The Law Offices of Mark Sherman, LLC, is proud to announce the inclusion of five of their attorneys in the 2023 publication of Connecticut Super Lawyers ®.
Managing Partner Mark Sherman and Partner Ryan O’Neill have been recognized as Connecticut Super Lawyers. Partners Christine Landis and Amanda Telesco, and Associate Caitlin Murphy have been recognized as Connecticut Rising Stars.
Super Lawyers ® is a commercial publication which recognizes attorneys from across 70 practice areas who have been vetted through a patented screening process. No more than 5% of lawyers are selected to the Super Lawyers list and no more than 2.5% are named to the Rising Stars List. To learn more about this selection process, click here.
You may not realize it, but when you interfere with a 911 emergency call in Connecticut, or when you disrupt any emergency phone call to a police or fire department in Connecticut, you can get arrested in Darien, Stamford or Greenwich for the crime of Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call under CGS 53a-183b. It is a misdemeanor crime that is taken very seriously in Connecticut, especially during domestic violence arrests where the telephone is the only lifeline to safety for a husband or wife who is being abused. Connecticut police and prosecutors will arrest and aggressively prosecute individuals who interfere with 911 calls. Every second counts during an emergency and as a result, any disruption of an emergency call can result in severe fines and criminal penalties. In light of the fact that people are arrested for 53a-183b Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call so frequently in domestic violence cases, there are often additional misdemeanor and felony charges that can piggyback a Stamford Connecticut Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call arrest. Therefore, if you have been arrested for Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call under CGS 53a-183b in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Wilton or New Canaan, it is important to contact a top Stamford Connecticut criminal lawyer attorney to understand your rights, and try to get the Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call—and any other Connecticut domestic violence arrest charges for that matter—dismissed as quickly as possible.
To understand how someone is arrested in Connecticut with Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call, the best attorneys will inevitably point you to Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-183b. Under this criminal law, you can be arrested if you intentionally hinder or prevent an individual from making or completing a call to the police or 911 dispatch who is requesting police protection or reporting the commission of a crime. That’s the technical definition of this crime, and as we explain below, it can be enforced and applied in many different scenarios. Typically, you can be arrested when you either physically or verbally prevent or hinder someone else from making an emergency call. Physical interference ranges from breaking an someone’s cell phone, ripping a phone from the hands of a 911 caller, hanging up the phone mid-call, or abruptly disconnecting any kind of 911 call. On the other hand, verbal hindering ranges from taking over a 911 emergency phone call and telling the emergency services operator there is no problem (when there really is), or to verbally threaten an individual to either hang up the phone or not make the phone call in the first place.
An arrest in Connecticut for Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call is a Class A misdemeanor. This crime is punishable by up to one year in jail, probation, and a maximum $2,000 in fines. You will also be required to pay court fees and expenses associated with your case.
As mentioned above, top attorneys often see a 53a-183b Interference with 911 Emergency Call arrest go hand-in-hand with other domestic violence charges. A domestic violence arrest requires a court appearance on the next business morning, where you are required to appear before a Superior Court criminal judge for a protective / restraining order hearing.
When a criminal judge hears that you have been accused of interfering with or hindering a 911 emergency call in addition to a domestic violence arrest for Disorderly Conduct, Assault, or Strangulation, a judge may be very concerned that the alleged victim in your case is not safe to reside in the same home as you. At this hearing, the judge can issue 3 kinds of restraining orders: (1) a “full no contact” order preventing you from returning home and having any kind of contact whatsoever with the complainant, (2) a “full residential stay-away” order, allowing contact but forbidding you from entering the residence of the protected person, or (3) a “partial” or “limited” domestic violence protective restraining order, allowing you contact and residential visiting privileges, but forbidding you from threatening, harassing or assaulting the protected person.
This restraining order can last anywhere from weeks to months, making it all the more advisable to have an attorney advocating for you at the protective / restraining order hearing. Once the parameters of a restraining order are ordered by the Court, your case will be transferred to the domestic violence court docket where you and your legal team can fight your Interference with a 911 Emergency call arrest and any other additional criminal charges.
Most Connecticut Interfering with Emergency Call 53a-183b arrests arise during the commission of crime or a domestic violence incident. In today’s fast-pace technological world, all emergency calls are digitally recorded. Therefore, if you are innocent of your Interference charges and you believe the 911 call itself will help prove your innocence, then the best attorneys will know how to immediately file motions with the court to preserve and review the digital 911 recordings and other electronic evidence.
It is critical these preservation motions are filed quickly, as this digital evidence is not preserved forever. Unless the police preserve and excerpt these recordings themselves, these recordings are only available for about 30 to 60 days until they are destroyed. Don’t let crucial evidence like this disappear. Another approach in fighting your arrest is hiring an investigator to take witness statements from anyone who was present during the alleged crime. Many times a complainant will feel guilty about calling and actually hang up on 911. But understand the police will show up at your home anyway, even if there’s a hangup call. Then the so-called victim will blame their spouse or significant other when the police finally arrive. One of the only ways to set the record straight is to provide police and prosecutors with a signed sworn statement which can vindicate you and possibly convince the State of Connecticut to drop its Interference with 911 Emergency Call arrest against you. To learn more about how to fight your CGS 53a-183b arrest, contact our firm to discuss your defense strategy options.
Generally, yes. First time offenders who commit misdemeanors and low-level felonies are typically eligible to apply for the Accelerated Rehabilitation First Time Offenders Program. The “AR Program” gives first time offenders the opportunity have a “second chance.” And even though a 53a-183b Interference with 911 Emergency Call arrest is often charged in a domestic violence case, it does not qualify to be dismissed under the Family Violence Education Program (“FVEP”) diversionary program. That’s why the AR Program is the most appropriate diversionary program for this charge.
Getting the AR Program for your 53a-183b Interference with an Emergency Call is divided into a two-step hearing process: first, comes eligibility, followed by a hearing on the merits of your application. With respect to eligibility, as along as you did not use the AR Program in the past 10 years, and so long as the AR was not used for a felony arrest, you will generally be eligible to apply. It is the AR Program hearing that is the most important. At the hearing on your AR Program application, the victim of your arrest—as well as the police department—will have a chance to object to your application. Criminal court judges in Norwalk, Stamford, Bridgeport and Danbury granting your AR application will decide whether to allow you to participate in this diversionary program, which if completed, will result in your Stamford or Greenwich 53a-183b Interference with 911 Emergency Call arrest being dismissed by the Connecticut Superior Court. It is therefore crucial that you and your top Stamford Connecticut criminal attorney assemble the strongest application possible so the arrest record can be completely erased from your record and background checks. So be sure to contact a top Stamford criminal attorney to discuss the best strategy for applying for the Accelerated Rehabilitation First Time Offenders Program for your Connecticut Interference with an Emergency Call arrest.
As you can see, a domestic violence arrest in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, Wilton, Weston, New Canaan or Westport can involve many moving parts. If not handled properly, then the consequences to your professional or personal life can be long-term and life-changing. And when your arrest involves accusations of Interfering with a 911 Emergency Call or a call to the police department, then you can be arrested in Darien, Westport, Greenwich, Stamford or New Canaan for the specific crime of 53a-183b Interference with a 911 Emergency Call. These arrests usually come hand in hand with other Connecticut domestic violence arrests for Disorderly Conduct, Violation of a Protective Order, Strangulation, and Assault in the Third Degree. So if you find yourself arrested in Stamford or Greenwich for Interfering with a 911 Emergency call, then contact one of the Connecticut domestic violence criminal lawyers at Mark Sherman Law today. Our priority is getting you the best result possible under your individual circumstances. We will sit with you and develop the most cost-effective defense strategy with you, and will execute this strategy with the goal of getting your Connecticut Interference with Emergency Call charges dismissed or reduced as quickly as possible. Our “two-attorney” guarantee ensures that your case will get a thorough and comprehensive review from at least two of our criminal lawyers. So contact a Greenwich or Stamford criminal attorney today. The attorneys at Mark Sherman Law are available 24/7 to speak with you. Call us today.
After a DV arrest in Connecticut, people immediately start thinking about divorce, custody and asset protection.
Specifically, a first-time / first offender domestic arrest in Greenwich, Darien or Westport Connecticut can have you—as either the victim or arrestee—asking these difficult, big picture questions: Do I want to stay in this marriage? How can I protect myself? Is my spouse cheating on me? Do I need a safety plan? And how can I protect my assets after a Connecticut domestic violence arrest when my husband or wife controls all the family money, properties and bank accounts?
All valid questions that need to be investigated immediately.
As any of the best domestic violence criminal lawyers in Greenwich and New Canaan Connecticut know, your first thoughts after being involved in a Connecticut domestic violence arrest is about divorce, custody, and the distribution of wealth. Some top Greenwich and Westport Connecticut divorce lawyers and attorneys even see husbands move assets and drain bank accounts following their arrest for domestic violence (but before divorce papers are filed), especially when a husband catches a wife cheating on them.
Draining bank accounts and transferring assets held in joint bank accounts can be illegal in certain circumstances. That’s why it’s critical for anyone involved in a Connecticut domestic violence arrest case to—at the very least—get informed about their rights.
Talk to a top Connecticut criminal lawyer, as well as any of the best Greenwich Connecticut divorce and family lawyers attorneys, who can also bring in a top Greenwich Connecticut financial advisor who they trust and have worked with for years to help you understand how to protect your assets and financial security.
It’s true that as soon as there is a Connecticut domestic violence arrest, court-appointed (and free-of-charge) domestic violence victim advocates from the Greenwich YWCA and the Domestic Violence Crisis Centers in Stamford and Norwalk immediately mobilize and contact you to make sure you are safe and have a safety plan in place in case there is more domestic violence.
But these victim advocates are not trained in advising you on how to protect your assets, properties and money. Without the security of having money or credit cards at your fingertips, you can find yourself victimized emotionally and financially, which can be as challenging as verbal abuse.
Not every financial advisor appreciates the interplay among divorce law, criminal law, and legally permissible asset protection. It’s a very fine—but critical—line to tow.
So speak to any of the best Greenwich, Stamford and Westport financial advisors who can advise you of warning signs and pre-emptive strikes you can make to further protect you and your children. You can follow this link to contact the Fiorentino Group at UBS, which has developed aggressive asset protection strategies. This Group continues to offer innovative and cost-effective asset protection plans for people going through contested Connecticut divorces, as well as sensitive domestic violence cases.
So if you’ve been arrested for domestic violence in Greenwich, Westport or anywhere in Connecticut, or are a victim of domestic violence in Connecticut, contact the Mark Sherman Law Firm today to start getting in front of critical issues such as asset protection, custody, and onerous restraining orders that are intended to alienate you from your children and all of the wealth that you’ve spent years accumulating with your spouse. Click here to read Avvo.com certified reviews from our prior Connecticut domestic violence clients. Then call us today for a consultation.
As a criminal lawyer in Fairfield County Connecticut, I’ve seen the same jilted mistress / girlfriend movie all too many times.
All these cheating and sugar daddy websites like Seekingarrangement.com and ashleymadison.co start off the same…a presumed “no strings attached” affair between an older, wealthier male and a younger, beautiful woman. At the outset, the terms are simple: man cheats with woman in exchange for him buying her and her friends nice stuff. They travel the world, stay at the best hotels, see the best shows, and enjoy the best restaurants and clubs.
And then…most of the time…it all goes to sh*t.
What happens next is all too familiar to many of the best Connecticut criminal extortion, blackmail and stalking lawyers who handle these types of cases. Eventually, the man moves on or doesn’t keep his end of the bargain. The girlfriend mistress then threatens to blow up the guy—threatens to tell his wife and children if he doesn’t pay her money. Or the man’s wife reads his text messages or Whatsapp messages and shuts the affair down.
In either event, when someone threatens to do something to you if you don’t pay them money—that can very well be criminal. Attempted larceny by extortion. And it’s illegal, but sometimes when you go to the police station to report it, cops are hesitant to investigate or prosecute because it’s extremely hard for prosecutors to prove in court. Additionally, any arrest will necessarily have to be made public and the allegations are usually very embarrassing for the victim and his or her family.
So what can be done?
Since 2002, the Mark Sherman Law Firm has developed a niche in handling sugar daddy and online extortion, stalking and blackmail cases around the country. (In fact, the Firm has been featured in the Wall Street Journal for its experience and know-how).
One strategy that has worked well in recent years for some of the top Greenwich, Darien and New Canaan Connecticut criminal lawyers who deal with extortion and stalking cases involving mistresses and girlfriends is to not go criminal with their complaint, but to take their case to Stamford Restraining Order court, which is civil in nature, not criminal.
Getting a restraining order against a mistress or girlfriend in Stamford involves some legal gymnastics, but it can be done if you’re represented by any of the best Stamford or Greenwich Connecticut restraining order lawyers or attorneys. Connecticut restraining court judges have basically seen it all—threesomes, foursomes, sexting exchanges that will make you blush—so they’re not going to judge your situation personally. The judges are only interested in stopping harassment, stalking and extortion. And that’s what your top Connecticut stalking and extortion lawyer attorney can help you persuade a judge to do—to issue an order against your online girlfriend or mistress to cease and desist from attempting to extort, blackmail and harass you and your family. Follow this link for more on how to get a Connecticut restraining order.
The other problem that typically arises in sugar-daddy-cases-gone-wild is when the jilted mistress or girlfriend starts harassing and defaming the sugar daddies online. They post the man’s photo online on a schlock cheaters website, and then tells the whole sugar daddy story—even posting racy text messages and photographs that she has saved for a stalking and harassment scenario just like this.
Is this defamation? Is it libel? Can you sue? Well, if it’s all true—if the texts and photos are genuine…if the cheating story she is telling online is true—then no, it’s not defamation or libel. But it can still be illegal and it still can be grounds for a civil lawsuit for infliction of emotional distress—one which the girlfriend or mistress may not be able to afford to fight, especially if your top Greenwich Connecticut libel lawyer attorney threatens to put a lien on your girlfriend’s bank account, house, or wages.
While the issues are sensitive and embarrassing, the bottom line is that there’s recourse for you. There are options. You may have made the mistake of hooking up with a crazy person, but you can’t let a jilted, jealous lover, mistress, girlfriend or boyfriend ruin your life and reputation. You can’t let them stalk, harass or extort you and your family forever.
So if you’re involved in a Connecticut case of stalking, blackmail or extortion, then give any of our Connecticut criminal lawyers a call today. Online reviews are available on the Avvo.com certified client review website.
As any top UConn Rockville criminal lawyer knows, the most common arrests at UConn are for Disorderly Conduct, Fake IDs, and Marijuana Possession. Disorderly Conduct arrests always tend to be the most challenging, as these arrests arise from fights at bars, off-campus parties, or domestic violence disputes between boyfriends and girlfriends.
So what’s so tricky about a UConn Disorderly Conduct arrest?
For starters, the Rockville criminal court as well as UConn Office of Student Affairs will each try to slap a restraining order on you, making it very difficult for you or your child to navigate his or her way around campus without violating a 100-yard stay away or no-contact restraining order.
So if you’ve been arrested at UConn for Disorderly Conduct under CGS 53a-182, keep reading to learn how to get your case dismissed quickly, and how to resolve any school discipline issues before they snowball out of control.
While most Connecticut college campuses employ full-time security guards who don’t have Connecticut arrest and interrogation powers, UConn has its own police force of approximately 70 sworn police officers. UConn Police have full governmental authority to detain you, arrest you and execute search warrants and arrest warrants.
So be careful and respectful when dealing with UConn police, even if they are aggressive or hostile toward you. Remember, you have the right to remain silent and the right to speak to any of the best UConn criminal law firms before sitting down for a UConn police interview or interrogation.
All University of Connecticut / UConn arrests for Disorderly Conduct CGS 53a-182 report to Rockville Superior Court located at 20 Park Street in Vernon, Connecticut. At Rockville court, your top UConn Rockville criminal attorney lawyer can negotiate your UConn arrest and try to persuade the state’s attorney prosecutor to drop the charge, or alternatively make a compelling argument to the Rockville judge to dismiss your UConn Disorderly Conduct arrest, even if the prosecutor objects and wants you to plead guilty to this misdemeanor. It’s a delicate process with many moving parts. You can follow this link for more on strategies for fighting UConn misdemeanor or felony arrests.
As any of the best UConn criminal lawyers understand, most UConn Disorderly Conduct arrests usually come hand-in-hand with a UConn school discipline hearing. Usually a UConn student will get a letter mailed to them within days of their UConn arrest or their first court date in Rockville Superior Court. They will be required to meet with a UConn Dean or Assistant Dean who will confront the student with the accusations that led to the UConn arrest. How you handle this meeting and any related UConn school discipline hearings is critical to your educational and professional future. So before speaking with any UConn deans or school officials, be sure to reach out to a top school discipline criminal lawyer attorney.
The team of UConn criminal lawyers at Mark Sherman Law have been helping UConn undergraduate and graduate students with their UConn arrests and school disciplinary hearings for over 15 years. Our goal is getting you the best results possible as quickly as possible. You can read Avvo.com certified client reviews from our former UConn clients. So if you’re a UConn student facing a Disorderly Conduct or Fake ID arrest, then give us a call today. Our attorneys are available 24/7 to take your call.
Connecticut police and prosecutors are taking online harassment and social media harassment arrests seriously. Digital forensic police labs are sprouting up all over Fairfield County, and police in Greenwich, Weston, Stamford and Darien Connecticut are benefitting from government funding and top-tier training in cell phone and social media forensics. Their goal is simple: to stop online and digital harassment and bullying. Perhaps that’s why the best computer crime criminal lawyers are seeing more harassment arrests originating from texting, emailing and social media messaging applications.
But no matter how fancy and cutting edge the new police technology may be, the time-tested First Amendment just may prevail in getting your Second Degree Harassment arrest dismissed…
Top Stamford, Norwalk and Bridgeport Court criminal lawyers and attorneys would concede that there are typically 3 scenarios that can get you arrested for Harassment in the Second Degree under CGS 53a-183: (1) using obscene language over the phone; (2) calling someone repeatedly in a frequency and manner that annoys or alarms them; or (3) texting, emailing, faxing, tweeting, or social media / Facebook messaging a person in a manner that will cause them alarm or annoyance. And when it comes to Second Degree Harassment phone call cases, even hang up calls can get you arrested in Connecticut under CGS 53a-183.
Surprisingly, intent is irrelevant. Whether you get arrested in Connecticut for Harassment Second Degree can actually depend on the subjective discretion of the complaining witness. So if your ex or significant other is particularly sensitive—or just pretending to be frightened or scared—then you risk getting arrested.
It’s important to understand the penalties as well as the process for a Connecticut Harassment Second Degree arrest under CGS 53a-183. Many of the best Stamford, Greenwich and Darien Connecticut criminal lawyers know that Harassment Second Degree is a Class C misdemeanor and carries up to 90 days of prison exposure, a $500 fine and probation.
Some police officers may not appreciate the technical nuances of the Connecticut Harassment laws. You see, police just need “probable cause” (a low standard) to make an arrest. Once booked, they hand off your case to Connecticut state prosecutors. It then becomes the prosecutor’s (also called state’s attorney) job to figure out if they can prove your Harassment Second Degree arrest beyond a reasonable doubt. The prosecutors in the Stamford, Norwalk, Bridgeport and Danbury Connecticut courts will examine the case more closely and then have the discretion to drop or reduce your Second Degree Harassment arrest if they deem that the accusations do not rise to the level of alarm or annoyance that supports a provable case.
One smart defense strategy commonly employed by the top criminal law firms in Stamford, Norwalk and Westport Connecticut and elsewhere is to immediately file evidence preservation motions with the arraignment court. This way, your Harassment Second Degree accuser will be ordered by the Court to preserve and possibly turn over all text messages, emails and social media messages, which can possibly reveal that you were being baited, that they really weren’t scared, or that your accuser has lied to the police. This ultimately can clear your name, and help your top Connecticut Harassment domestic violence lawyer attorney persuade the state’s attorney to drop your charges.
The team of experienced criminal lawyers and attorneys at Mark Sherman Law have over 25+ years of collective experience in fighting Harassment Second Degree arrests in Stamford, Greenwich, Darien, New Canaan and throughout the State of Connecticut. Our firm’s familiarity with digital communications and social media has kept up with the rapid pace of this ever-changing technology. We are always a step ahead and continue to utilize cutting edge defense strategies to help our clients fight unfounded and contrived Harassment Second Degree arrests. So check out our Avvo.com-certified client reviews, and call us today. Our firm’s lawyers are standing by 24/7 to assist you.
Your first court appearance for a Ghttps://markshermanlaw.com/stamford/disorderly-conduct-lawyer/defenses/reenwich domestic violence arrest for Disorderly Conduct C.G.S. 53a-182 can be overwhelming. You face a tough interview from Family Relations, followed by a 5-on-1 arraignment hearing.
Here’s what to expect and how to get in front of your Disorderly Conduct arrest…
As any of the best Greenwich criminal lawyers know, while you’re required to report to Stamford Superior at 9am sharp, your case will not get called until the arraignment docket that starts at 12 noon. That’s when you need to be prepared for your Greenwich restraining / protective order hearing.
Here’s what happens at this hearing: it’s you against the prosecutor, bail commissioner, victim advocate, family relations officer, and alleged victim. That’s right—they all have a say on the restrictions and parameters of a restraining order that the judge will issue against you at this first appearance.
What’s critical here is that you or your top criminal lawyer argues aggressively for the least restrictive protective order possible: a “partial” or “limited” protective order. This order allows you to return to your home, and have contact with your family members.
Before walking into court for your restraining order hearing following your Disorderly Conduct arrest, you are required to meet with a Family Relations Officer on the 3rd floor of the courthouse. There, an officer will want to conduct an intense and comprehensive “intake” interview with you…to not only learn more about your personal, professional and mental health histories, but to also “get your side of the story” as to how you got yourself arrested in Greenwich for Disorderly Conduct.
Think twice before you start talking about your domestic violence case. I appreciate that you will be nervous and will want to cooperate with the court officers and staff—to be helpful—but you should not be talking about the details of your criminal case without a top Greenwich Connecticut criminal defense lawyer attorney by your side. Family Relations will share your admissions and disclosures with the judge and prosecutor, which can have a meaningful impact on your case’s prosecution track.
If there are accusations of alcohol abuse, or being drunk, high or on too many prescriptions drugs or pills at the time of your arrest, then a judge or prosecutor may want to order you into AIC (which is a court-sponsored resources center in Stamford that offers free social work and counseling).
AIC stands for “Alternatives in the Community” and a judge may order it if you tell Family Relations (or if your accuser tells Family Relations) that you have a drinking problem, anger management problem, or psychiatric problems.
The best Stamford and Greenwich criminal lawyers know that AIC can interfere with your job or family responsibilities to a point where it may get you fired. It can be up to 6 hours a week during the late afternoons. If you work in Manhattan, it’s virtually impossible to comply with AIC.
So if you’ve been ticketed or arrested in Greenwich Connecticut for Disorderly Conduct / CGS 53a-182, contact one of the experienced Stamford domestic violence lawyers at Mark Sherman Law today. You can read success stories from our former Greenwich clients on the Avvo.com certified client review website, and give us a call.
