Mahopac Criminal Defense Law Blog

Mahopac couple accused of illegal drug possession

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drug Charges on Wednesday, June 20, 2018.

A 36-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman who share a home in Mahopac recently landed in jail after New York narcotics officers paid them a visit. The couple have a son who is less than a year old. The child was reportedly inside the home when the Putnam County Sheriff's department dispatched officers to the scene to conduct a search. The incident didn't end so well for the child's parents, who now face illegal drug possession charges as well as several other offenses.

The situation seems to have only made matters worse for the toddler's father, who apparently is on supervised probation in relation to a past criminal conviction for federal charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. That conviction was handed down in 2004. The law enforcement agents who recently searched the man's home claim to have seized more than two pounds of marijuana.

Brewster woman facing drug charges after New York traffic stop

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drug Charges on Wednesday, June 13, 2018.

A trip to a New York gas station didn't end so well for a 24-year-old woman who was behind the wheel when a patrol officer stopped her. The officer claims the woman had violated traffic laws, though the claimed violations were not detailed in a news report. The events that unfolded from that point on led to her arrest and drug charges.

The arresting officer says there was a half-smoked marijuana joint in the woman's possession. However, merely seeing something that looks like pot does not necessarily mean it is pot nor does it prove a particular person had been smoking it, no matter what type of cigarette it happens to be. Situations like this often come down to a police officer's word against a motorist's.

Be aware of search and seizure rights when facing drug charges

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drug Charges on Tuesday, June 12, 2018.

New York prosecutors may aggressively try to obtain convictions and want to present evidence to the court that investigators gathered in a vehicle search. As a defendant, it is crucial to know whether police were acting in accordance with the law. Many police officers have violated personal rights in the past by ignoring regulations, then arming prosecutors with evidence to file drug charges.

Under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, a person has the right to expect privacy when in his or her car. There are issues that would substantiate an officer's claim that an warrantless search was necessary. Understanding one's rights, as well as where to seek support if a problem arises, may be the key to avoiding conviction.

Prescription drugs that can lead to legal problems

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drug Charges on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

Habits are said to be easily formed but difficult to break. This is especially true where prescription drugs are concerned. While there are many valid reasons why someone in New York or elsewhere would take a prescribed medication, several types of prescription drugs often lead to serious addiction, often accompanied by legal problems that may have far-reaching consequences.

Many people suffer from chronic pain conditions that leave them temporarily or permanently disabled. Those who lose their abilities to carry out daily functions often also lose their jobs, thus leading to financial crises in addition health-related stress. To alleviate pain, many doctors prescribe opioid drugs, such as Oxycodone.

Practical tips for avoiding DUI in New York

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drunk Driving on Monday, June 4, 2018.

Summertime is just around the bend and for many residents in New York and other states, that includes plans for beach trips, graduation parties and other social gatherings. Many such events are likely to include alcoholic beverages, which for some, pose a risk for DUI arrest. There are several ways to avoid such problems, however, and also steps to take to try to minimize one's circumstances if drunk driving charges are indeed filed at some point.

To avoid drunk driving altogether, many motorists choose to leave their own vehicle keys at home when they plan on consuming alcohol. Some bring along a designated driver, who agrees to abstain from alcohol and act as chauffeur for the occasion. This automatically eliminates the possibility of facing a DUI arrest, since the person drinking won't be behind the wheel.

Heading to court on a DUI dram shop issue in New York?

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drunk Driving on Thursday, May 31, 2018.

If a New York business owner or private resident sells or provides alcohol to another party or parties, there may be legal repercussions if an accident later occurs. For instance, a person may patronize a local pub, spend several hours drinking, then get behind the wheel of a car to drive and ultimately cause a collision that results in the injury or death of another person. Sadly, DUI crashes cost thousands of lives every year.

Someone who sells alcohol or hosts a gathering that makes alcohol available to others may be criminally charged if a customer or partygoer winds up causing an accident that injures or kills someone. Such matters are governed under dram shop regulations. Prosecutors must be able to prove that an alcohol vendor was at fault and legally responsible for an accident caused by another party.

Are you facing drug charges over prescription medication?

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drug Charges on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

Many people in New York and throughout the nation are currently living with negative side effects from moderate to severe injuries or illnesses. Symptoms often include chronic pain and discomfort. Doctors often prescribe medication to help alleviate pain and discomfort; however, in some situations, those taking prescription medications become addicted and wind up facing drug charges.

An opiate-based pain reliever that is said to create feelings of euphoria but is also highly addictive is Vicodin. If a doctor prescribes this drug, it is typically to be taken in pill form. Those who are addicted to the drug sometimes crush the pills, then snort the drug or inject it into their veins.

New York police say this criminal offense is on the rise

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Felonies on Wednesday, May 23, 2018.

It is a serious crime to steal mail out of a U.S. postal receptacle in New York or any other state. Since many people mail money, as well as documents or letters that may contain private information, the risk for financial loss or identity theft is high regarding theft of personal mail. Three men were recently accused of this criminal offense when officers claimed to have caught them red-handed.

Several police officers say they came upon a few men, three to be exact, who are doing their best to shove an entire U.S. postal mailbox into the back of a car. Authorities say it was not yet dawn when the officers claim to have witnessed the three men carrying a public mailbox to a minivan. Only one man was arrested at the time; that's because the other two reportedly ran away from the scene.

Man in New York facing federal drug charges

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drug Charges on Tuesday, May 22, 2018.

Anyone who has dealt with the criminal justice system understand how stressful it can be. Sometimes, a person will have to appear in several different courts at various appointed times before his or her case is fully adjudicated. An example of this can be found in one situation where a New York man was facing drug charges at the state level in another state, but is now facing federal charges after the charges at the state level were dismissed.

An arrest was made in mid-April following a federal complaint regarding suspected unlawful trafficking of scheduled drugs. The defendant was set free on $5,000 unsecured bail. His release included home confinement restrictions.

Three men arrested for drug possession in New York

On behalf of Law Offices of Joseph J. Tock posted in Drug Charges on Friday, May 18, 2018.

A traffic stop led to the arrests of three individuals recently. The men were driving in southeast New York when they were stopped by state police. Upon investigation, the individuals were suspected to be in violation of the law and charged with weapon and drug possession. They are currently being held in the Putnam County jail and are awaiting trial.

Numerous alleged motor vehicle and traffic violations led to the traffic stop. During the stop, authorities allege that they detected a strong odor of marijuana, which led to a search of the vehicle. During the search, a gun, marijuana concentrate cartridges, marijuana plants, opiate pills and a large sum of U.S. currency was retrieved.