Manhattan Criminal Defense Lawyer

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If you or someone you love has been arrested in Manhattan or elsewhere in New York City, call us today at (914) 810-0510. We offer free and private consultations. You can speak to NYC criminal defense lawyer Michael J. McConnell by phone, video, or in person. 

It doesn’t matter if this is your first arrest or if you’ve been arrested before. It doesn’t matter if you’re arrested for a misdemeanor or a felony. Michael J. McConnell is here to help. 

Call now to talk to a criminal defense lawyer if you’ve been arrested in Manhattan: 

Being arrested is scary. You may feel confused, worried, or even ashamed. But you are not alone. Michael J. McConnell is a compassionate criminal defense attorney who knows how to help good people through their toughest times – like when they are charged with a crime. 

If you’ve been charged with any of the following types of crimes, give us a call today. Let Michael J. McConnell fight for you. 

Misdemeanors:

• Assault
• DWI (Driving While Intoxicated)
• Drug Possession
• Domestic Violence
• Petit Larceny (Shoplifting and Theft)
• Trespass and Harassment
• Other misdemeanor charges
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Felonies:

• Grand Larceny
• Robbery
• Burglary
• Gang Assault
• Weapons Charges (gun possession) 
• Felony Drug Charges
• Other serious felony offenses

No matter what happened, the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell is here to aggressively fight for you and defend you against the charges. Getting charged with a crime is always serious, and you deserve serious legal representation. 

📞 Call today to speak with a Manhattan criminal defense lawyer who will take the time to listen.

Crimes in New York are either misdemeanors or felonies.

• Misdemeanors are less serious crimes. But they can still lead to jail, fines, and a criminal record
  • Example: Getting into a fight and being charged with Assault in the Third Degree.
  • You could face up to 364 days in jail.

• Felonies are more serious. You could go to state prison for more than 1 year.
  • Example: Stealing a large amount of money, breaking into a house, or committing a robbery.       
  • These can carry heavy penalties, even if it's your first time.

Whether you face a misdemeanor or felony, we can help. The sooner you speak with a lawyer, the more of an impact they are likely to have. 

Michael J. McConnell is a former Assistant District Attorney with the Manhattan DA’s Office where he handled cases ranging from misdemeanors such as assaults, DWIs, and domestic violence all the way to serious violent felonies like robberies and gang assault. 

As a former Manhattan prosecutor and current criminal defense attorney, Michael J. McConnell understands both sides of the courtroom. 

Specifically, Michael J. McConnell knows: 

• How prosecutors build cases
• What evidence they care about
• How to talk to them about dropping or reducing charges

Let Michael J. McConnell put that experience to work for you if you’ve been charged with a serious crime in Manhattan. 

If you or a loved one has been arrested, here’s what to do:

1. Stay calm. Don’t argue or resist. 
2. Don’t talk to police without a lawyer.
3. Call a New York City criminal defense attorney such as Michael J. McConnell      right away for help.

If retained as your lawyer immediately after an arrest, Michael J. McConnell can: 

• Help with arraignment (first court appearance)
• Try to get you released without bail
• Start fighting the charges immediately

Your future is too important to wait. Call now. We answer 24/7.

In New York, people accused of crimes have important rights. These rights come from the U.S. Constitution and the New York Constitution.

You have the right to:

• Remain silent
• Have a lawyer
• Be presumed innocent
• Get a fair trial
• See the evidence against you

Never give up your rights. Let us stand beside you and protect them.

The system can be confusing. Here is a basic outline of what happens in most criminal cases:

1. Arrest
2. Arraignment (first court appearance)
3. Motions and discovery 
4. Pre-trial hearings
5. Plea negotiations
6. Trial (if needed)
7. Sentencing (if found guilty or guilty plea)

At every step, Michael J. McConnell fights to protect your future.

There are a number of ways a criminal case can resolve in New York. Here are some of the most common ways that criminal cases in Manhattan come to an end:

• Dismissal – The case gets thrown out.
• ACD (Adjournment in Contemplation of Dismissal) – Case goes away if you stay out of trouble for a specified period of time (typically 6 months but can vary depending on the case).
• Disorderly Conduct – A non-criminal violation.
• Misdemeanor Conviction – Can mean probation, jail, or fines.
• Felony Conviction – More serious penalties, including prison time greater than one year. 

As a criminal defense attorney, Michael J. McConnell’s goal is always try to get the best outcome under the circumstances—whether that’s a dismissal, plea deal, or a not guilty verdict at trial. 

We all know the system can be unfair. Here are just some ways that can happen:

• False accusations
• Overcharging      
• Overzealous prosecutors
• Mistaken identity
• Police misconduct
• Good people making a mistake

Michael J. McConnell is a criminal defense attorney in Manhattan who understands that one moment shouldn’t ruin your life. There are ways to fight back against the injustice in our system. It’s not always easy, but having the right attorney by your side who cares about what happens to you can make a huge difference.

A good criminal defense lawyer in New York City will always take the time to get to know their client. Winning a case takes a whole lot more than just knowing about the event that led to the arrest. You have to know your client’s whole story. You really have to know who they are. This is very important in terms of getting the best result possible. 

Michael J. McConnell is a New York City criminal defense lawyer who takes the time to get to know his clients by learning about their: 

• family
• education
• employment      
• goals
• struggles
• mental health, addictions, or personal challenges
• and anything else that helps him tell your full story

Knowing this information can help a criminal defense attorney:

• Ask for fairness from the judge
• Work out better plea deals
• Explain things clearly to a jury, if needed

We believe every client deserves to be seen as a full person, not just a case number. Indeed, one of the most dangerous spots to be in as a defendant in a criminal case is when everyone in the system (the judge, the prosecutor, and maybe even your own attorney) is simply looking at you like just another “case” or “file number.” That isn’t how justice should be done, but sadly it is far too often exactly how it is done. You deserve an attorney who is going to do more for you than let the system treat you like just another number.  

Michael J. McConnell takes pride in helping individuals who are going through one of the toughest moments of their lives. He understands what is at stake and is willing to fight. This can include people who are: 

• Students at colleges and universities in NYC
• Young adults and teenagers
• Working people
• Single parents
• People with disabilities or mental health issues
• People facing their first-ever arrest
• People trying to turn their life around

Whether this is your first time being arrested or if you’ve been in trouble before, the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell is here to help. 

Some cases move quickly. Others take time. But at the Law Office of Michael J. McConnell, our approach will always be proactive – which means we aren’t afraid to move fast to protect you. 

When you hire Michael J. McConnell, he can: 

• Conduct his own independent investigation, which may include visiting the scene      and interviewing witnesses
• Speak with the prosecutor early 
• Look for ways to get the charges dropped
• Negotiate a favorable plea if appropriate 
• Fight the case all the way through trial if necessary 

For many people, a conviction could mean losing everything – your freedom, your job, your family, and more. Michael J. McConnell is an attorney who understands that and will therefore always fight as hard as possible for you.