Cutting Edge Litigation on The Right Against Double Jeopardy

In the 3d Circuit-District Division-Ossipee Court, the Moultonborough Police Department investigated Client and several others, accusing them of Burglary and Theft, for breaking into a commercial building and stealing items including bottles of alcoholic beverages. Client was also investigated for Criminal Mischief, for throwing eggs at cars in an unrelated incident on a different date. If convicted of Burglary, this young client would have become a convicted felon, and possibly gone to jail, with a ruinous impact on his future.  Instead, Attorney Lothstein secured a plea to the class B misdemeanor of Criminal Trespass. This is the lowest-level misdemeanor in NH law - the only possible punishment is a fine. A second class B misdemeanor for Criminal Mischief was placed on file without a finding (no conviction). Client paid a fine, and paid restitution for damage to the commercial building and the vehicle that was struck by eggs. Because there was no felony conviction, no probation, and no suspended sentence, Client will be eligible for complete annulment of the record of arrest and conviction in just three years. The waiting period easily could have been as long as 10 years or more if he had been convicted of a felony, depending on the terms of the sentence. Read More