Crime impacts many people within the city of New York every year. Many thousands fall victim to various crimes, while others, who either committed a crime or are accused of committing a crime, fall victim to going through the criminal justice system without adequate representation. The more serious the charges and crime, the bigger the risk the accused party takes by working with an overworked public defender.
A subway snatch and run with a twist
While it may have been a crime of impulse, a dangerous combination of behaviors could land a New York City thief in real trouble if he is caught. According to the New York Daily News, an unidentified man grabbed a 26-year-old woman by the arm on Oct. 30 at around 2:30 in the morning and demanded a kiss. When she pulled away from him, he stole her Metro card and cash.
Law enforcement are asking the public for help identifying the thief and assailant, who appears to be a white male on the slender side according to a low resolution image released with the description of the crime.
It’s very possible, given the lack of details and grainy image, that the wrong individual could eventually be arrested. If that person doesn’t have access to an experienced criminal defense attorney, he may be convinced to plead guilty to lesser charges because of the potential severity of the crime in question.
Not only was there a robbery with a physical assault, but there was activity that could be prosecuted as an attempted sexual assault. Depending on the amount of money stolen and whether he bruised or otherwise injured the woman when he grabbed her, there could be multiple serious charges, including robbery, assault, and even a sex offense.
How an attorney can help
If the arrested person has no criminal record, he may be offered a plea deal. If he does have a criminal history, particularly if it included robbery or sexual battery or assault, he will be facing some steep penalties. Without an attorney to help raise a defense, from corroborating alibis at the time of the crime to drawing the validity of an arrest based on a low resolution photo into question, the arrested party will likely have few options other than to hope for a generous plea deal.
When you’re facing criminal charges, particularly more than one charge for what may have been a drunken mistake, you need to take proactive steps to protect yourself and your future. This should include contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to discuss the options for your defense.
After all, if your entire future is at stake, you want to ensure that you’re doing everything you can to minimize the impact of criminal charges.