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Q: Is it a crime to call the police with false allegations?
I live in New York City and reside in a co-op building with my father. Recently, a neighbor called the police to our door with false allegations of something bad happening in our home. The police arrived, and I communicated with them through the closed door, declining to open it without a warrant.... View More 
Thomas Anthony Sirianni
answered on Jul 14, 2026
answered on Jul 14, 2026
I am a New York attorney with 27 years of practice on Long Island.
Yes. Knowingly reporting a false incident to police is a crime in New York: Falsely Reporting an Incident in the Third Degree, Penal Law 240.50, a class A misdemeanor, and it can be charged more seriously depending on the... View More
Q: How can I find out about a warrant in Suffolk County, NY?
How can I find out if there's a warrant issued for me in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY? Are there any specific steps I need to take or resources I should use to determine whether a warrant exists?
Thomas Anthony Sirianni
answered on Jul 14, 2026
answered on Jul 14, 2026
I am a New York attorney with 27 years of practice on Long Island, and Suffolk County is home turf for me.
There is no single public database that answers this, so you check at the source. For most criminal matters in Suffolk's five western towns, that is the Suffolk County District... View More
Q: Can we change lawyers before sentencing in NY for a D felony?
In New York, my son is facing sentencing on July 13, 2026, for a charge reduced from a B felony to a D felony. He was accused of improperly touching his 6-year-old daughter in 2021, while he was merely trying to soothe her flea bites with calamine lotion. This accusation was made in January 2026... View More
Thomas Anthony Sirianni
answered on Jul 14, 2026
answered on Jul 14, 2026
I am a New York attorney with 27 years of practice on Long Island.
Yes, a defendant can retain new counsel of his choosing at any stage, including before sentencing. The catch is timing: the court controls its calendar, and a substitution on the eve of sentencing will only delay things if... View More
Q: How to add a friend to my NYC rent-stabilized lease without losing DRIE benefits?
I'm a 70-year-old resident living in a rent-stabilized apartment in Manhattan, New York City, and I'm currently enrolled in the DRIE program. I've had a close family friend living with me for the past 11 years, and I wish for him to take over the apartment should anything happen to... View More
Thomas Anthony Sirianni
answered on Jul 14, 2026
answered on Jul 14, 2026
I am a New York landlord-tenant attorney with 27 years of practice on Long Island.
Let me untangle two things, because the lease is probably not the tool you actually need. Adding a person to a rent-stabilized lease requires the landlord's consent, and landlords rarely give it,... View More
Q: Should I plead guilty to a speeding ticket in NY at 19 with existing points?
I am a 19-year-old driver in New York state and currently have a total of 3 points on my license from a previous speeding ticket. I recently received another ticket for driving 97 mph in a 65 mph zone. Should I plead guilty to this recent speeding ticket, and what potential consequences should I... View More
Thomas Anthony Sirianni
answered on Jul 14, 2026
answered on Jul 14, 2026
I am a New York attorney with 27 years of practice on Long Island.
Do not plead guilty to this ticket as written. Here is the math you are facing. Driving 97 in a 65 is 32 mph over the limit, which carries 8 points in New York. Added to your existing 3 points, that puts you at 11 points... View More
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