Westchester County · PL 215.50
Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree Lawyer in Mount Pleasant — Mount Pleasant Town Court
Criminal contempt in the second degree is disobeying a lawful court order — most often an order of protection — or disruptive behavior in a courtroom, or refusing to be sworn or to testify as directed.
Has your loved one been arrested or taken into police custody?
Text us immediately · (845) 290-2492One mistake should not define your life
Being charged is not the same as being guilty. An accusation can leave you worried about your family, your job, and your future. You deserve to be heard and treated as a person, not a case number. One mistake should not define who you are, and an accusation should not erase the rest of your story.
If you or a loved one is facing Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree allegations connected with Mount Pleasant Town Court in Westchester County, Yvonne is ready to help you understand the charge and the next steps. You do not have to face this uncertainty without guidance.
How this charge moves through this court
Mount Pleasant Town Court is located at Town Hall, One Town Hall Plaza, Valhalla, NY 10595. Check the date and location on your court papers and confirm any changes with your attorney. This court's role depends on the charge and stage of the case; this page does not mean that every charge is tried here.
Local courts generally handle misdemeanors and violations. For felony charges, they may conduct arraignment and preliminary proceedings; if the prosecution continues, later felony proceedings generally take place in County or Supreme Court. The particular path depends on the case.
What happens at your first appearance
Before your appearance at Mount Pleasant Town Court, Yvonne can review your papers, explain the purpose of the hearing, and prepare you for questions the judge may ask. At a criminal arraignment, she can explain the accusation and advocate for release or appropriate conditions where the law allows. The court decides; release without bail cannot be promised.
If an order of protection or another court condition is already in place, follow it even if you disagree and ask your attorney about anything unclear. Do not assume you may skip an appearance because you have counsel; confirm whether you must attend.
Definition under New York law
PL 215.50 · Original statutory wording; excerpts must be read together with the full section.
§ 215.50 Criminal contempt in the second degree. A person is guilty of criminal contempt in the second degree when he engages in any of the following conduct: 1. Disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent behavior, committed during the sitting of a court, in its immediate view and presence and directly tending to interrupt its proceedings or to impair the respect due to its authority; or 2. Breach of the peace, noise, or other disturbance, directly tending to interrupt a court's proceedings; or 3. Intentional disobedience or resistance to the lawful process or other mandate of a court except in cases involving or growing out of labor disputes as defined by subdivision two of section seven hundred fifty-three-a of the judiciary law; or 4. Contumacious and unlawful refusal to be sworn as a witness in any court proceeding or, after being sworn, to answer any legal and proper interrogatory; or 5. Knowingly publishing a false or grossly inaccurate report of a court's proceedings; or 6. Intentional failure to obey any mandate, process or notice, issued pursuant to articles sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, or eighteen-a of the judiciary law, or to rules adopted pursuant to any such statute or to any special statute establishing commissioners of jurors and prescribing their duties or who refuses to be sworn as provided therein; or 7. On or along a public street or sidewalk within a radius of two hundred feet of any building established as a courthouse, he calls aloud, shouts, holds or displays placards or signs containing written or printed matter, concerning the conduct of a trial being held in such courthouse or the character of the court or jury engaged in such trial or calling for or demanding any specified action or determination by such court or jury in connection with such trial. Criminal contempt in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor.Read the full section at the New York State SenateIn everyday language
Criminal contempt in the second degree is disobeying a lawful court order — most often an order of protection — or disruptive behavior in a courtroom, or refusing to be sworn or to testify as directed.
At a criminal trial, the prosecutor must prove every element of the charged subsection and that you committed the offense beyond a reasonable doubt. An accusation is not proof of guilt. Where the statute provides alternatives, the prosecutor need not prove every alternative; the charged theory matters. Affirmative defenses may have different proof rules.
CPL § 70.20What the prosecutor must prove
The points below explain the legal requirements behind this accusation. They are not findings that you did anything wrong. Yvonne can compare each requirement with the evidence in your case and explain what it means for your defense.
- The applicable alternative and each requirement are set out in the statutory definition above. Counsel must identify the subsection actually charged and compare every requirement with the evidence.
Defenses that commonly apply
A defense is not one-size-fits-all. These are issues an attorney may explore, not promises that a particular defense will apply. What happened before, during, and after the alleged incident can be important.
- The order was never lawfully served on you.
- You did not know about the order and were not present when it issued.
- The contact was not voluntary or was not prohibited by the order's terms.
Penalties and collateral consequences
Maximum penalties are not a prediction of your sentence. The applicable law, your record, the evidence, and the resolution of the case all matter. Before making a decision, discuss possible effects on your work, family, driver's license, or immigration status, where relevant.
A Class A Misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of up to 364 days and a fine of up to $1,000.
Service and knowledge of the order are the pivotal facts. Keep the papers you were given.
An experienced attorney, a strategy built around you
Yvonne Garbett has 24 years of experience as an attorney, admitted in 2002. She served as an Assistant District Attorney from 2002–2006 and has practiced criminal defense privately since 2006. She brings a prosecutor's perspective to evaluating the evidence and building a defense. She is ready to listen, explain your options, and work strategically with you toward the best possible result given your circumstances.
If the police made a mistake, the truth matters
Police reports do not always tell the whole story. If you believe an officer misunderstood what happened, identified the wrong person, or left out important facts, tell Yvonne. She can examine the available evidence, look for inconsistencies, and work to bring the truth to light. The defense depends on what the evidence actually shows, not assumptions about you.
Working together on your defense
Tell Yvonne what happened in your own words, what worries you most, and what you hope to protect. Keep your court papers and any relevant messages or records; do not delete or alter potential evidence. Together, you can consider the strengths and weaknesses of the case and decide on a strategy, whether that means challenging evidence, pursuing an appropriate negotiated resolution, or preparing for trial. No attorney can guarantee an outcome.
Text us immediately · (845) 290-2492Common questions about your defense
Why is starting a defense early imperative?
An early defense is imperative to protect your rights and preserve evidence that may disappear. Keep court papers, messages, footage, and witness information without deleting or altering anything. Counsel can review court dates and applicable deadlines, request evidence, and begin preparing your defense immediately.
How does an experienced lawyer help build the best possible defense?
Your lawyer checks the exact subsection, compares its requirements with the evidence, and listens to your account. Depending on the charge, counsel may investigate identification, intent, witness reliability, and possible problems with searches, statements, or testing. Working together on an early strategy is imperative to pursue the best possible outcome in your circumstances; no outcome is guaranteed.
Does an arrest or police report prove the charge?
No. A police report is part of the case, not a finding of guilt. Your lawyer can compare its claims with video, records, and witnesses and assess whether admissible evidence meets each applicable requirement.
Can the charge be dismissed or reduced?
That depends on the evidence, the charged subsection, and procedural rules. Challenging evidence, filing motions, negotiating a legally available resolution, or preparing for trial may be appropriate. No lawyer can promise dismissal, reduction, or acquittal.
Every case turns on its own facts. The information on this page is general, not legal advice.