24/7 Manhattan Criminal Defense Lawyer

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If you were arrested in Manhattan, you might feel unsure about what comes next. You need answers, and you need them fast. 

I’m here to help you. My name is Michael J. McConnell, and I’m a criminal defense attorney serving Manhattan. I’m also a former prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. I now regularly represent individuals charged with felony and misdemeanor offenses throughout NYC. 

You can call my office 24/7 to request a free consultation. I’ll listen to you with nonjudgment and compassion. I’ll clearly explain to you what your rights are and how I can help protect them.

So if you’re looking for a New York City criminal defense lawyer who is proactive and is ready to stand up and fight for you, you’re in the right place. Give the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell a call right now. Let’s build a strong defense from the start.

Being arrested by the NYPD can feel intimidating. A trusted criminal defense lawyer can help guide you through every step. 

In general, this is what you can expect if you or a loved one has been arrested:

Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT)

In some cases, you may be given a Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) instead of being taken to Central Booking. This means:

· you are released from the precinct after arrest

· you must come back to court later

· your first court date will be your arraignment

· you are still being charged with a crime

Many people think a DAT is “not serious.” That is a mistake. It’s still a criminal case. You could still face a misdemeanor or even a felony charge.

DATs are more common when:

· the charge is non-violent

· the case is a misdemeanor

· you have no prior criminal record

· you have no open cases

· there is no need for a temporary order of protection for the alleged victim

Even with a DAT, you should speak with a Manhattan criminal defense attorney right away. There’s a lot that a good criminal defense lawyer can do for you between your arrest and your first court appearance in court if you received a DAT. 

Regular Arrest and Central Booking

In other cases, the NYPD will take you to Central Booking after your arrest. This process can take up to around 24 hours for you to finally be brought in front of a judge in New York County Criminal Court at 100 Centre Street.

At arraignment:

· you’re informed of the charges you face

· an Order of Protection may be issued

· the judge decides release conditions

For example, the judge may:

· release you on your own recognizance (ROR)

· place you on supervised release

· require electronic monitoring (ankle monitor)

· set bail

· remand you (typically only for the most serious cases, such as murder)

After arraignment, your case is scheduled for another court date for further proceedings such as discovery, motions, hearings, and then trial. In between these various court appearances, your attorney might engage in plea negotiations with the prosecutor or ask for a dismissal. 

The answer is simple: Call a lawyer immediately. Don’t even think twice about it. 

In fact, the best time to call is the moment you think you might be:

· under investigation

· a suspect

· or asked by the cops to “come in to talk”

Police often say they “just want your side of the story.” That sounds fair and feels reasonable. But it is usually a trap. They are trained investigators. Their goal is not to clear you. Their goal is to build a case against you.

Even statements you think help you can be twisted against you. Words get taken out of context. Innocent mistakes in your recollection get turned into “lies.” Partial facts become “circumstantial evidence.”

If NYPD detectives are asking you to come to a precinct, there is a real chance you may be arrested. It is easier for them if you come willingly. If they already have probable cause, they can and will arrest you.

If you call a criminal defense attorney right away, we can help you in the following ways, which can prove critical to preventing you from getting railroaded by an unjust criminal legal system that all too often rushes to judgment:

· invoke your right to remain silent (i.e., tell police not to question you)

· protect your right to an attorney

· prepare for arraignment

· gather defense evidence early

· stop mistakes before they happen

Here’s just one real-world example of how my early involvement in a case allowed me to achieve a better outcome for my client:

My client was charged with a very serious violent felony charge. On top of that, his prior criminal record enhanced the mandatory minimum prison sentence he faced if convicted. Because of these facts, there was a high likelihood the prosecutor would ask for exceptionally high bail and that the judge might set it. 

Because my client contacted me immediately after he was contacted by police, it allowed me to do the following things:

· conduct my own investigation into the facts

· collect information that supported an argument that he was not a flight risk

· prepare a strong argument at arraignment for his release

The result of my investigation made clear that the serious felony charges he faced were not actually going to be supported by the facts. At arraignment, I was successfully able to argue that the case was significantly overcharged and was at best a misdemeanor if anything. I was also able to provide facts about my client that strongly demonstrated that regardless of what the charges were, he would be certain to come back to court for all future court dates.

The result? The judge agreed and released him on his own recognizance. And guess what? It turned out that everything I said at arraignment was right as the prosecutor reduced the felony charges to a misdemeanor by the very first court date after arraignment. 

To be clear, I don’t share this to promise results. Prior results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.

I share it instead to show you how timing really mattered. Preparation mattered. And it’s all because my client picked up the phone and called right away.

Had he called me later on or had his family contact me after his arrest, I might not have been able to complete the same level of an investigation that led to such a great result. Had bail been set even just half of what the prosecutor was asking for that day, he would’ve been stuck in Rikers waiting for his next court date. 

So the moral of the story here is that early intervention can make a huge difference from the start. Much easier to build a strong defense when you’re out of custody and able to freely meet with your attorney whenever you want. 

I’ll also add that even if your case is not bail-eligible, early attorney involvement is still critical. An independent investigation can uncover evidence that challenges the police story. And you need to get that information when it’s fresh – otherwise you may never get it. Instead, you’ll be stuck with whatever the police are saying happened. 

As with anything in life, being proactive is essential. Especially when so much is at stake like in a criminal case. 

The Law Office of Michael J. McConnell handles all types of criminal cases, including:

· violent felonies

· misdemeanors

· non-violent felonies

· investigations before arrest

I represent individuals throughout the NYC area on charges such as:

· Assault 

· Burglary

· Criminal Mischief

· Criminal Obstruction of Breathing

· Domestic Violence (various offenses such as those listed here but committed against a family member)

· Drug possession and Sale

· DWI

· Gun Possession (Criminal Possession of a Weapon)

· Grand Larceny (theft)

· Menacing

· Obstructing Governmental Administration

· Resisting Arrest

· Robbery

· Sex Crimes (including Forcible Touching)

· Strangulation

For most types of criminal offenses, I’ve handled them as both a prosecutor and now as a defense attorney, which helps me see each case from every angle. 

The most common type of case I tend to handle are those involving assaults (both misdemeanor and felony level). Many of these cases have involved a claim of self-defense, though there are other defenses I routinely consider as well to achieve positive outcomes for my clients. 

In fact, I’ve have had a number of successful outcomes involving assault cases, including recent wins in Manhattan and elsewhere such as:

· A dismissal on the eve of trial in an Assault 3 case in Manhattan after the prosecutor reviewed our proposed trial exhibits (largely their own evidence such as body cam that we simply clipped out in relevant parts) that showed they had no chance to win.

· Dismissal of an Assault 3 case in Manhattan involving a street vendor acting in clear self-defense after I located several eyewitnesses and provided summaries of their statements to the prosecutor. The case was dismissed by the first court date after a arraignment, which spared my client the stress of a criminal case hanging over his head for months. 

· A dismissal of an Assault 2 case shortly after arraignment and before the next court date involving a woman falsely accused of using a weapon. 

· A dismissal of an Assault 2 case involving a college student falsely accused of using a weapon in a fight. 

Again, I want to be crystal clear that every case is different. Not every case can be dismissed. But aggressive investigation and preparation can make a major difference. That’s true with anything in life. Criminal defense is no different. 

Many people worry most about one thing: going to jail. That fear is real. But there is often hope.

There are many ways to avoid jail, especially if:

· you are a first-time offender

· the charge is a misdemeanor

· the charge is non-violent

Even in felony cases, incarceration is not automatic. However, incarceration can be more likely and sometimes required upon conviction if:

· you have prior felony convictions

· the charge carries a mandatory minimum

· the alleged crime is serious or violent

This all underscores why fast and aggressive action from your attorney will matter so much. A strong start can shape the whole case. Once the momentum of the system builds against you, it can become more difficult to avoid jail.

Possible options that may help avoid jail that a good criminal defense lawyer in NYC will consider for you might include:

· diversion programs (i.e., mental health and substance abuse treatment courts or programs)

· probation

· conditional discharges

· reduced charges

· plea negotiations

· dismissal where appropriate

The best criminal defense attorneys always explore every possible path and do everything they can to build leverage early. The longer you wait, the harder it can become to change the direction of the case.

Even if you think “the evidence is strong,” don’t give up. There are often defenses available that you might not see but your lawyer can. Police make mistakes. Witnesses lie. Cameras tell a different story. Law and procedure matter. Sometimes there are mitigating circumstances. 

If I’m hired as your attorney, I’ll explore every possible option for you. I care very much about my clients and their future. So if you’re ready to take the next step, give the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell a call today for a free consultation. 

As a former prosecutor in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, I know how cases look from the other side. That experience is often one of the biggest advantages for my clients.

This background helps because I:

· know how prosecutors evaluate their cases (i.e., what they think a strong case is versus a weak one)

· understand what evidence matters most to them

· am familiar with their game plan and can often anticipate their next moves

· understand their office culture and internal review processes (e.g., they have a structure that often requires levels of approval for favorable plea offers, which means you need an attorney who knows what information the assigned prosecutor will need to take to their supervisor to get approval)

It also helps in plea negotiations to understand what their concerns are and some of the fears they may have about seeming “too lenient” or “soft on crime.” Knowing what those fears are and showing them that I can understand where they’re coming from helps me proactively address their concerns about things like public safety and whether leniency is appropriate. 

I also know firsthand that not every case is what it first appears to be. Police reports are often not the full truth. (Sometimes they are actually the farthest thing from it.) Evidence must be tested. Assumptions must be challenged.

The cost of hiring a criminal defense attorney in Manhattan varies. There is no single price, because every case is unique. 

Fees usually depend on factors such as:

· whether the case is a misdemeanor or felony

· how serious the charge is

· the stage of the case

· the amount of work required

· whether there will be a trial

· your prior criminal record (since this might elevate the seriousness of the charges and potential exposure for incarceration upon conviction)

· complexity of the case

Some attorneys use:

· flat fees

· hourly rates

· hybrid structures

· staged retainers

I try to personalize fee structures based on the case. For the types of cases that I tend to handle most frequently such as gun possession and assaults, I’ll typically offer a flat fee structure since those types of cases tend to follow a more predictable path. For more complex matters, another structure can work better. Sometimes I’ll even propose multiple structures and let the client choose which one works best for them. 

I also sometimes offer payment plans for qualifying clients and qualifying cases. This is usually only possible when I am brought into the case early rather than months later.

The best way to know the cost is simple: call for a free consultation. Once I know the situation, I can explain all options clearly and transparently so that you’ll know exactly what to expect from the start. 

If you were arrested by the NYPD, given a Desk Appearance Ticket, are being investigated, or believe charges are coming, don’t wait. Your future, your job, your family, and your freedom matter.

You deserve someone who will:

· listen without judgment

· explain everything clearly

· fight hard for you

· guide you through every court date

· stand up to the prosecutor

· challenge the police version of events

So if you’re looking for an attorney who isn’t going to back down and is ready to fight for you, call the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell for a free consultation today. 

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. If you need legal advice, you should privately discuss your case with an attorney who can help you understand your legal options based on the unique facts of your case.