Connecticut Criminal Lawyer Blog

“Don’t Come to Court”: Witness Tampering Charges (C.G.S. §§ 53a-151 & 53a-151a)

Published on: October 31, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

A single text can turn into a felony. I see it all the time: someone panics after an arrest and messages the complaining witness, a friend, or a bystander—“Please don’t show up,” “Tell them it was nothing,” or “Just say you don’t remember.” Police and prosecutors call that witness tampering or intimidating a witness, and Connecticut treats it as a serious felony offense.

What the law actually bans (in plain English)

Tampering with a Witness (C.G.S. § 53a-151).
Trying to get a witness to lie, skip court, ignore a subpoena, or withhold testimony—even if your case hasn’t been filed yet but you believe it will be. It’s a Class C felony.

Texted Your Ex After Court? Charged with Violating Conditions of Release in Connecticut—Here’s How We Beat It

Published on: October 30, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

If you walked out of court with “no-contact / stay-away” terms and then a single text, DM, or phone call triggered a brand-new arrest, you’re not alone. Connecticut takes violations of release conditions seriously—and fast. The fix is legal strategy, not guesswork.

What You’re Actually Charged With (Quick)

Violation of Conditions of Release comes in two degrees in Connecticut:

Connecticut’s New Deepfake Law: One Viral Image, One Arrest — What Counts as a Crime and How We Beat It

Published on: October 29, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

One Fake Image, Real Handcuffs

It takes seconds to make a convincing AI “nude.” It takes even less time for it to spin out of control — an angry ex, a group chat, a manager who sees it, and suddenly you’re under investigation. In Public Act 25-168 (2025) — effective October 1, 2025 — Connecticut created the crime of “unlawful dissemination of an intimate synthetically created image.” Police and prosecutors now have explicit authority to arrest first and sort out the tech later. Here’s what the law targets, how these cases really start, and how I defend them.

What the new law aims at

AirTags & GPS Trackers: In Connecticut, Following Your Ex Can Be a Felony (C.G.S. § 53a-181f)

Published on: October 28, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Using a Tracker to Shadow Someone

AirTags and other trackers are great for finding lost keys—but when they’re used to keep tabs on a partner or ex, police in Connecticut treat that as stalking by electronics. In plain English: if you plant a tracker or use a tracking app to watch where someone goes with the intent to harass or intimidate, and the conduct causes fear of serious harm or substantial emotional distress, prosecutors can charge Electronic Stalking (C.G.S. § 53a-181f). In domestic violence cases, if there’s a criminal protective order or no-contact order in place, you often see a second felony for Criminal Violation of a Protective Order (C.G.S. § 53a-223).

What the law is getting at

Evading Responsibility (Hit-and-Run) in Connecticut — What Counts, What Doesn’t, and How We Beat It

Published on: October 25, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

A fender-bender, a surge of adrenaline, horns behind you, and a split-second choice. Most people who leave the scene aren’t trying to “get away with something.” They’re scared, confused, or think it was too minor to matter. The minutes after a crash matter—but what we do together in the days after matters more. This page explains Connecticut’s evading responsibility law (C.G.S. § 14-224) in plain English, how these cases are built, and the practical, human way I defend them so you can protect your record, your license, and your peace of mind.

What the Law Actually Requires (in Real-Life Terms)

Under C.G.S. § 14-224, if you know you were involved in a motor-vehicle accident, you must:

Charged with Breach of Peace 2nd or Disorderly Conduct in Connecticut? Here’s How We Get Them Dismissed

Published on: October 24, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

If you’re holding a “ticket” for Breach of Peace or Disorderly Conduct, don’t let the paper fool you—that’s still a misdemeanor arrest in Connecticut. Police have two ways to process these cases: take you into physical custody or issue a misdemeanor summons on the scene. Either way, you’ve been arrested, and the case carries the same criminal exposure in court.

In family-violence situations (arguments at home, disputes with a partner or ex), both routes are treated as domestic violence, and you must appear in court on the next business day. You’ll check in with Family Relations, the judge can issue a protective order, and conditions can change your life overnight. So even if you only got a piece of paper and never saw a holding cell, take it seriously—we’re going to protect your record and your freedom of movement from day one.

Summons vs. Handcuffs: Same Arrest, Same Stakes

Why Connecticut Takes Threatening Text Messages So Seriously (§53a-62 and §53a-61aa

Published on: October 23, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

How a Simple Message Can Turn into a Felony Charge – and What you can do About it

It’s easy to forget that a quick text or heated message can have serious legal consequences. I’ve seen many clients arrested because of something they typed in anger or frustration — a message they never35 thought would be treated as a criminal threat.

In Connecticut, sending a “threatening” text or DM can lead to charges under §53a-62 (Threatening in the Second Degree) or §53a-61aa (Threatening in the First Degree). These laws were written to protect the public, but in practice they’re often used too broadly — especially in domestic disputes, workplace conflicts, or social-media misunderstandings.

Out-of-State Arrests and Interstate Extradition: How a Connecticut Warrant Can Follow You Across State Lines

Published on: October 21, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

When a Missed Court Date Turns into a Cross-Country Arrest

Imagine you’re on a business trip or visiting family out of state when police suddenly arrest you on a Connecticut warrant. It’s shocking — but it happens all the time.

As a criminal defense lawyer, I’ve handled many cases in which clients were detained hundreds of miles from home because of a missed court date or an unresolved Connecticut charge.

When the Wrong Person Gets Arrested for Domestic Violence in Connecticut

Published on: October 21, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

Why ‘Primary Aggressor’ Laws Don’t Always Protect the Real Victim — and How to Fix It in Court

Introduction

It’s one of the most heartbreaking calls I get as a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer:

Connecticut’s Strict Social Hosting Laws: What Parents Need to Know

Published on: October 19, 2025 | by Allan F. Friedman Criminal Lawyer

The Season for Celebrations — and Legal Risks

During holidays and school breaks, Connecticut police departments see a sharp increase in underage-drinking investigations — and often, parents are the ones who end up facing criminal charges.

You may think you’re just keeping your kids safe by letting them “have a few beers” at home with their friends, but under Connecticut’s Social Hosting law, even that small decision can lead to a criminal arrest.