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Criminal Defense
Hartford Criminal Defense Attorney
Are you being investigated or have you been accused of a crime? We can provide unequaled defense for all crimes.
An accusation of or arrest for a crime is one of the most stressful things a person can suffer. The threat of or actual loss of freedom can obviously affect one's life in many ways, including loss of employment and income, damage to personal relationships, and can even affect one's physical or mental health. It is essential that anyone in this situation must seek effective legal representation. The Hartford Law Offices of Richard E. Cohen can provide such service and will guide you through the maze of the criminal justice system.
Burglaries actually have nothing to do with theft, as many people believe. The crime of burglary occurs when one illegally enters property (home, business, or motor vehicle) to commit an unlawful act.
Criminal mischief is what is commonly called vandalism. It is a property crime and either a felony or misdemeanor depending on the cost of replacing or repairing the damage.
Conflicts between family members, married couples, or significant others can be very volatile and sometimes lead to violence. Police intervention can result in court appearances, protective orders and court-ordered counseling.
- Drug Offenses – Possession or Sales
Drug crimes include (1) possession of marijuana, cocaine, heroin or illegal possession of an otherwise legal drug, (2) intent to sell an illegal substance or (3) sale of an illegal substance.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may lead to a lengthy suspension of your license and, if you are a repeat offender, mandatory jail time. However, as with most other offenses, first offenders are treated more leniently. There are many issues that arise with this offense, such as the legality of the police stop, field sobriety tests and chemical or breath tests that you may or may not submit to.
The criminal justice system sometimes treats first offenders more leniently, which means they may be spared prison and can even keep their record free of criminal convictions by utilizing special diversionary programs, which may include community service and counseling.
This is the most serious crime a person can be accused of. A conviction for murder or manslaughter will result in a long period of incarceration. In a few instances, it can result in the death penalty. It is absolutely essential that a person accused of these crimes retain a competent attorney.
Juvenile offenders are those under sixteen years of age. Because of their age, they are likely to be treated more leniently than adults. However, if they are accused of a very serious felony, their case may be transferred to adult court.
A criminal record can be a major handicap when it comes to applying for certain types of employment or entry into college or the armed forces. In Connecticut, the Board of Pardons has the sole authority to erase criminal records. You may be eligible for this type of relief.
This so-called "quality of life" crime can result in arrest for both the person offering sex and the person seeking it.
A person commits robbery when he or she takes any type of property from another using force or threat of force, or prevents a person from taking back his or her property by using force or threat of force. A person may commit this crime with a firearm, any other potentially dangerous weapon (such as a knife), or merely threatens the use of such a weapon.
- Sexual Assault and related sex offenses
There are four degrees of sexual assault, the most serious being first degree sexual assault, which occurs when the person is charged with forcible sexual intercourse, which includes oral and anal sex, or when the victim is under the age of thirteen and the accused is fifteen years of age or older. Mandatory prison and restrictive probation may be imposed,as well as registration as a sex offender, so it is critical that an attorney be consulted and retained in this situation. A conviction could change your life permanently. Additionally, if the victim is under sixteen, you may be charged with the crime of Risk of Injury to a Minor.
There are a variety of traffic offenses, ranging from infractions that can be settled with a small fine, to more serious offenses such as driving under the influence or evading responsibility. Some traffic offenses may result in loss of your driver's license for a period of time, which can obviously affect your ability to work.
Often, a person convicted of a crime will be put on probation, which may require the performance of a variety of conditions, such as community service or counseling. Failure to perform these requirements or an arrest for a new crime may result in incarceration.
Possession or use of a firearm may be punishable by a mandatory prison sentence. However, other objects such as knives or objects that may normally not be used as weapons, such as a baseball bat, can be classified as a weapon.
You don't necessarily need to wear a white shirt and tie to be accused of these kinds of offenses. White-collar crime is using illegal acts involving deceit to obtain property or services or to gain a business or professional advantage.
Persons aged sixteen and seventeen are sometimes treated as "youthful offenders" which means that their court records are sealed and later erased if they avoid further convictions. This way, their records remain free of criminal convictions.
We accept all major credit cards.
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