminal defense attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor, I have seen various non-threatening items qualify as “dangerous instruments” where there is really nothing dangerous about them. Unfortunately, even these items, if used in the violent context, can mean the difference between facing up to one year in jail or seven years in state prison.

Briefly, pursuant to New York Penal Law 120.00(1), if a person intentionally causes physical injury to another (substantial pain or physical impairment), then that person is likely guilty of this misdemeanor. However, if a person uses a “deadly weapon” or a “dangerous instrument,” then the crime becomes more serious even if the injury is the exact same. Pursuant to Assault in the Second Degree, New York Penal Law 120.05(2), a person is guilty of this crime when he or she intends to cause physical injury to another person by using a “deadly weapon” or “dangerous instrument.”

December 14, 2010

New York Criminal Defense Lawyers Get Another Top Result: Assault in the Third Degree (New York Penal Law 120.00) Dismissed

by Jeremy Saland

It is unquestionably the best outcome or as close as one can get. Saland Law PC, a Manhattan based criminal defense firm founded by two New York criminal defense attorneys and former Manhattan prosecutors, obtained a dismissal of all charges against a client accused of Assault in the Third Degree (New York Penal Law 120.00). Our client, a doctor, was alleged to have “pummeled” another man in a dog run after a dispute involving their dogs. The complainant had two alleged “witnesses,” actually friends, who claimed they saw the entire incident. Although the complainant had no visible injuries (we requested picture numerous times to no avail) and was seen in fine health the following day by witnesses not tied to either party, the prosecution was bent on going forward. Compounding matters, the complainant’s personal injury attorney called our client within days to see if our client wanted to settle to avoid a lawsuit (he received a resounding “no”).

Fortunately, at least three or four independent witnesses (not friends with either party) saw the incident and asserted that our client never struck anyone. Despite providing these witnesses to the prosecution, the District Attorney’s Office only offered a Harassment violation. Because our client did no wrong and the complainant saw him as a deep pocket for his lawsuit (not only did the “victim” fail to tell the prosecution he was suing, our investigation revealed this was not the first time he sued someone else or was involved in litigation), our client refused this offer.