Police patrolling near Greenwich village were shocked when an altercation between a 23-year-old man and a 67-year-old victim turned violent. According to reports, the younger man slashed the elderly victim on the face and on the hand with a knife at around 2:45 in the morning.
When cops arrived at the scene, they immediately rushed to help the victim and transport him to Bellevue Hospital. One of the officers attempted to apprehend the suspect, but he fled from the scene.
A pursuing officer was able to catch up to the suspect and take him into custody. Now, he’s being charged with a host of criminal offenses, including resisting arrest, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon.
Reports suggest this isn’t the suspect’s first run-in with the law. He’s been arrested at least four times in the past. His prior arrests include criminal possession of a weapon, petit larceny, and robbery. He also had two warrants out for his arrest. In addition, he was currently on parole for one of his previous robbery charges.
Thankfully, the elderly victim received timely medical care and is currently in stable condition. The motive behind this violent altercation remains unclear, but the victim did tell police that he did not know his attacker prior to the incident.
Charge Stacking in New York
While there was only one violent act, the suspect is being charged with multiple criminal offenses. This common tactic is called charge stacking, and it happens when prosecutors file multiple charges against you for a single act or a few related acts. When you get charged with several crimes, the prosecution is more likely to get a conviction. What’s more, you’re also more likely to have harsher penalties levied against you.
For instance, resisting arrest in New York could result in a sentence of up to one year in prison, three years on probation, and a fine of up to $1,000. Misdemeanor assault charges could result in up to one year in jail, three years of probation, or a fine of up to $1,000. Criminal possession of a firearm, however, is a felony.
By hitting the suspect with all three charges, prosecutors are more likely to get at least one conviction on one of your charges. They’ll likely attempt to push for a conviction of the highest charge first.
There are specific legal strategies you can use to combat charge stacking in New York. There are also ways of potentially negotiating your penalties down to a reduced level. There are also multiple different defense strategies that you could employ to prevent being found guilty of your charges.
The best way to determine how to defend yourself against your charges is to consult with a criminal defense attorney about what happened. A quality lawyer will help you strategize, ensure you’re fully informed regarding your charges, help you go over the evidence prosecutors have against you, and work with you to determine the best path forward.
If you’re ready to talk to a lawyer in New York, then reach out to our office now to get in touch.
