Earlier this year, a man in Geneva, New York became angry after discovering his long-time girlfriend had applied for a mortgage without telling him. The man claimed he became scared that his girlfriend was going to leave him and was potentially seeing another man.

According to an article in the Daily Messenger, which recounted some details of the incident and discussed sentencing, the defendant physically attacked and threatened his girlfriend in the presence of an eight-year-old child. This led to police being called to the scene, where the defendant met them with his own rifle and created a dramatic standoff. During the incident, police say that the man repeatedly told them to shoot him. Eventually, the situation deescalated and police were able to take the defendant into custody without further incident. In addition to legal weapons found at the home, police also found a semi-automatic weapon.

During April court proceedings related to the incident, the defendant stressed that he had been suicidal at the time of the confrontation with police. The defendant faced multiple charges during trial, including: second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, menacing a police officer, second-degree unlawful imprisonment, child endangerment, and second-degree harassment. The defendant’s long-time girlfriend and his family were in court recently to show support for the defendant when the judge delivered the sentence on Monday, June 6, 2016. The defendant’s girlfriend told the court that a drug addiction had been the root cause of the defendant’s actions, but that she believed in his ability to learn from his mistakes. The defendant’s girlfriend also pointed out how the defendant had taken her son as his own since her son did not know his biological father. The defendant also addressed the court, saying that he was sorry for his actions and especially sorry for the way they affected his son. The defendant faced up to 15 years in jail for the various felonies and misdemeanors he had been charged with and convicted of, and the judge noted that the situation could have ended in the defendant’s death or other far worse scenarios. Ultimately, the judge sentenced the defendant to three and a half years in prison as a result of a plea deal that had been reached with prosecutors.

Facing Criminal Charges

Facing criminal charges is never easy. It can be extremely stressful, especially when multiple charges are involved. It is important that defendants understand and assert their rights throughout the judicial process, from arrest to sentencing and beyond. Securing a criminal defense attorney with experience handling the criminal charges you are facing is an important first step in defending against those charges. The criminal defense team at Nave Law Firm has experience dealing with a wide variety of criminal charges and understands how challenging the criminal justice system can be, especially for first-time offenders. If you are facing violent or nonviolent criminal charges, contact the criminal defense team at Nave Law Firm to schedule a consultation about the circumstances surrounding you charge or charges. Securing a criminal defense attorney as early as possible is in a defendant’s best interests, as having a lawyer to work with you from the onset of pending criminal charges can make a drastic difference in how that process unfolds.

DISCLAIMER: The exclusive purpose of this article is educational and it is not intended as either legal advice or a general solution to any specific legal problem.  Corporate offices for Nave Law Firm are located at 432 N. Franklin Street, Suite 80, Syracuse, NY 13204; Telephone No.: 1-866-792-7800.  Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.  Attorney Advertising.