New York City Knife Desk Appearance Ticket Lawyers
The attorneys at Crotty Saland PC defend clients against misdemeanor and felony arrests as well as desk appearance tickets (D.A.T.) charging possession of gravity knives, switchblade knives, firearms and other weapons. As former prosecutors in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office under Robert Morgenthau, we know the processes and procedures of the New York City criminal courts. We have prosecuted weapon crimes as assistant district attorneys, and we have defended our clients against the same throughout New York City. We work hard to ensure that clients obtain the best possible outcomes we believe we can achieve in their legal matters, whatever the nature or degree of the criminal allegation or charge.
New York Penal Law §265.01, which lists the weapons included in the charge of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, includes the following items:
- Gravity knives
- Switchblade knives
- Firearms
- Brass knuckles and other metal knuckles
- Tasers
- Stun guns
- Bludgeons
- Billy clubs
- Electronic dart guns
Beyond the "per se" weapons that are criminal to merely possess without any criminal intent, any item that is used in a certain manner can be considered a weapon in the eyes of the law. If charged with possessing a weapon under these circumstances, it is critical to consult with a New York criminal lawyer.
Law enforcement and the criminal justice system view weapons offenses, even misdemeanor offenses such as these, very seriously. Receiving a D.A.T. for such offenses is no different than being arrested and booked. That is why it is so important to have experienced legal representation when facing these types of charges. The alternative is a criminal record, possible incarceration, and consequences to your career and livelihood that can extend well beyond the closure of your case. In fact, most prosecutorial guidelines do not permit an offer at your arraignment even for a first time offender.
Our attorneys challenge the prosecution, seeking weaknesses in the case against our client. We ensure that any search was lawfully conducted by the police and that the weapon in question actually is what the police and prosecutors claim. Many of these weapons, such as the gravity knife and switchblade knife, are specifically defined in the New York penal law. It has happened, and will certainly happen again, that the police wrongly accuse an individual for possessing one of these weapons when it in fact was not a weapon as defined in the law. We not only make sure that the weapon in question is in fact a weapon as defined by the statute, but that the police officers acted in accordance with established legal procedures during the arrest. While past results cannot guarantee future outcomes, our criminal lawyers have successfully had criminal charges ultimately dismissed on crimes as serious as firearm possession based on various types of mitigation.
Whether challenging the case legally through evidence or procedure, mitigating your conduct or seeking a trial, we will fight vigorously to minimize the consequences of a weapons charge and keep your record clean.
Our law firm serves clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Westchester County. Call us at 646-808-3300 or contact us online today to speak with our New York knife and weapon desk appearance ticket lawyers.
A wealth of additional information on weapon crimes, statutes and laws is located on Crotty Saland PC's New York Criminal Lawyer Blog and its weapon section.
