I have never been in any trouble before, given a desk appearance ticket for endangering the welfare of a child...chances are???

This that you received a desk appearance ticket allowed for you to avoid being taken into custody and is somewhat if an indicator that the case can be disposed of favorably. Having said that, you are being charged with criminal offenses and it needs to be taken seriously. I suggest you speak with an attorney as soon as possible so that s/he can properly advise and guide you. You may even be able to receive an ACD which would mean the case would be dismissed and sealed in six months if you stay out of trouble.

The ultimate result will be fact specific. No priors help. If you were not home BUT the fact that alcohol was potentially available is a negative fact. Get a good lawyer! Joseph A. Lo Piccolo, Esq. Hession Bekoff & Lo Piccolo, LLP President, Criminal Courts Bar Association of Nassau County 1103 Stewart Avenue, Suite 200 Garden City, NY 11530 (O) 516-408-3666 (F) 516-408-3833 [email protected] Sent from my Verizon Blackberry ----- Original Message -----

As Mr. Lieberman said, it is possible that you will receive an ACD or some other type of non-criminal disposition. If you are employed and/or own a home you will probably be required to hire your own counsel. It may be wise to sit down and consult with an attorney before the first court date in the hopes that the matter can be resolved on the first appearance. If there were no injuries on the night in question, there is probably very little to worry about. Good luck.

There is no help that an attorney answering questions on a website can give you that will truly be meaningful. Your chances are excellent based on the facts as you know them. However in my experience, the prosecutor often has a different view. You need to hire an attorney to find out what evidence you are facing if you risk trial while at the same time, trying to work out an acceptable deal that avoids the risk of trial. These cases are very fact specific. You need to sit down with a lawyer and explain what happened, how the police became involved, and go over possible defense. That lawyer will negotiate with the DA. Richard Southard 212-385-8600 I am a former prosecutor with over 15 years experience specializing in criminal law cases.