Criminal Law
If you have been arrested and charged with a crime in Central Islip or Suffolk County, you need experienced representation to protect your legal rights. Our attorneys have been handling criminal cases for more than 20 years. We have a team of former prosecutors who speak English and Spanish, and have successfully handled thousands of misdemeanors and felonies, including assault, larceny, drug charges, driving while intoxicated (DWI/DWAI), criminal contempt, domestic violence, manslaughter, Aggravated Unlicensed (VTL 511), and other charges. In addition, our office maintains Portuguese speaking personnel.

We will review the charges filed against you to determine if they are legally sufficient. If they are not, we will prepare motions, conduct hearings and take your case to trial to protect your rights. In appropriate circumstances we will negotiate with the district attorney and with the judge to obtain the best plea bargain offer we can to further your best interests.

Understand that you have certain Constitutional rights that are guaranteed to you by the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York. You have an absolute right to remain silent. No one can force you or coerce you to plead guilty to anything. You have a right to take your case to trial, and to force the people to prove its case against you beyond a reasonable doubt. You have a right to cross examine and confront the prosecutions witnesses and to provide your own defense. You have the absolute right to be represented by an attorney at each and every stage of your criminal proceeding.

If you are contacted by the police to be questioned or you are arrested, call us immediately before speaking to the authorities. It is unwise to speak to the police without an attorney present Anything you say and any statement you sign can and will be used against you.

If you are charged with a felony, it is particularly important that you retain counsel right away to avoid possible indictment. An indictment is a proceeding where a body of citizens is convened to hear evidence to determine whether or not there is probable cause to charge you with a Felony, which is a serious criminal charge. Once you are indicted, the law places restrictions on plea bargains, so it is essential that you retain counsel right away. We provide immediate and personal attention to your case to protect your rights in these instances.
We are experienced at plea negotiations, motion practice, hearings, trials and grand jury proceedings.

We are available in Central Islip and throughout Suffolk County, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to handle your criminal cases including weekend arraignments.

In case of an emergency, contact Christopher P. McGuire, Esq. via pager at 516-440-0086.
Spanish speaking clients should contact Mary Peláez, Esq. at 516-440-0017.

Traffic Law - DWI, Aggravated Unlicensed, etc.

If you are charged with a traffic violation or crime in Central Islip or throughout Suffolk County, our attorneys have more than twenty years experience in handling these offenses.

Have you been ticketed in Central Islip or throughout Suffolk County for speeding, running a stop sign or red light, failing to signal, DWI/DWAI, VTL 511, or any other traffic violation?

Did you know that if you receive three (3) speeding tickets or eleven (11) points within an eighteen (18) month period, your driver's license can be suspended or revoked? In addition, new legislation requires that you may be required to pay a "Driver Responsibility Assessment" for certain violations. The assessment is paid annually for three (3) years and includes a $450.00 a year surcharge for drug and alcohol driving offenses and a $100.00 a year surcharge for offenses which total six (6) points in an eighteen (18) month period, plus an additional $25.00 for each extra point accrued during that period

We have handled traffic violations in Central Islip and throughout Suffolk County , Nassau County, and the State of New York in the Traffic Violations Bureau, the local criminal courts, and town and justice courts. We are experienced in preparing motions, conducting plea negations, hearings and trials.

Have you been charged with Driving While Intoxicated?

Driving While Intoxicated is a crime that is punishable by jail time and/or probation and high fines, and the Nassau and Suffolk County District Attorney's offices have been taking a tough stance on these types of offenses. Driving While Intoxicated can be charged as a misdemeanor or in some cases as a felony, which is a serious crime. You need to have experienced attorneys to handle your case.

We are located in Central Islip and have experience in Suffolk County and throughout the State in conducting plea negotiations, motions, hearings and trials. We are intimately familiar with the implications your case can have on your driver's license and will work with the court and the Department of Motor Vehicles to get you your license back as soon as possible.

Have you been charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle?

Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle is a crime punishable by jail time, high fines and probation. We can run your abstract and help you to restore your driver's license so you can receive a favorable disposition of your criminal case.

In case of an emergency, contact Christopher P. McGuire, Esq. via pager at 516-440-0086.
Spanish speaking clients should contact Mary Peláez, Esq. at 516-440-0017.