SYRACUSE CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS IN SYRACUSE, NY
At King Law in Syracuse, NY, we recognize that finding a criminal defense lawyer to represent you effectively can be an intimidating process. Let’s face it, attempting to navigate the landscape of criminal law on your own can be both discouraging and confusing. With your future on the line, you shouldn’t take any chances. You need an aggressive and experienced attorney who will take charge and fight for your rights. With decades of experience practicing criminal law, our team of specialized attorneys will do exactly that. We will fight for you.
Syracuse is a special place for King Law. Our father, Scott King, was raised in Syracuse. The founder of our firm, Robert King, is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law. We have represented hundreds of clients facing charges ranging from juvenile offenses and misdemeanors to violent felonies. Our firm has spent years specializing in all aspects of criminal defense so that you do not have to. When we defend our clients against criminal charges, they can be sure that they are receiving the best possible defense available.
Criminal cases are prosecuted by the District Attorney’s office in the county in which the crime was committed. For example, criminal arrests in the City of Syracuse are prosecuted by the Onondaga County District Attorney’s office. Federal cases that occur in Syracuse will be prosecuted by the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York.
Each of our Criminal Defense attorneys was selected based on their skill, experience, and personality. Our Criminal Defense Attorney’s were all former prosecutors and understand both sides of the courtroom and use it to their advantage. Being a skilled attorney is not enough at King Law. Our attorneys are very detail oriented and have a client-centered approach. Our lawyers are creative, persistent, and most importantly – out prepare their adversaries.
Our office is centrally located in downtown Syracuse near Syracuse University on the second floor of Madison Towers at 60 Presidential Ct #210, Syracuse, NY 13202. We are also available to speak with 24 hours a day at (315) 509-2906. Feel free to stop in or give us a call.
Types of Criminal Defense Cases we Specialize in
At King Law, we believe that a person should not be judged by the worst thing they have ever done. For this reason, we are committed to achieving the most favorable outcomes for our clients regardless of the nature of the crimes they are charged with. Because every criminal case is different, and because every client has a unique experience, we dedicate ourselves to personalizing your representation. We are focused on learning everything we can about you and your particular circumstances throughout every step of the process. Only then can we be sure that we are building the best possible defense for you.
Once we have learned about you and your particular circumstances we are in the best position to begin applying your circumstances to our legal experience. Unfortunately, there are many instances in a criminal case where either information is missing or where the prosecutor’s version of events is different. For this reason, we then focus on obtaining as much outside information as we can. This includes collecting police reports, statements from witnesses, and, at times, even conducting our own investigation into the circumstances surrounding the case. These careful steps ensure that no detail is overlooked and that once we begin conducting legal research into your case we are able to construct the best possible strategy for your defense. Most importantly, however, it is our job to keep you informed and make sure that you are aware of your rights, any options that may be available to you, and whether you are comfortable with the legal strategy being constructed on your behalf.
Criminal cases can be divided between misdemeanors and felonies. Misdemeanors are punishable by up to one year in jail. Felonies have permissible sentences of over one year in jail. Cases can be divided into groups, like sex crimes, drug crimes, violent crimes, DWI or white collar crime. Our lawyers have experience handling all types of criminal cases. Some of our expertise dates back to our time as prosecutors. Our lawyers had different assignments as prosecutors including the Special Victims Unit (sex crimes), Violent Felony Bureau and Special Investigations Bureau (Drug Crimes, Gun Crimes).
Our team in Syracuse, NY, has extensive experience in the following major areas of criminal law:
Prosecutors Are Not Always Lenient
You might have heard that prosecutors hand out plea deals like candy so they can avoid the time and expense of a trial. There is some truth to this. For non-violent offenses, many prosecutors will try to get a plea deal. However, this does not mean that their offer is the best deal you can get.
Often, prosecutors pretend their evidence is much stronger than it really is. There might be exculpatory evidence out there, like an alibi witness, that casts doubt on the state’s theory of the case. We can find this evidence and seek a dismissal of charges, where appropriate.
Criminal Defendants Have Rights
The Constitution, as well as the New York Rules of Evidence, provide ample protections to defendants. Some of the more important rights include:
- The right to remain silent. You cannot be forced to incriminate yourself. And when police handle interrogations unlawfully, your statements can be suppressed.
- The right to a fair trial. The prosecutor cannot use hearsay and unfairly prejudicial information to convict you.
- The right to fair police lineups and photo arrays. If the line up or array is unduly suggestive—singling you out based on your race, for example—then the identification might be inadmissible.
A criminal defense attorney needs to understand the proper way to challenge any illegal or unfair evidence. Often, we must file a pre-trial motion and request that the judge keep out this evidence.
A Conviction Carries Serious Repercussions
Most crimes are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. Both can result in incarceration. Losing your freedom is a very serious problem, but it could be the reality if you do not hire the right Syracuse criminal defense attorney.
There are other, less well-known collateral consequences that flow from any conviction. For example, a felon can lose their right to vote, as well as the ability to own a firearm or serve on a jury. Many employers and landlords also require that applicants disclose a criminal conviction on their application. Even a misdemeanor could result in a rejection.
Many professionals and small business owners also need licenses to operate legally, and convictions can result in the loss or denial of a professional license. We encourage all criminal suspects to do everything possible to fight off a conviction, since the consequences can be severe.
Defendants Need Their Own Lawyer
New York has many dedicated and highly skilled public defenders. However, these folks have massive caseloads and are usually overworked and overstretched. A public defender, no matter how skilled, cannot commit the necessary time or resources to a case the way a private attorney can.
At King Law, our Syracuse criminal defense attorneys will fully investigate a case and search for evidence that shows your innocence. We can dedicate the necessary time to pre-trial motions and jury selection that give our clients the best chance for success.
SYRACUSE CRIMINAL CASE RESULTS
OUR RESULTS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
Call
King Law Syracuse received a call from an individual that was recently charged with Petit Larceny in Town of Dewitt, Onondaga County. A petit larceny an allegation that an individual stole property. A petit larceny is an A misdemeanor. The maximum sentence for an A misdemeanor is up to 1 year in jail or up to 3 years of probation. During the call, our lawyer quickly gathered information about the case and about the caller and determined that an immediate meeting was important because of the upcoming life events – a college financial aid application deadline. A meeting was scheduled the same day.
Meeting
Our lawyer met with the accused individual in a private and confidential setting. During the initial meeting, we described what we could do to help and outlined a multi-phased plan that he would implement.
Plan implementation
Our lawyers started working on the case the very next day and started with phase one of the outlined plan. The first phase of the plan was to proactively approach the Onondaga District Attorney’s Office with a mitigation summary that would outline why the case should be dismissed. The plan worked. Within days of receiving our mitigation summary the District Attorney’s Office agreed to an Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal (“ACD”). An ACD meant that if King Law’s client did not get arrested for 6 months, the case would be dismissed.
Court
Our Attorney spoke with the client frequently and explained the case developments ahead of the first and only Court appearance in Dewitt Town Court. He explained what an ACD was and how it worked. On the Court date, the agreement was placed “on the record,” and the ACD was entered, and our client continued on their path to a college education.