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New York Obstruction of Governmental Administration Lawyer

New York Obstruction of Governmental Administration defense can affect your freedom, record, employment, professional licensing, education, immigration status, family situation, and reputation. Lebedin Kofman LLP represents clients in New York City, Long Island, and state and federal courts when police encounters, arrests, investigations, public incidents, bystander allegations, and accusations of interfering with official duties are at stake.

These cases should be reviewed early. The first decisions after an arrest or investigation can affect release conditions, orders of protection, search and statement issues, preservation of video or phone evidence, witness strategy, and the possibility of dismissal, reduction, or a favorable resolution.

What Prosecutors May Need to Prove

  • official governmental or police activity
  • physical interference, intimidation, obstruction, or independently unlawful conduct
  • body-camera, witness, and arrest paperwork details

Defense Issues to Review

  • lawful presence, speech, confusion, or nonphysical conduct
  • lack of intent to obstruct
  • body-camera or witness evidence contradicting the officer’s account

How Lebedin Kofman LLP Approaches These Cases

The defense starts by reviewing the accusatory instrument, police paperwork, body-camera or surveillance footage, 911 calls, witness statements, digital evidence, search issues, statement issues, and any collateral consequences. In the right case, counsel may intervene early, present mitigating or exculpatory information, seek dismissal or reduction, challenge illegally obtained evidence, negotiate a favorable outcome, or prepare the matter for hearings or trial.

Because many criminal cases also affect work, school, licenses, immigration, family court, or public records, strategy should account for both the courtroom outcome and the long-term consequences.

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Speak With a Defense Attorney

If you were arrested, contacted by police, served with a desk appearance ticket, or believe charges may be filed, early representation can change the direction of the case.

Related Defense Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I am charged with obstruction of governmental administration in New York?

Do not discuss the facts with police, complainants, witnesses, employers, schools, or online contacts before speaking with counsel. Early defense work can affect release, orders of protection, evidence preservation, negotiations, and whether the case can be reduced or dismissed.

Can a obstruction of governmental administration case be dismissed or reduced?

It depends on the facts, evidence, charging instrument, witness issues, search or statement issues, and the client’s record and goals. A defense attorney can evaluate legal sufficiency, suppression issues, proof problems, mitigation, and resolution options.

Why contact Lebedin Kofman LLP early?

Early involvement allows the defense to review the allegations, preserve helpful evidence, identify weaknesses, address collateral consequences, and position the case for dismissal, reduction, trial, or a strategic resolution.

Statute focusNY Penal Law 195.05Criminal defense hubFree consultation
Official court framework

Obstruction of Governmental Administration: What Prosecutors Must Prove

NY Penal Law 195.05 - source framework: New York Criminal Jury Instructions for Obstructing Governmental Administration.

Elements and process issues

  • The People generally must prove intentional obstruction, impairment, or perversion of the administration of law or another governmental function, or prevention of a public servant performing an official function.
  • The prosecution must prove the governmental or official function was authorized and lawful.
  • The alleged obstruction must fit a statutory method, such as intimidation, physical force or interference, an independently unlawful act, or another covered form of interference.

Defense focus

  • Whether the officer or agency action was authorized, lawful, and actually obstructed.
  • Whether the accused merely spoke, questioned, recorded, refused consent, stood nearby, misunderstood commands, or engaged in protected conduct.
  • Whether video, radio runs, dispatch records, agency paperwork, witness statements, and body-camera footage contradict the allegation.

Example scenario

An obstruction case may arise from a police stop, arrest scene, building inspection, emergency response, agency investigation, or public-employee interaction. Defense work should focus on the specific official function and whether any alleged interference was legally sufficient.

Exposure and related charges

Obstruction can affect employment, immigration, licensing, police-contact history, and related charges such as resisting arrest, assault, contempt, or false-report allegations.

Why call Lebedin Kofman LLP?

Arrest, warrant, obstruction, bail, and probation issues are often time-sensitive. Early intervention can affect whether someone is arrested, remanded, resentenced, or positioned for a better resolution. Call 646-663-4430 for a free attorney consultation so the firm can quickly evaluate the facts, paperwork, court status, and next steps.

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