Christopher Duby- Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyer

I represent people charged with all types of crimes, including:

• Traffic tickets
• Drunk driving
• Possession and trafficking of illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, crystal meth and heroin
• Theft and shoplifting
• Robbery and burglary
• Assault
• Domestic violence
• White collar crimes such as embezzlement, fraud and public corruption
• Internet crimes such as identity theft
• Sex crimes, including sexual assault, statutory rape and child molestation
• Vehicular homicide and vehicular assault
• Murder and manslaughter

Even a seemingly minor offense can result in significant penalties. For example, if you hit somebody over the head with a beer bottle in a bar fight, you could be sentenced to up to five years in jail. That conviction would result in a permanent criminal record that would place you on the FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC). Your criminal record may be available not only to future employers, but also to any police officer who pulls you over on a traffic stop. As a result of your conviction, you will be treated differently than other people.

For many types of crimes, Connecticut offers a diversionary program that allows first-time offenders to avoid a criminal record. These diversionary programs range from the Drug Education Program or the Community Service Labor Program for drug offenses to the Alcohol Education Program for DWI/DUI offenses, to suspension of prosecution programs for gun cases to School Violence Education Programs for problems that happen at school.

Arrest Warrants

Unless a police officer or other investigator sees the crime occur, they must do an investigation and write their findings up and present them to a judge in the form of an arrest warrant affidavit. If the judge finds probable cause and signs the arrest warrant, the police have the authority to take you into custody. This is the beginning of the criminal process.

In some instances, the local police department may call you on the phone and ask that you turn yourself in. In others, usually in instances where they believe you are a flight risk or a danger, they will come to pick you up. In either event, you will then be brought to court.

When The Police Call

Occasionally I get calls from people saying that the police or other investigating agency want to talk to them about a criminal case. My advice is always the same: unless the police tell you that you are not a person of interest in the case or that they have no intention whatsoever of arresting you, it is never advisable to speak with them.

As we all know from the famous police shows on TV, you have a right to remain silent and anything you say can and will be used against you. You have a right to have an attorney present whenever the police talk to you. You should make use of this right.

You cannot explain away problems once they come up. Police officers are professional investigators and take their jobs seriously, as they should. They are trained to investigate criminal activity and develop cases so they can make arrests. It is not their job to look for you or your rights. Only your lawyer can do that for you.

Bond, Bail and Promises to Appear ("PTAs")

Getting arrested is one thing. Making sure you can be at home while the case proceeds is another. If you are arrested, the court will set a bond amount or release you on what is commonly called a "PTA" or Promise to Appear.

Bond is a fixed dollar amount that you must pay in order to get out of custody. It is NOT punishment and cannot be punitive but instead must be as much and no more than is needed to assure your appearance in court.

On occasion, a bail bonds agency may agree to accept payment from you in exchange for you using part of a bond they have on file with the State of Connecticut. The bail bonds agency gets all of its money back when your case resolves. You do not get the fee back that you paid the bonds agency. That payment was the fee for using the bond.

You are, of course, free to post the entire bond amount yourself and not use a bondsman. In that circumstance, you do get the money back. In smaller cases, you may also be able to use that money to pay for costs, fees or programs that the court assesses when your case resolves.

My suggestion is that you call a number of bail bonds agencies and get the best price. Many will be the same or close in value.

Challenging The Case

Your lawyer knows the law and knows the strategic benefit to challenging certain aspects of your case. Did the police read you your rights? Were you within police custody when you made an incriminating statement? Did the police have the right to ask you any questions?

Does the prosecutor have available to him or her the facts needed to convict you?

It is the details. Analyzing the case, doing our own investigation and comparing it to your recollections it my job. Formulating a strategy based on what is there and what is not so you get the result you deserve is the reason you hire a lawyer.

Free Attorney Consultation

To discuss your case with Connecticut lawyer Christopher Duby, call 203-234-2888 24 hours a day or complete our simple contact form.

My philosophy as a lawyer is simple:

• Put the client first
• Respond to phone calls
• Schedule a free initial consultation no matter what your case is about

The Law Office of Christopher Duby LLC is located at 22 Broadway, North Haven, CT 06473. View Google Map and directions.

Connecticut Attorney Christopher Duby represents clients in New Haven County, Hartford County, Fairfield County and Middlesex County in Connecticut, including the communities of New Haven, Hamden, North Haven, East Haven, Branford, Madison, Milford, West Haven, Cheshire, Meriden, Wallingford, Guilford, North Branford, Woodbridge, Bethany, Monroe, Trumbull, Easton, Fairfield, Stratford, Bridgeport, Oxford, Beacon Falls, Seymour, Ansonia, Derby, Orange, Shelton, Clinton, Westbrook, Old Saybrook, Middletown, Middlefield, Portland, Durham, Prospect, Naugatuck, Wolcott, Waterbury, Watertown, Middlebury, Woodbury, Southbury, Southington.