Mineola Criminal Defense Law Blog

Following the tragic 2012 gun attack at Sandy Hook Elementary School, when a gunman murdered six adults and 20 children, states around the country chose to enact stricter gun control legislation -- and the state of New York was no exception. In fact, New York was one of the first to create new laws in response to the tragedy.

Following the Sandy Hook tragedy, New York passed the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013. Commonly referred to as the NY SAFE Act, this new piece of legislation created some of the strictest gun laws in the United States. As such, it's vital that anyone in possession of a firearm -- and anyone considering the purchase of a firearm -- fully understands the legal responsibilities and limitations imposed by this act.

There is typically one number that people in Mineola associate with drunk driving: .08. That is the blood-alcohol content measurement that is almost universally accepted as defining intoxication. Yet it is not the only number related to BAC that New York drivers need to worry about. Per the New York Department of Motor Vehicles, a BAC or .05 percent is enough to label a driver as being impaired, while a BAC of .18 percent qualifies one to be charged with aggravated DWI. 

With all of the talk about blood-alcohol levels, however, a pressing question arises: how is it that a breathalyzer device (which measure one's breath) is used to determine BAC? The Alcohol Pharmacology Education Partnership offers an explanation of what a person's breath may say about the alcohol content of their blood. 

Most in Mineola might think that a charge of larceny would be fairly simple to either prove or disprove: either one stole something, or he or she did not. Yet as is the case with many areas of the law, fighting such an accusation is not always that simple. In some cases, one might have acted in a manner that he or she thought was completely legal (even at the advice of others), only to later face allegations that he or she stole something. 

Such is the claim being made by the mayor of Mount Vernon. The mayor is claims that he was acting on the advice of his legal counsel when he redirected $45,000 in inauguration committee funds as well as $12,000 in campaign funds. He says that both were meant to be compensation for work he put in campaigning. He also states that he followed proper procedure in recording the transactions, an assertion that is being disputed by the state's Attorney General. The Attorney General claims that the mayor lied about the use of the money, using it to pay for his cars, his rent and personal travel expenses (among other things). While the mayor has ignored calls to resign, if convicted he would be removed from office. 

Those facing charges of domestic violence in Mineola could find themselves having to deal with some very serious consequences (independent of the criminal penalties they may be facing). The mere idea that they are even associated with such an incident could put a permanent stain on their reputations. If one happens to work in a public position (or one that requires public trust), then the damage done to their reputation could reasonable jeopardize their careers. It is for this reason that a rush to judgment should be avoided at all costs when such allegations are being investigated. 

A man in a very high-prolife position is currently facing such allegations. He is the head coach of the men's basketball team for a college in California, and he was recently returning from a victory over a conference opponent when he was arrested by police. According to reports, the investigation into his conduct began when authorities responded to a call from a local hotel. The woman found at the scene had suffered non-life-threatening injuries that she claimed were inflicted by the coach. While the coach is married, it was not reported whether the woman involved was his wife. The university reported that it is conducting its own investigation into the matter.