Criminal Law Enforcement and Prosecutions

All criminal prosecutions Middletown are handled by the Orange County District Attorney's Office.  The DA's office takes a very hard line on DWI prosecutions. In 2009 there were more than 1800 alcohol related driving arrests for impaired or intoxicated driving (DWI, DWAI, DWAI-D) in Orange County. Both the NYS Police and the Middletown City Police made numerous arrests. Most arrests occurred after dark with many taking place after midnight. Police officers assume that many driver's who are out after midnight have consumed alcohol and or drugs. As a result they are looking for any lawful reason to pull drivers over in order to investigate possible DWI incidents. Alcohol checkpoints have been occassionaly been established by the a combined task force of NYS Police and city police.  Both city and state police officers have been known to park near popular bars, late at night, and follow bar patrons as they drive away.  All of these offenses are "criminal" violations of the law and, as a result are prosecuted by the Orange County District Attorney's office.  Police have been known to observe and follow patrons leaving local bars and make traffic stops at the first opportunity.

City of Middletown is typical urban area where a variety of drug offenses are regularly brought before the city court.  Other typical criminal cases heard in Middletown City Court are petty larceny, 3rd degree assault, harrassment and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Vehicle.  Misdemeanors remain the jurisdiction of the town court, while felonies are transferred to the Orange County Court if there is a felony indictment by the Grand Jury.     Middletown City Court is one of the busiest local criminal courts, the criminal  calendar can last 2-4 hours. 

For more information about DWI, click here.

To read some Frequently Asked Questions about DWI, click here.

For information about having the Law Office of Glenn Magnell represent you on your ticket or DWI charge,, click here.