Any violation of the law in New York tends to carry extreme consequences for the perpetrator if it leads to a conviction. However, we often see our clients initially underestimating just how much a criminal conviction might affect their futures. At Villarini & Henry, L.L.P., we make it our first priority to inform clients of the short-term and long-term ramifications of any judgment a court might make against them, regardless of the perceived severity of the infraction in question.
We find that some of the crimes people have the highest tendency to underestimate are property crimes and minor drug crimes. If you or someone you care for were to receive a conviction for such an offense, the consequences may range beyond the expected.
One example is vandalism. Although common wisdom might indicate that this crime carries lax penalties, we know different: The intricacies of a given criminal mischief or criminal tampering case might lead to excessive punishments. Conviction of too extreme an offense could even mean long-term damage to an individual’s reputation.
You can review the potential initial sentences for vandalism in New York on FindLaw: Jail sentences could reach as long as 25 years. While this extended sentence would be reserved for you only if you were convicted of committing property damage using an explosive device, there are several milder punishments for the category of vandalism. We see it as our job to reduce these consequences for our clients, and to protect their reputations from spurious charges by getting weak charges dismissed outright. Please continue and learn more on our main site.