On May 18th, 27-year-old Jayquan Martinez was taken into police custody after being accused of committing both assault and burglary in Brooklyn Heights. Unfortunately, reports indicate that the suspect was allegedly out on bail from another similar violent crime at the time this recent incident happened.

According to initial reports, the suspect reportedly broke into an apartment on May 12th. Inside, a sleeping mother was awakened and attempted to fight off her attacker. Martinez reportedly fled with the victim’s credit cards, cash, and wallet. The victim was able to lock herself in her son’s room and call 911.

Investigators identified the suspect as Martinez. Just four days prior to the break-in, the suspect was in police custody for an entirely different crime that occurred back on May 4th. As a result of this prior incident, Martinez faces at least 13 charges including petit larceny, criminal trespass, burglary, criminal possession of stolen property, and more.

Both victims have been issued orders of protection. Martinez is currently behind bars at Rikers.

Reports say that the main reason Martinez was originally released after the May 4th incident is because he does not have an extensive criminal record. Prior to these two recent incidents, the only other time Martinez has been arrested was back in 2019 for a misdemeanor that was ultimately dismissed. With that in mind, he had absolutely no criminal record before May 4th.

Assault and Burglary in New York

Under New York law, assault happens when one person hurts someone else without a legal justification. Depending on the circumstances of the situation, assault can be charged as a misdemeanor, Class D felony, or Class B felony.

Burglary is defined as knowingly entering into a building unlawfully with the intent of committing a crime. It does not matter whether the culprit is successful in committing the offense so long as they have already entered the premises. Burglary could be charged as a Class D felony or a Class B felony.

A misdemeanor assault conviction could result in a jail sentence of up to a year as well as probation and fines. If you get convicted of a Class D felony, then you could face up to seven years in jail. If you get convicted of a Class B felony, then you could serve up to 25 years in prison. On top of those consequences, felonies come with life-long consequences including losing some of your rights. After getting convicted of a felony, you’ll lose the right to vote, run for public office, and possess firearms.

The good news is that no matter how serious your charges are, you always retain the right to hire a legal expert who can help you defend yourself against your allegations. Here at Bukh Law Firm, we can help you better understand your charges, mull over your legal options, and help you navigate your defense.

If you’re in Brooklyn or a nearby area, then schedule a case evaluation with our best attorneys now.