
When you are charged with a crime in White Plains, the weight of the world can feel like it’s pressing down on you. Fear, stress, and uncertainty about the future often set in right away. You might be asking yourself: Will I go to jail? How will this affect my family? What happens to my job, my reputation, and my future?
No matter if this is your first arrest or if you have faced charges before, you deserve an attorney who will stand by you without judgment. You need a lawyer who sees you as a person—not just a case file. You need someone who understands what is at stake for your life and who is willing to fight with everything the law allows.
That is exactly what Michael J. McConnell does as a criminal defense lawyer. He takes great pride in giving every client zealous legal representation that is centered on loyalty and respect. He will fight for you, protect your rights, and treat you with the dignity and compassion you deserve.
So if you or a loved one has been arrested in White Plains or nearby, give Michael J. McConnell a call right now at (914) 810-0510 for a free consultation.
Before Michael J. McConnell became a defense lawyer, he studied at Pace Law School in White Plains and upon graduation worked as a prosecutor at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. That experience gave him a unique view of how the other side thinks and builds cases. He knows the strategies that prosecutors use to try to convict people. He knows how they try to put pressure on defendants. He knows how they make plea deals. And he knows what strategies they try use at trial.
Now as a criminal defense lawyer, he uses that knowledge to fight for the people who find themselves accused of serious crimes. After all, once you know how prosecutors put cases together, you also know how to take them apart. Knowing what the other side is likely to do allows him to anticipate their moves and build a strategic defense from day one.
Every case is different, and every client has a unique story. Some people are facing their first arrest and are terrified of what comes next. Others may have prior charges and feel like the system is already stacked against them. Michael J. McConnell approaches every client with compassion, sensitivity, and without judgment.
As a criminal defense lawyer, his job is to be on your side, to protect your rights, to fight for your freedom, and to help you through one of the hardest times in your life. He takes that responsibility seriously. Most importantly, he understands what is at stake: your freedom, your family, your job, and your future.
When Michael J. McConnell takes on your case, you can count on having the relentless loyalty and dedication from your lawyer that you expect. He will fight for you with every tool the law allows. You are not alone in this battle, and he will stand beside you from start to finish.
There are a wide range of criminal charges that one can face in White Plains, NY. Some of the most common types of charges include:
Each of these charges carries serious penalties. Some may lead to jail or prison time. Others may result in heavy fines, probation, or a permanent criminal record that can follow you for the rest of your life. No matter the charge, Michael J. McConnell treats every case with the same focus and determination.
A strong defense is built by being proactive, not reactive. It takes time, strategy, and hard work. When Michael J. McConnell defends you, he start by listening. He then carefully reviews the evidence, police reports, and witness statements.
Because the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell is local, it makes it very easy for the attorney to visit the scene of the alleged crime himself, which can be really important in all sorts of cases. It also makes it easier to meet with clients and witnesses face-to-face. It is a major advantage for an attorney to have the ability to easily and quickly investigate the facts on the ground here in White Plains, not from a distance. Doing so allows a criminal defense lawyer to find details and weaknesses in the prosecution’s case that others might miss.
Michael J. McConnell’s experience as a former prosecutor helps him know what to look for. He knows how the prosecution is likely to use evidence against you. That allows him to build a defense that anticipates their moves and challenges their case head-on.
In some cases, this means fighting to have evidence thrown out because it was obtained illegally. In others, it may mean questioning the credibility of witnesses or showing that the prosecution’s version of events simply does not add up. And sometimes, it means standing up in court and fighting for your rights at trial.
Criminal charges can change your life. A conviction can mean jail, prison, or years of probation. It can mean losing your job or finding it hard to get work in the future. It can impact your family and your reputation.
You deserve a lawyer who understands and fully appreciates that the stakes for clients are personal and life-changing. Michael J. McConnell understands that and is dedicated to giving everything he has in order to defend his clients because he knows how much it matters.
Michael J. McConnell strongly believes that everyone deserves a vigorous defense. His role is to protect your rights, fight for your freedom, and stand by your side during one of the hardest moments of your life.
Whether you are facing your first arrest or you have been through the system before, you deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Michael J. McConnell will always listen to you, keep you informed, and make sure you understand what is happening in your case.
The U.S. Constitution promises every person charged with a crime the right to legal representation. But that right means more than just having a lawyer on paper. It means having an attorney who will fight for you with passion, loyalty, and determination.
That is what Michael J. McConnell is dedicated to providing to every client. He is not afraid to go up against prosecutors in court. He is not afraid to challenge evidence, question witnesses, and fight for your rights at trial.
One of the benefits of working with a local criminal defense lawyer near White Plains is the personal attention you will receive. You will not be treated like just another case number. Your attorney will know your name, your story, and what matters most to you.
When you call wanting to speak with your lawyer, you will speak with your lawyer as opposed to getting passed around between receptionists and assistants. You will go over the case in detail with your lawyer and understand the charges, the possible outcomes, and the defense strategies we can use. Your lawyer will answer your questions and keep you updated every step of the way.
If you are facing criminal charges in White Plains, do not wait to get help. The sooner you have a skilled criminal defense lawyer on your side, the better your chances of building a strong defense.
Michael J. McConnell can protect your rights, fight for your freedom, and give you the zealous and loyal defense you deserve. Whether your case involves an alleged assault, drug charges, DWI, gun possession, theft, or any other criminal accusation, he is ready to stand by your side.
You do not have to go through this alone. Call our office today to schedule a free and confidential consultation. Let’s talk about your case, your options, and how we can help you fight for your future.
Call us right now at (914) 810-0510.
Here are some of the most common questions people have if they're facing criminal charges in White Plains, NY.
Stay calm. Don’t resist. Exercise your right to remain silent.
You have a constitutional right to remain silent, which means you do not have to answer police questions. You don’t have to try to explain yourself.
And guess what? If you remain silent, the prosecutor cannot use your silence against you in court. In other words, your silence cannot hurt you – it can only help.
The biggest mistake people make is trying to explain themselves to the cops after an arrest. Anything you say, even if you think it helps you, is likely to be ignored or twisted against you to make you look guilty. That’s why criminal defense lawyers always say to remain silent.
Just as important after an arrest is that you should immediately contact a White Plains criminal defense attorney to protect your rights. At the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell, we offer free consultations for people who have been arrested in White Plains and you can call us 24/7 at (914) 810-0510.
The cost for a White Plains criminal defense lawyer will vary based on several factors, including the seriousness of the charges (e.g., felony vs. misdemeanor), the complexity of the case, whether it goes to trial, the experience of the lawyer, the amount of work performed, and more.
Depending on the type of case and the individual attorney’s billing preferences, some might charge a flat fee for the entire case while others might require a retainer fee where you pay a certain amount up front and then they bill against that for the work performed. In certain cases, payment plans might be offered as well, which can make paying for legal services more affordable.
In general, however, you can expect to pay somewhere between $2,000 - $7,000 for most misdemeanors. For felonies, the range can really vary, but somewhere within the range of $7,000 - $10,000 for less complicated and less serious felonies is common whereas more serious or complicated felonies can cost upwards of $15,000 or more.
To make legal services more affordable, attorneys in the White Plains area will sometimes only require a certain percentage of the overall fee to be paid up front as an initial deposit and then put the client on a payment plan from there.
The choice is always yours, but it can be very beneficial to hire a lawyer immediately when you are contacted by the police in White Plains.
Put simply, hiring a skilled criminal defense lawyer at this pre-arrest stage can make all the difference. The lawyer can protect your rights, determine whether the police actually have probable cause that a crime was committed, and assist in you in making the decision whether to speak with them or not. If the police say they have probable cause to make an arrest at that point, an attorney can also help negotiate a voluntary surrender at the police station so that you are not arrested in public when you least expect it.
Additionally, hiring a lawyer pre-arrest also gives the lawyer the ability to be proactive in preparing arguments for your release at arraignment (your first court appearance after an arrest) as well as conducting an independent investigation into what happened instead of just relying on law enforcement’s version of events.
In New York, misdemeanors are less serious crimes (punishable by up to one year in jail), while felonies can lead to prison sentences longer than one year.
Regardless of whether you’re charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, you should still consider it serious as a conviction of either of them can result in a permanent criminal record.
So the bottom line is that if you’ve been charged with a crime – whether a misdemeanor or a felony – you should speak with a criminal defense attorney serving White Plains right away to understand your options.
Yes. Changes can be dismissed or reduced for all sorts of reasons. This includes: lack of evidence, an illegal search or seizure by the police, and more. A skilled criminal defense attorney can work towards the best possible outcome based on the circumstances of your case. This can involve negotiating a plea to a lesser charge, getting a case tossed out of court by arguing the search by the police was unlawful, or simply identifying weaknesses in the prosecution’s case.
Not necessarily, but it really depends on the facts and circumstances.
For many first-time offenders, especially those who are charged with a non-violent offense or misdemeanor, there are a wide range of options to avoid jail time: adjournments in contemplation of dismissal (ACDs), conditional discharge, or diversion programs.
If you have a prior criminal record and/or are alleged to have committed a serious offense (especially one involving violence), the prosecution might be more likely to seek incarceration. It is also important to know that certain felony offenses require mandatory prison time, which means that a conviction gives the judge no choice but to sentence you to prison in such a situation.
In all cases, a trusted criminal defense lawyer will aggressively fight for you to protect your future and your freedom.
Don't wait to give us a call. We are ready to help! Call (914) 810-0510
547 Saw Mill River Road suite 1D2, Ardsley, NY, USA
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