Rochester Criminal Defense Blog

Charges for DUI and drug crimes spark pregnant woman's arrest

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

People can face drunk driving allegations in unusual circumstances in Rochester. The potential consequences and penalties should there be a conviction can have a negative impact on their lives in multiple ways. For those whose personal situation makes DUI charges more problematic than they might be for another person, it is even more vital to have legal help.

A 26-year-old pregnant woman was arrested for DUI after she vomited on the side of the road and then fled from law enforcement. A law enforcement officer saw the woman throwing up out of the window of her vehicle at about 9:45 p.m. When the officer went to investigate, she fled. Other officers found the vehicle later. She told them she was sick because she was pregnant and stated she was unaware that an officer had attempted to assist her during the earlier incident. She admitted to having left a bar. She was given field sobriety tests and did poorly. Cocaine was allegedly found in the vehicle. She faces charges of DUI and for possession of a controlled substance.

Nine charged in alleged New York drug network

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Drug Crimes on Friday, September 7, 2018.

Many drug-related arrests result from traffic stops and other interactions where police find illegal drugs during a search. These typically result in drug possession charges, but if the quantity of the drugs is high enough, the defendant is presumed to be distributing the drug. However, what the authorities really want to do is to break up large, violent, drug trafficking networks. To achieve this, police attempt large-scale sting operations and prosecutors use more complex charges, such as racketeering charges.

Recently, prosecutors unsealed an indictment against five men they allege to be involved in a violent heroin distribution network in New York. New reports referred to the defendants as the Bushwick Crew, and said they were based in Brooklyn and Queens. Four people have already been charged in connection with the alleged drug network, bringing the total to nine defendants in the case. Seven of these nine have been charged with homicide in connection with their alleged roles in the Bushwick Crew. Some of the charges involve alleged racketeering.

What penalties are there if convicted of prostitution charges?

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, August 30, 2018.

Although, many call it the world's oldest profession, the reality is that prostitution is illegal in New York. Those accused of engaging in it, both sex workers and customers, may face serious criminal penalties. This blog post will describe the potential penalties for those convicted of engaging in prostitution.

When a person is accused of engaging in sex work, they may face prostitution charges. A person is guilty of prostitution if they engage in sexual conduct in exchange for a fee. They are also guilty of prostitution if they merely agree to engage in sexual conduct with another person in exchange for a fee, or even if they offer to engage in sexual conduct with another person in exchange for a fee. A person found guilty of prostitution in New York faces a maximum $500 fine or a maximum of three months in jail.

Traffic stop and search for drugs leads to arrests in Rochester

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Drug Crimes on Thursday, August 23, 2018.

Law enforcement is consistently on the lookout for possible signs of criminal violations. When an officer initiates a traffic stop for any reason and those inside the vehicle are accused of drug crimes, it is imperative to remember that there are rights that can be asserted, regardless of the situation. Since drug crimes can result in harsh penalties, the criminal case will often hinge on evidence. Having legal help to analyze the case, determine whether the evidence was accrued according to the law, and move forward with crafting a legal defense is key.

Three people were arrested after a traffic stop in which the officer found drugs. The incident occurred in the mid-morning at around 11 a.m. According to the officer, the vehicle's license plate was not registered to the vehicle itself. It was discovered that the plate had been stolen from another vehicle. During the traffic stop, the people in the vehicle were familiar to law enforcement. They were moving in the vehicle in what appeared to be an attempt to hide items.

4 common college crimes

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto on Wednesday, August 22, 2018.

Your college years are a time of growth and experimentation. During this time of your life, you will experience a lot of achievements and challenges, and you may even encounter some legal troubles.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 27,500 crimes against people and property at college institutions in 2015. Here are some of the most common types of criminal activities that occur on public and private college campuses:

New York State Police arrests 28 drunk drivers

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Drunk Driving on Thursday, August 16, 2018.

Motorists in New York understand that law enforcement takes a strong stance against drunk driving. Because of that, major campaigns are issued in an attempt to address drunk driving in the state. In these efforts, officers may set up checkpoints or increase patrol in certain areas, resulting in more stops and more arrests. When a driver is faced with a drunk driving charge, it is important that they understand that they have options to defend themselves.

Based on reports, troop F of the New York State Police announced that 28 intoxicated drivers were removed from the highways. These arrests occurred after a traffic stop was conducted. These motorists were stopped for a vehicle and traffic violation when further investigation was conducted. This revealed that the driver was impaired.

Penalties for a DWI in New York

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Drunk Driving on Friday, August 10, 2018.

Being pulled over in New York and other states can be nerve wrecking for motorists. In some cases it may not be clear why he or she is being pulled over. In other cases, a motorist may have an idea; however, they seek to get off just a warning. Whether it was a traffic violation or because of suspicious activities, when law enforcement stops a vehicle, they could ask the driver to take a field sobriety test if they believe the driver is under the influence of alcohol. Based on the results of these tests, a driver could face a drunk driving charge.

A DWI might be considered a traffic offense, it could carry with it serious penalties. Because of this, it is important to understand the criminal consequences that could befall an individual facing a drunk driving charge. In the state of New York an individual is charges with driving while intoxicated when his or her blood alcohol content is 0.08 percent or higher. The charge could be aggravated if his or her BAC is 0.18 or higher.

What are the penalties for possession with intent to distribute?

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Drug Crimes on Friday, August 3, 2018.

Being accused of a drug crime is serious. Various situations could cause a person to face these allegations. The search of a vehicle, a search of ones' person or even the search of a residence could cause evidence to be uncovered. Depending on the amount and the illicit drug in question, this could cause law enforcement to believe that the accused was in possession of these drugs as a means to sell them.

What are the penalties for possession with the intent to distribute? Before going into the consequences that could befall an offender convicted of this crime, the elements of the offense will be explored. There are three components to consider with this crime. This includes possession, intent to distribute and possession with the intent to distribute.

Guiding our clients through a defense against a DUI

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Drunk Driving on Friday, July 27, 2018.

The dangers of drunk driving are well known. This is why the state of New York and other states are harsh on this crime. Being accused of drunk driving is much more serious than receiving a traffic violation. One is faced with much more than minor fines. Thus, it is important to understand how a motorist can challenge and defend him or herself against a drunk driving charge.

Being charged with driving under the influence or DUI and driving while intoxicated or DWI is not like other traffic tickets. The ramifications of a DWI or DUI can be serious, making it vital to take steps to avoid conviction of the charges that could be misdemeanor or even felony.

Helping Rochester motorists fight a DWI charge

On the behalf of The Law Office of James L. Riotto posted in Drunk Driving on Friday, July 20, 2018.

During the summer months, individuals in New York and elsewhere are likely to spend his or her weekends and evening out and about, enjoying the fun summer events or just the nice weather. With this, many individuals are also likely to consume alcohol during these outings. While this can be a perfectly legal and safe activity to partake in, when a person consumes more than the legal limit and gets behind the wheel of a vehicle, this could mean serious repercussions.

While a motorist is getting pulled over by law enforcement for the suspicion of driving while intoxicated, a DWI charge is far different from any other traffic violation a person in New York could face. To begin, a first conviction of a DWI is a misdemeanor; however, repeat offenders face felony charges. Because of this, those accused of such a charge should take the time to understand their defense options and ways to reduce or avoid penalties.