Capping an unbelievable three weeks, New York Criminal Defense Firm, Tilem & Campbell plea bargained three cases with truly remarkable results. While, Tilem & Campbell has successfully gone to trial and won many criminal cases, it does not always take a trial to get a successful outcome in a criminal case. With experience and expertise the lawyers at Tilem & Campbell are often able to negotiate truly spectacular deals for their clients. Having two former prosecutors obviously helps.
In the first case resolved in late June, our client was charged with shooting at an individual with an illegal handgun. The client was charged with felony Reckless Endangerment and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, both felonies. On the Weapons charge the client faced a prison sentence of 15 years in prison with a mandatory minimum of 3 ½ years in prison. On the Reckless Endangerment in the first degree charge the client faced up to 7 years in prison. After months of litigation and negotiation, the client pled guilty at the end of June to a class “B” misdemeanor with no jail, no probation and only a conditional discharge. The “B” misdemeanor the client pled guilty to was an Attempt to Commit the Crime of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree.
In the second case resolved just two days ago, the client was charged with the felony of possessing 4 illegal guns in Rennselaer County, New York. In New York, possession of 3 or more illegal guns elevates the crime to a class “D” felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison. The firm was able to negotiate a plea bargain for this client in which he pled guilty to a “B” misdemeanor and again received no jail, no fine, no probation but just a conditional discharge. In addition, the Judge signed a “Certificate of Relief From Civil Disabilities” which is a certificate that relieves the holder of all bars to employment that may be imposed by law as a result of a criminal conviction.
Yesterday, in the third case, it was our client’s second DWI and he refused to take the breathalyzer test. In addition to the DWI tickets he was issued a total of 42 points in tickets for traffic offenses including Reckless Driving, Speeding, Going the Wrong Way on a One Way Street, Passing a Red Light and many more. In addition to the revocation for a conviction for DWI and the Refusal, the client faced a loss of his driving privileges for having more than 10 points and the Driver Responsibility Assessment for 42 points is $3000 plus fines and surcharges. Yesterday he pled guilty to Driving While Ability Impaired by alcohol which is a traffic infraction not a crime like Driving While Intoxicated. All the other moving violations were dismissed and he pled guilty to one 2 point ticket. That’s right 42 points were reduced to only 2 points. The fines and surcharges which could have been thousands of dollars only totaled $745.
While each case is different and results may vary from County to County, Court to Court and based upon the very specific facts of each individual case. These results demonstrate that great legal representation can help you achieve an exceptional outcome in your criminal case.