Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer
Assault
People who are charged with assault need to be concerned about more than what is going to happen in their criminal case. They also need to be concerned about whether they will be sued in civil court. The court is probably going to hold you accountable for whatever medical costs the victim incurs.
Murder/ Manslaughter
Murder cases are difficult cases. If you have been charged with murder, you will be battling not just in a court of law, but also in the court of public opinion. One of the cases I handled involved the murder of an eight-year-old boy and his mother in Bridgeport. The crime was on the front page of the local newspaper from the date the crime occurred until the trial.
DUI/DWI
People who are arrested for drunk driving in Connecticut are rightly concerned about how the charge will affect their ability to drive. Most of the time, my clients are looking for an opportunity to leave court without pleading guilty and without the arrest having an effect on their driver's license after the case is over. Whether I am able to do this depends on the case.
First time DUI charges
First time DUI offenders face serious penalties, but also have the opportunity to challenge charges and reduce penalties with the right approach. As your attorney I will fully investigate the charges against you and seek to minimize penalties either through plea bargaining or in court.
Drug possession
Conviction for drug possession can result in significant fines, jail time, and a serious record. If you are charged with possession, I will fight to suppress any evidence illegally obtained through stop, search, and seizure, and minimize your penalties through the elimination of charges or plea bargain.
Repeat offender DUI and drug sales
A repeat offense will almost definitely result in more serious fines and penalties. Whether you are facing a second, third, or multiple charge for DUI or drug sales, I will challenge the charges against you and strive to minimize penalties and reduce or eliminate underlying charges.
Juvenile crimes
As a New Haven area attorney who defends juveniles accused of crimes, I sometimes get calls on my cell phone at night from parents who have just found out that their child is going to be arrested - or as they say in juvenile cases, "referred" to juvenile authorities. Most of the time, the parents are looking for an opportunity to resolve the problem without their child having a criminal record. Generally speaking that can be done, but it can't be done in every case.
Drugs and narcotics
People who are arrested for drug crimes are usually worried about going to jail. Whether or not jail is a likely outcome usually depends on the case and whether it is charged in state court or federal court.
Larceny
In Connecticut, larceny is any kind of theft crime. If you shoplift, commit auto theft, buy stolen property and sell it to make money, or commit fraud, you can be charged with larceny. Larceny differs from robbery, in that no force or threat of force is used to take the item.
Robbery
In Connecticut, robbery is taking by force something that you have no right to. Purse snatching, holdup, bank robbery, and carjacking are all examples of robbery. Force doesn't have to be physical force. If you show a gun or threaten someone verbally, you would be charged with robbery.
Shoplifting
Shoplifting is a serious offense that can be detrimental to any adult or juvenile facing charges. If you or someone you love has been arrested or charged with shoplifting, I will take immediate action to challenge the evidence presented against you and seek to minimize the charges and the penalties against you.
Burglary
The classic definition of burglary is the breaking and entering of a dwelling in the nighttime with the intent to commit a crime therein. In modern day Connecticut, the element of "nighttime" no longer applies, since you can be charged with burglary if you break into a dwelling during the day. You can also be charged with burglary if you break into a pharmacy or a place of business. The key element that makes a crime a burglary is "breaking and entering."
Fraud
Fraud is a type of larceny, in which some form of deception is used to obtain property you do not have a right to. Examples of fraud include embezzlement, check forgery, unemployment fraud, tax fraud, welfare fraud, credit card fraud, wire fraud, and mail fraud.
If you have been accused of a crime, contact criminal defense lawyer John Walkley for a free consultation.
