A 59-year-old New York City resident was just traumatized after an incident that was caught on camera in Times Square in late July. According to initial reports, the Asian woman was heading home after buying some groceries. It was about 10 A.M. on a Sunday morning when she was tagging along her cart. Suddenly, the suspect lunged at the victim from behind and slashed her with a box cutter.
Shocking surveillance video confirms that no words were exchanged and the whole incident was entirely unprovoked.
The victim suffered deep painful cuts on her right hand and forearm. She took herself to the Bellevue Hospital for treatment. While nothing has been confirmed yet, the victim suspects that she was targeted due to her Asian nationality. If that’s not the case, then the victim believes that the suspect might be suffering from a mental illness. Either way, she hopes that the suspect is identified and brought to justice soon.
Criminal Assault with a Knife Charges in New York
Per New York law, a knife is considered a deadly weapon. In other words, any charge you face that involves a box cutter or knife will immediately get upgraded because the law will consider your actions as having taken place with a deadly weapon. In the case above, the suspect will likely get charged with assault with a deadly weapon.
This type of charge is extremely serious.
A conviction will lead to at least a one-year jail sentence and fines of up to $1,000. Assault with a deadly weapon charges can get upgraded, though. Considering the victim’s injuries, it might make sense to charge the suspect with second-degree assault, which is a Class D felony.
A conviction would potentially lead to a seven year prison term. Getting convicted of a first-degree charge could lead to a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.
On top of these penalties, a conviction would also result in significant amounts of fines and a probation period once you’ve served out your prison sentence. What’s more, a felony conviction means you’ll automatically lose the right to vote, the right to carry a firearm, and the right to hold public office. A felony conviction could also limit your future employment and housing opportunities. Even more damaging, your personal relationships will inevitably suffer as a result of your conviction, too.
How to Hire a NY Criminal Defense Attorney
Clearly, assault with a knife charges are considered pretty serious in New York. The only way to avoid the consequences associated with these charges is to avoid a conviction. The best way to avoid a conviction and secure a better legal outcome is to hire a good criminal defense attorney to represent you.
Are you currently looking for a top-tier criminal defense attorney in New York or the surrounding area? If so, then we can help.
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