Lawyer Defending Clients Against Criminal Contempt Charges in Nassau County
Showing contempt for the courts in New York is not just disrespect and inappropriate—it’s also illegal. Criminal contempt is a serious criminal offense that carries significant penalties. If you are accused of criminal contempt, do not hesitate to contact experienced criminal defense attorney Gianni Karmily.
What is Criminal Contempt in New York?
Criminal contempt in New York occurs when a person intentionally disobeys a lawful court order or otherwise interferes with the court’s authority. The charge most commonly arises when someone is alleged to have violated an order of protection issued in a criminal, family, or matrimonial case. Examples may include contacting a protected person, appearing at a prohibited location, or engaging in conduct prohibited by the court order.
What is the Difference Between Criminal Contempt in the First Degree and Second Degree?
There are two degrees of criminal contempt in Nassau County. Second-degree criminal contempt occurs when someone engages in specific acts that are seen as disobedient or disrespectful to the court. Some examples of these acts include:
- Disorderly conduct that interrupts the court’s proceedings
- Creating a disturbance that interrupts the court’s proceedings
- Refusing to obey with a court order or court process
- Refusing to be sworn in as a witness in any legal proceeding or refusing to answer questions after being sworn in as a witness
- Publishing false information regarding the details of a court proceeding
Second-degree criminal contempt is a class A misdemeanor.
First-degree criminal contempt can occur when someone engages in certain acts, including refusing to be sworn in as a witness before a grand jury or refusing to answer questions after being sworn in. But many first-degree criminal contempt cases involve the violation of an order of protection. You can face first-degree criminal contempt charges if you violate an order of protection by:
- Displaying a deadly weapon to the person who was protected by the court order
- Following the person
- Communicating with the person
- Repeatedly calling the person
- Making or attempting to make physical contact with the person
- Putting the person in fear of death or serious injury
- Damaging property belonging to the person
This crime is more serious than second-degree criminal contempt, so it is classified as a class E felony.
Is Criminal Contempt a Felony in New York?
Criminal contempt can be either a misdemeanor or a felony in New York. Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree is generally a Class A misdemeanor, while Criminal Contempt in the First Degree is a Class E felony. More serious allegations involving physical contact, threats, repeated violations of an order of protection, or other aggravating circumstances may result in felony charges. The specific charge depends on the facts of the case and the applicable New York criminal statutes.
What is Aggravated Criminal Contempt?
First- and second-degree criminal contempt are not the only two criminal contempt offenses in New York. The state also recognizes aggravated criminal contempt. This crime occurs when someone violates an order of protection by injuring the person who was protected by the court order.
You can also face aggravated criminal contempt charges if you are a repeat offender. If you commit first-degree criminal contempt, your charges can be increased to aggravated criminal contempt if you already have an aggravated criminal contempt or first-degree criminal contempt conviction on your record.
This is the most serious criminal contempt offense, so it is a class D felony.
What Are Examples of Criminal Contempt?
Many criminal contempt cases are related to violations of orders of protection. An order of protection is a court mandate that is typically issued in domestic violence cases. This mandate orders the alleged perpetrator to stay away and avoid all contact with the victim. If an order of protection has been issued against you, it’s important to comply with its terms. Failing to do so could lead to criminal contempt charges.
For example, the order of protection may require you to stay away from the victim’s home and place of employment. If you show up at the victim’s place of employment, you are violating this court order and could face criminal contempt charges as a result.
What Happens If I Violate an Order of Protection on Long Island?
Violating an order of protection can result in immediate arrest and criminal charges, even if no one was injured. Depending on the allegations, prosecutors in Nassau or Suffolk County may charge Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree, Criminal Contempt in the First Degree, or even Aggravated Criminal Contempt.
Potential consequences include:
- Arrest and prosecution
- Jail or prison time
- Probation
- Fines and court surcharges
- A criminal record
- Additional restrictions imposed by the court
The specific penalties depend on the terms of the order, the alleged conduct, and any prior criminal history.
Can I Be Charged If The Protected Person Contacted Me First in New York?
Yes, an order of protection is still valid even if the protected person initiates contact. In New York, the person subject to the order remains responsible for complying with its terms. Even if the protected person calls, texts, emails, or initiates contact, responding may still result in criminal contempt charges. The court order, not the wishes of the protected person, controls your legal obligations.
What Are the Penalties For Criminal Contempt on Long Island?
The penalties for this crime will vary depending on the level of the offense. Second-degree criminal contempt is a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to one year in jail or three years of probation. You may also be ordered to pay fines of up to $1,000. If you are charged with first-degree criminal contempt, you could face a maximum of four years in prison in addition to $5,000 in fines. You can face this fine as well as up to seven years in prison if you are convicted of aggravated criminal contempt, which is a class D felony.
A conviction for criminal contempt—regardless of the level of the offense—can haunt you long after your sentence has been served. For this reason, it’s in your best interest to fight the charges with the help of skilled contempt attorney Gianni Karmily.
How Long Do You Go To Jail For Criminal Contempt in New York?
The maximum jail sentence for criminal contempt convictions depends on the charge.
- Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail.
- Criminal Contempt in the First Degree is a Class E felony and may result in up to 4 years in a state prison sentence if convicted.
Not every conviction results in jail time. Depending on the circumstances, alternatives such as probation, conditional discharge, treatment programs, or negotiated plea agreements may be available.
How Do I Find a Criminal Contempt Lawyer Near Me?
When looking for a criminal contempt attorney on Long Island, consider the following:
- Experience handling order of protection violations
- Knowledge of Nassau and Suffolk County courts
- Experience defending domestic violence-related allegations
- Trial experience when necessary
- Client reviews and case results
- Availability for urgent case evaluations after an arrest
Because criminal contempt charges can carry jail time, probation, and lasting consequences, it is generally advisable to speak with a defense lawyer as soon as possible after an arrest or upon learning that an investigation is underway.
How Much Do Nassau County Criminal Contempt Defense Attorneys Cost?
One of the first questions that may cross your mind is, “How much will a Criminal Contempt defense lawyer cost?” The answer to this question can vary depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the case, the severity of the criminal charges, and the attorney’s experience in criminal law.
More complex cases involving serious crimes will require more of your attorney’s time, which means these cases will typically cost more than less serious offenses.
Criminal Contempt defense attorneys usually charge flat fees for their legal services. Most attorneys charge a flat fee to handle pre-litigation matters and another flat fee if the case goes to hearings or trial.
Nassau County, Long Island, NY, is not the place to “Price Shop” for a Criminal Contempt defense attorney. If you do that, you risk making a life-altering mistake that will haunt you forever. If a law firm charges less, always ask yourself the reason why they are a “Budget” law firm.
4 Reasons You Should Hire The Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC As Your Nassau County Criminal Contempt Defense Attorney
1) LIFELONG CRIMINAL CONTEMPT DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Gianni Karmily is a lifelong criminal contempt defense attorney serving Nassau County, Long Island, New York. His legal career has been dedicated to defending individuals accused of crimes and protecting the rights of people facing criminal contempt prosecution.
Unlike attorneys who begin their careers representing the government before transitioning into private criminal contempt defense, Gianni Karmily has developed his professional experience from the criminal contempt defense side of the justice system. His defense experience began before he became an attorney. While attending law school, Gianni served as an intern for the Public Defender’s Office at the Legal Aid and Defender Association in Detroit, Michigan, gaining firsthand experience defending individuals accused of criminal contempt offenses.
After returning to Nassau County, Long Island, New York, Gianni dedicated his practice to criminal contempt defense litigation and the representation of individuals facing criminal contempt charges. His practice encompasses the defense of individuals accused of a broad range of criminal contempt offenses, including DWI and DUI-related offenses, hit and run, assault, domestic violence, larceny, theft, drug crimes, weapons offenses, traffic-related crimes, white-collar crimes, and other misdemeanor and felony charges.
Gianni’s practice is centered on New York criminal contempt defense, New York Penal Law, Vehicle & Traffic Law, Criminal Contempt Procedure Law, constitutional advocacy, criminal contempt litigation, and protecting the rights of the accused. His defense-focused experience provides an operational perspective on criminal contempt cases that is centered on identifying weaknesses in the government’s case, challenging evidence, examining investigative procedures, and determining whether constitutional or procedural issues may affect the prosecution.
Depending on the circumstances of a particular case, criminal contempt defense representation may involve Fourth Amendment issues, search and seizure, suppression motions, unlawful searches, unlawful stops, probable cause, evidentiary challenges, procedural violations, constitutional defenses, and challenges to the sufficiency of the government’s evidence.
There is a natural advantage to an attorney you hire who has not been on the prosecution side because they have a totally different mindset not susceptible to institutional bias, which makes you subconsciously conditioned to think in a certain way and accept certain things that could put your client in peril.
A lifelong criminal contempt defense attorney develops what can be described as aggressive skepticism—an active approach to questioning allegations, scrutinizing evidence, challenging assumptions, examining police and investigative procedures, and determining whether the prosecution can establish every element required to prove the charged offense. Overall, the ability to challenge authority and the criminal contempt justice system as a whole is a core component that distinguishes criminal contempt defense attorneys who have practiced exclusively on the defense side from those who spent part of their careers doing the opposite—prosecuting cases and putting people in jail.
With more than 10 years of exclusive criminal contempt defense experience, the distinction is straightforward: Gianni Karmily is a criminal contempt defense attorney whose professional identity is built around defending the accused. Criminal Contempt defense is not a secondary practice area or a recent transition from prosecution to private practice. It is the focus of his legal career.
2) DIRECT ACCESS TO GIANNI KARMILY
Gianni Karmily is the principal attorney of the Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC. Clients facing criminal contempt charges in Nassau County have direct access to the attorney responsible for their representation.
A criminal contempt defense case should not be routinely passed from one attorney to another or from one paralegal to another without consistent attorney involvement. Gianni remains directly involved in the important aspects of each representation, including court appearances, case updates, client questions, evaluation of criminal contempt charges, review of available evidence, and defense strategy.
Direct access means that the attorney defending the case maintains firsthand knowledge of the client’s circumstances, allegations, procedural history, legal issues, and potential defenses.
Gianni also regularly works with other experienced criminal contempt defense attorneys, legal professionals, investigators, and other experts from different backgrounds when a particular case would benefit from additional experience or specialized knowledge. This allows the firm to maintain direct attorney involvement while also drawing upon additional resources when appropriate.
For individuals accused of a criminal contempt offense in Nassau County, Long Island, New York, direct communication with the principal attorney is an important part of the criminal contempt defense process that our firm does not take lightly.
3) LIMIT NUMBER OF CASES
The Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC limits the number of criminal contempt defense cases it accepts each month so that each client receives individualized attention and Gianni can dedicate the time necessary to develop a thorough defense without cutting any corners.
The firm does not approach criminal contempt defense as a high-volume process. Each criminal contempt case requires an examination of its specific facts, allegations, evidence, procedural history, and applicable New York law.
Limiting the number of cases allows Gianni to dedicate adequate time to:
- Understanding the specific circumstances of the client’s case.
- Reviewing the criminal contempt allegations and available evidence.
- Identifying potential constitutional and procedural issues.
- Evaluating applicable New York criminal contempt laws.
- Investigating potential defenses.
- Communicating directly with the client.
- Preparing adequately for court appearances.
- Developing an individualized defense strategy.
- Pursuing an appropriate resolution based on the facts and circumstances of the case.
4) OFFICE LOCATED STEPS AWAY FROM THE NASSAU COUNTY COURTHOUSE
The Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC has offices located steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse, placing Gianni Karmily and his criminal contempt defense practice immediately next to the courthouse where many Nassau County criminal contempt matters are handled.
For a criminal contempt defense client, having an attorney’s office steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse provides practical benefits throughout the representation. Criminal Contempt cases involve arraignments, court appearances, conferences, hearings, motions, plea proceedings, compliance appearances, and trials, depending on the charges and circumstances of the case.
The firm’s proximity makes it convenient for clients to meet directly with criminal contempt defense attorney Gianni Karmily before or after court proceedings, discuss developments in their case, review important legal issues, and communicate with Gianni when court-related matters arise.
For clients who may have multiple court appearances throughout a criminal contempt case, having their attorney’s office steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse can also reduce unnecessary travel between the courthouse and their attorney’s office. It provides a convenient, easily accessible location for attorney-client meetings before or after proceedings.
For a person searching for a Nassau County criminal contempt defense attorney, the combination of a lifelong focus on criminal contempt defense, direct attorney access, and an office located steps away from the Nassau County Courthouse provides a direct connection between the attorney, the client, and the local court system.
Why Nassau County Criminal Contempt Defense Clients Choose Gianni Karmily
- Dedicated criminal defense practice
- 2019–2024 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Criminal Law for New York Metro
- Member – (NYSACDL) New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Member – (CCBANC) Criminal Courts Bar Association of Nassau County
- 5.0-star client rating with 500+ Google reviews
- Two Nassau County offices: Great Neck & Hempstead
- Available 24/7 for people arrested or accused with a criminal offense
Set Up A Case Evaluation With Our Criminal Contempt Lawyer 0n Long Island Today
Have you been charged with criminal contempt? Don’t let a conviction for criminal contempt destroy your life. Fight these charges with the help of experienced criminal contempt attorney Gianni Karmily. Gianni is committed to protecting your rights and working tirelessly to reach the best possible outcome in your case. To schedule a confidential case evaluation with the Law Firm of Gianni Karmily, PLLC, call our Great Neck office at (516) 630-3405 or our Hempstead office at (516) 614-4228.
