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Protective Order, Contempt, Stalking, and Harassment Defense | Penal Law 215.51

New York Criminal Contempt in the First Degree Lawyer

Criminal contempt in the first degree is a felony contempt charge that may involve allegations of repeated violations, threats, weapons, injury, or other aggravating facts. These cases can carry serious criminal, family, immigration, employment, and licensing consequences.

Lebedin Kofman LLP represents clients in New York criminal contempt, order-of-protection, stalking, harassment, domestic-related, and sensitive allegation cases across New York City, Nassau County, and Suffolk County.

Call 646-663-4430 or contact the firm for a confidential consultation.

Issues that may matter

  • felony contempt theory
  • prior violation allegations
  • threat or injury claims
  • order terms and service
  • digital communication records
  • location evidence
  • witness statements
  • bail and grand jury strategy

Defense approach

These cases often depend on the exact language of messages, the precise terms of an order, whether the client knew about the order, whether contact actually occurred, and the surrounding context. Defense work may include preserving screenshots, call logs, social media data, location records, 911 calls, body-camera footage, and witnesses who can explain the relationship history or the alleged incident.

Because protective-order and stalking allegations can affect bail, family access, employment, licensing, immigration status, and reputation, early strategy should address both the criminal charge and the immediate restrictions imposed by the court.

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Frequently asked questions

What should I do after an order-of-protection, contempt, stalking, or harassment arrest?

Do not contact the complainant and do not respond to messages without legal advice. Preserve call logs, texts, emails, social media records, location data, and any order-of-protection documents.

Can a misunderstanding still lead to criminal charges?

Yes. Protective-order, contempt, stalking, and harassment cases often involve disputed context, confusing order terms, third-party contact, or digital communications that need careful review.

Contact Lebedin Kofman LLP

If you are charged with contempt, stalking, harassment, or violating an order of protection, call 646-663-4430 or contact Lebedin Kofman LLP.

Statute focus NY Penal Law 215.51 Related defense hub Free consultation
Official jury-instruction framework

Criminal Contempt in the First Degree: What Prosecutors Must Prove

NY Penal Law 215.51 - source framework: New York Criminal Jury Instructions for Criminal Contempt in the First Degree.

  • The prosecution generally must prove a valid court order, proper service or actual knowledge of the order, and conduct that violated a specific term of that order.
  • Depending on the charged subsection, prosecutors may also need to prove aggravating facts such as a prior qualifying contempt conviction, repeated conduct, threats, contact, injury, or other conduct that elevates the case to first-degree contempt.
  • Defense review should test whether the order was valid and in effect, whether the accused knew the contents of the order, whether the alleged conduct actually violated a clear term, witness credibility, digital evidence, body-camera or call records, and whether statements or seized evidence can be suppressed.

First-degree criminal contempt can turn an alleged order-of-protection violation into a felony with jail or prison exposure, employment consequences, immigration concerns, firearm issues, custody complications, and serious reputational harm.

Why call Lebedin Kofman LLP?

Protective-order, contempt, and harassment cases can move fast and can affect liberty, family, employment, licensing, immigration, and reputation. The firm handles high-stakes criminal defense matters and offers a free attorney consultation. Call 646-663-4430 or contact the firm online to discuss strategy quickly.

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