Hiring an expert NYC criminal defense attorney to defend you against misdemeanor assaults cannot prevent the accuser from suing you in a civil case.

However, it can help to minimize the damage the criminal charge would cause to the civil case.

If you’ve been charged with an assault, contact Paul D. Petrus, Jr. today to schedule a free initial consultation.

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A person is legally permitted to change attorneys, with very few exceptions.

If you’d like to discuss your criminal charge with a Manhattan federal defense attorney, contact Paul D. Petrus, Jr. today to schedule a free initial consultation.

The post If I already have an attorney, can I hire a new one? appeared first on Petrus Law.

To prepare for your first meeting with Paul D. Petrus, Jr., he suggests brining as much documentation about your case as you can. This type of documentation includes:

• Court documents
• Paperwork from a former attorney
• Parole or probation information

“You can never bring too much information,” says Attorney Petrus. He will sort through the documentation with you to find the most important and relevant aspects.

If you have been charged with a crime in New York City, Paul D. Petrus, Jr. is here to help. Contact him today for a free initial consultation.

The post What should I bring to my first appointment with a Manhattan criminal defense attorney? appeared first on Petrus Law.

From the moment you hire your attorney, he or she will begin to gather information both about you and about your case from you and all other sources, including the prosecutor, any witnesses, family members, colleagues and friends. Every case is different and Mr. Petrus will tailor his approach specifically to fit your needs.

If I am charged with a felony, should I appear before the Grand Jury to hear the evidence against me?

Every person with pending felony charges against them in New York has a right to appear before the Grand Jury and, after waiving their right against incriminating themselves, has the right to testify on their own behalf in an effort to persuade the Grand Jury not to vote an indictment against them. In addition, every such person has the right to make the Grand Jury aware of other witnesses and evidence which they believe would exonerate them and to request that the Grand Jury hear such testimony and see such evidence at this stage. However, just because it is the right of a person accused of a crime to appear before the Grand Jury and to testify on his or her own behalf does not mean that doing so is a wise decision. When you testify before the Grand Jury, whatever you say may be used as evidence against you in the event you are indicted. Thus, you should thoroughly discuss this option with Mr. Petrus before deciding whether to testify and let him help to prepare you for what will be one of the most important days of your life.

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• Bail
• Arraignment

The post Court Proceedings in NY appeared first on Petrus Law.

In the event that the accused will appear before a Grand Jury, the process will begin to determine whether or not the defendant is guilty. The function of the grand jury is to define whether or not there is reasonable cause to believe that the accused has committed a crime. Throughout this entire process, no judge, defendant, or defense attorney will be present. This is a period of time when only witnesses are questioned before the jury. From there, the grand jury can result in “no bill”, meaning that there isn’t enough evidence provided to the jury to prove that a crime has been committed, or the case can be returned to lower courts to be tried as a misdemeanor.

However, provided that the judge decides against holding the defendant in front of a Grand Jury, there will be an indictment, in which the accused is formally charged with a felony. If no prior charges have been made at this point, the accused will be arrested.

The next step is a Superior Court arraignment, in which bail is either set or reset, and the Assistant District Attorney can provide a plea to have charges reduced to prevent the need for a trial. If no plea agreement can be reached, the case will go to trial, in which the Assistant District Attorney must prove to the judge and jury that the defendant has committed the crime they are being charged with beyond reasonable doubt.

There are three possible outcomes that can be reached from the trial stage, which include an acquittal, a conviction, or a hung jury. An acquittal is reached in the event that there was not enough evidence to prove that the crime was committed, or there is reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the accused crime. A hung jury is simply the event that the jury cannot reach an agreement, causing a possible retrial. In the event of a conviction being made, or a defendant pleading guilty, the victim can provide the judge with a Victim Impact Statement, in which they write a letter to the judge discussing the crime and its impact. From there, the probation department will contact the defendant during a Presentence Investigation. This investigation will be sent to the judge to aid in the sentencing process. Finally, during the sentencing process, the victim and their family can make final remarks, before a final court decision is reached.

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