Resisting arrest is one of the most commonly added charges in New York — and one of the most misunderstood. It is frequently tacked on when a person does nothing more than pull away, tense up, or fail to immediately put their hands behind their back. Yet it is a […]

   You are about to board a flight when you are pulled aside. Officers question you about the cash in your bag, and minutes later, they walk away with your money — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars — and you are never arrested or charged with a crime. If […]

   An arraignment is your first court appearance after an arrest — and one of the most important moments in a criminal case. In a matter of minutes, a judge can decide whether you go home or are held in custody, whether an order of protection is issued against you, […]

A jury trial is one of the most consequential events in a criminal case — and one of the most misunderstood. If your case is heading toward trial, you are likely weighing a difficult decision against real uncertainty. This guide from the criminal defense attorneys at Sharifov & Associates, PLLC, […]

   Criminal mischief is one of the most commonly charged property crimes in New York — and one of the most misunderstood. People are often surprised to learn that they can be charged even for damaging property they paid for, or that a charge can climb from a misdemeanor to […]

 If you or someone you love has just been arrested for the first time, the fear and confusion can be overwhelming — and the questions come fast. Why was the arrest made? What happens at arraignment? Will there be bail? How long will this take, and how will it end? […]

A Desk Appearance Ticket — commonly called a DAT — is a written order issued by police directing you to appear in criminal court on a specific date to answer to a criminal charge. Instead of being taken to central booking and held for up to 24 hours before seeing […]

If you have been arrested for Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) in New York and you refused a chemical test, one of the first questions you are likely asking is whether refusing the test was the right decision — and what happens next. The short answer: refusing triggers a separate proceeding […]

An arrest for assault can happen quickly — a bar fight, a road rage incident on the highway, a shoving match over a parking spot, a heated argument between neighbors that turns physical — and the consequences can follow a person for years. In New York, assault can be charged […]

Fake and forged motor vehicle license plates have become an increasingly common basis for criminal arrest in New York. What many people do not realize when they put a set of fake temporary plates on their car is that they are not just risking a traffic ticket — they are […]

  If you or someone you know is under investigation for healthcare fraud in New York, do not speak to investigators before consulting a criminal defense attorney. Every word you say can and will be used against you. Introduction: Why Healthcare Fraud Cases Are Unlike Any Other Healthcare fraud is […]

In our extensive criminal defense and family court practice, we often come across Order of Protection violations. In New York State, two types of Courts may issue Orders of protection – Criminal Courts and Family Courts. For the Criminal Court Judge to issue an Order against any person, that person […]

  A person is guilty of forcible touching when such person intentionally and for no legitimate purpose forcibly touches the sexual or other intimate parts of another person for the purpose of degrading or abusing such person or for the purpose of gratifying his or her sexual desire. That includes […]

Domestic violence is a general term describing various crimes and offenses committed between spouses or former spouses, between parent and child, or between the members of the same family or household, as this term is defined in the New York Family Court Act (“FCA”). Domestic violence crimes include crimes committed […]

Sometimes our clients who have been charged with a crime ask us an interesting question – why do I need to hire you, a private attorney, if I already have a free lawyer appointed by the Court? It is definitely a legitimate question, and people who are unfamiliar with the […]

If you or a loved one is under federal investigation or facing charges for wire fraud, money laundering, bank fraud, or a related conspiracy, understanding how the federal criminal system works is not optional — it is essential. Federal cases move differently, punish more severely, and demand a level of […]

   A felony charge in New York is one of the most serious legal matters a person can face. Unlike a misdemeanor, which carries up to one year in jail, a felony exposes you to more than one year of imprisonment and a long list of collateral consequences that can […]

Why You Need a Specialized DWI Lawyer in New York — Not a General Attorney If you have been arrested for DWI in New York, the most important call you can make is to an experienced New York DWI lawyer who specializes in these cases — not a general practice […]

    If a police detective has called you and asked you to come in to answer some questions, or if you have been contacted about a criminal matter, this page will explain what is likely happening, what your rights are, and what you should do next.   What Does […]