Stamford Reckless Endangerment Lawyer
If you’ve been arrested for reckless endangerment, it’s important to work quickly and intelligently to build a strong defense. A dedicated Stamford defense lawyer can help you analyze, evaluate, and defend your case at every step. Before trying to fight this kind of charge yourself, you should talk to a Stamford reckless endangerment lawyer about your legal options.
What is Reckless Endangerment?
There are two degrees of reckless endangerment defined under state law—Connecticut General Statutes §53a-63 defines first-degree reckless endangerment as a class A misdemeanor, and C.G.S. §53a-64 defines second-degree reckless endangerment as a class B misdemeanor.
Both degrees of this offense involve a reckless action that creates a serious risk of physical harm for another individual, but first-degree reckless endangerment is more serious, involving “extreme indifference to human life.”
Can I Go to Jail for Reckless Endangerment?
If you are convicted of reckless endangerment in the first degree, you face up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. If you are convicted of reckless endangerment in the second degree, you face up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Additionally, reckless endangerment may be charged in addition to other crimes. When that’s the case, you face not only the penalties of reckless endangerment but of the additional crimes. Understanding your total exposure is an important step in deciding which recourse to take.
Can I Contest Allegations of Reckless Endangerment?
Yes. These charges can be defended against so that you can successfully avoid jail time and/or even a conviction. In many cases, reckless endangerment charges are based on the subjective recollections of an arresting officer, which may not be completely accurate, or which may have exaggerated key details. The prosecution bears the burden of proving your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and if additional evidence like witness testimony and video footage does not corroborate an arresting officer’s claims, it may be possible to convince a jury that a defendant did not act recklessly enough to justify a criminal conviction.
By enlisting the help of a Stamford lawyer, you can potentially avoid getting to the stage of trial. By gathering evidence from eyewitnesses, surveillance cameras, and body cameras you can potentially show the prosecutor early on why the case should be dismissed. With certain pieces of evidence, like the body camera footage, a timely filed motion to preserve can make certain that this evidence doesn’t disappear.
What if This is My First Arrest?
In other situations, a skilled Stamford lawyer could argue that a single instance of reckless endangerment was out of character for a defendant, given their lack of criminal history and generally responsible behavior in other contexts. Through this strategy, potential jail time and fines could be whittled down to community service or even a dismissal of the charge altogether. A qualified legal representative could discuss potential defense options with an individual defendant during an initial consultation.
Speak with a Stamford Reckless Endangerment Attorney Today
Working with an experienced Stamford reckless endangerment lawyer is often the best way to increase your chances of a positive case resolution. To learn more about how our firm has helped clients in the past, click here to read our Avvo.com reviews. To learn more about the help a qualified attorney could provide, call us today.