a note about criminal defense from
Cody Warner
An NYC Criminal Lawyer Who Finds Solutions
A criminal charge can be overwhelming, but cody can help you move forward.
Cody Warner is an experienced NYC criminal lawyer who understands how distraught you can feel when facing criminal charges.
Your freedom is at stake. Your reputation is at stake. You are unfamiliar with the complexities of the criminal justice system, yet you must grapple with difficult questions about your case: Was I wrongfully arrested? Can I get my case dismissed? Will I get a criminal record?
Having represented thousands of New Yorkers accused of committing crimes, Cody knows how to strategically navigate the court system to get great results, and he can quickly assess the strengths and weaknesses of your case to determine the best path forward.
Why Clients Trust Cody
Testimonials
Like it never happened
Cody helped me get my warrant and record cleaned like it never happened. Such a great...
Amazing attorney!
Cody Warner was nothing short of an amazing attorney! He worked hard on my case and was always...
AN EXPERIENCED NYC CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY WHO
Has Represented Thousands of Clients
A CRIMINAL DEFENSE FOCUS
Unlike firms that dabble in many areas of law, Cody focuses on criminal defense. He has many years of experience and has handled thousands of criminal cases–from petty misdemeanors to serious violent felonies–and he thoroughly understands all the moving parts in a criminal case. Criminal law is a vast area of law, and firms that juggle criminal law with other areas of law can lose sight of the small, technical details in a criminal case. By focusing on criminal law, Cody closely monitors all developments in the field so that he can always get the best possible results for his clients.
STRATEGIC, TAILORED REPRESENTATION
After meeting to discuss the details of your case, NYC criminal defense attorney Cody Warner develops a fully customized defense strategy tailored to your particular charges, the unique facts of your case, and your personal risk tolerance. Cody thoroughly explains the rationale for the strategy so that you fully understand the plan and can provide feedback. A criminal case can be very fluid, with circumstances changing and new strategic opportunities arising, so Cody always monitors the progression of your case to look for ways to leverage a better outcome.
TRANSPARENCY
Many people charged with a crime have no experience with the criminal justice system. As a result, they don’t know what to expect as their cases unfold. They are unfamiliar with court procedure, and they don’t know what sort of outcome they can reasonably expect given the specifics of their case. This uncertainty can create tremendous anxiety given the high stakes of a criminal prosecution. Cody is an NYC criminal defense lawyer who prioritizes honest, transparent communication with his clients so they can understand their options and make confident, well-informed decisions.
FORWARD-THINKING
Technology is a powerful tool for those who know how to use it. NYC criminal defense lawyer Cody Warner uses the latest tech platforms to enhance his ability to communicate with clients and provide excellent legal representation. Since criminal law is always evolving, Cody keeps an eye on all developments in the field and always looks to develop creative solutions for his clients.
What Does a Criminal Lawyer Do?
Your NYC criminal defense attorney is your advocate and your counsel.
As your counsel, your attorney guides you through the adjudication process. For most people, the criminal justice system is unfamiliar and confusing. A skilled criminal defense attorney breaks down the process for you in a clear manner so that you can understand what is happening with your case. You may have to make very important decisions during your case, and your NYC criminal lawyer leads you through the decision-making process by giving you advice and candidly discussing the pros and cons of any given choice, which empowers you to make confident, well-informed decisions for your case.
Hiring Cody Warner
AS YOUR NYC CRIMINAL LAWYER
The process of hiring NYC criminal defense attorney Cody Warner is simple.
First, contact Cody to arrange a free consultation. If you are contacting Cody to represent a loved one who was just arrested, Cody will quickly consult with you to develop a fair retainer agreement so that Cody can head to court and work on getting your loved one out of jail. On the other hand, if you are wanted by the police or have a pending case, Cody will arrange a free consulation where you can come to his office or meet virtually to discuss your case with him. At the consultation, Cody will propose a strategy and retainer agreement for your case. If you would like to proceed with the proposed plan, you can retain Cody to be your lawyer.
Cody aims to help prospective clients thoroughly understand the process of retaining him. As such, he is completely transparent about his services and provides an up-front overview of his retention process and fee structure.
CODY WARNER CAN HANDLE THE
Charges You May Be Facing
NYC CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY
Cody Warner Answers Common Questions
When I am arrested, should I speak with a police officer?
The police often tell you that they just want to hear your side of the story, suggesting that you can talk your way out of being charged. That is rarely the case.
Typically the police have already decided that they are going to charge you, even if they don’t say so, and they want you to talk simply because they are fishing for more evidence. Oftentimes, seemingly innocuous information provided to the police helps fill in critical gaps for the prosecution that they need to prove their case. The information can be as simple as whether you know a person, or whether you were at home at a certain day and time.
You don’t know what evidence the government has against you, and a seemingly harmless concession by you could easily be what gives the prosecution a winning advantage. As a result, it is always better to exercise your constitutional right to remain silent by telling the police that you will not speak to the police before you retain an NYC criminal lawyer.
What happens when I am charged with a crime?
When you are charged with a crime, the government is alleging that you “broke the law” by doing something that is prohibited by a specific criminal statute.
The government, through its prosecutors’ offices—the U.S. Attorney’s Office for federal crimes and the local district attorney’s office for state crimes—files paperwork in court to initiate the criminal adjudication process. Through this process, the court will ultimately reach a judgment about whether you are guilty.
Importantly, it is only the prosecutor’s office that controls whether to charge and prosecute you for a crime. So, in cases with an alleged victim, the government can prosecute you even if the alleged victim wants the case to be dropped. Additionally, although the police select charges when they arrest you, the prosecution ultimately decides which charges, if any, to file in court. Those charges may be different from what the police had thought should be charged.
Your case officially commences at your arraignment, which is your first court appearance, and when the court informs you of the charges brought against you by the prosecution. If the charges are particularly serious, then you will be brought to your first court appearance by the police directly after your arrest. If the charges are less serious, the police will release you after providing a Desk Appearance Ticket, which orders you to personally appear in court for the arraignment a month or so after your arrest.
Will I be granted bail?
Depending on the nature of the charges and your personal history, the court may set bail at your arraignment. Bail is an amount of money you must pay to be released while your case is pending. The purpose of bail, in theory, is to ensure that you return to court for your subsequent court appearances; if you don’t appear for your court appearances after bailing out, then the money paid for bail will be forfeited to the court.
Although some petty offenses are occasionally resolved at the first court appearance, typically you will have additional court appearances before your case is resolved.
How will my case get resolved?
Most cases are resolved with either a dismissal or a guilty plea.
Dismissals generally occur when a defense attorney convinces the prosecution that the case cannot be proven, or when there is a procedural issue and the defense attorney convinces the court to dismiss the case.
Guilty pleas typically occur when the prosecution has a strong case and the defense determines that a trial would likely result in a conviction. Typically, a person gets a more lenient sentence when pleading guilty as opposed to being convicted after a trial.
When the prosecution or court won’t agree to a dismissal and there is no acceptable plea offered by the prosecution, then the case will go to trial.
What happens if my case goes to trial?
At trial, a jury—a group of chosen members of the public—will hear the evidence in the case and arguments by the attorneys, convene privately to discuss the case and then decide whether it finds you guilty.
To be found guilty, the jury must conclude not just that it’s possible or likely that you committed a crime. Instead, the jury must be sure of your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. This very high standard of proof—beyond a reasonable doubt—is a hallmark of most free and fair societies, as it helps ensure that innocent people are not unnecessarily stripped of their freedom.
If the jury finds you guilty, then the judge will determine your sentence. If the jury finds you not guilty, then the charges are dismissed and your case is over.
When should I contact an NYC criminal defense attorney if I’ve been charged with a crime?
As soon as possible. Many critical procedural steps occur in the first few weeks of your case, and the sooner you retain a lawyer the sooner your lawyer can develop a comprehensive plan and strategically navigate the early procedural steps in your case.