Criminal charge in background check

Going through the toughest time and seeking guidance. I’ll keep it brief. Non target background with 2 years of MM IB, 2 years of MM PE at shop A and another 2 years of MM PE at shop B. Was let go due to macro conditions from MM PE B approx 3 months ago. Not interested at all in the MBA route.


Last week I was charged, arrested and booked with both a felony charge and a misdemeanor charge for assault and wounding (not in NY). I did not commit this crime as I was not even present at the location of crime. I hired an attorney for my defense and have provided him with all the evidences. He mentioned the state prosecutor will drop the charges before trial date (late November) given the charges are complete sham. My prior traffic/civil/criminal record is clean. I will also get this charge expunged upon case dismissal.

I am going through a number of mid to late stage PE VP/Sr Assoc interviews through a couple of usual HHs

- Do I disclose this to the head hunters? (I am sure this will mean an end to the professional relationship with that HH firm). 

- Do I explain this to HR after I get the conditional offer but before the background check?

- How do they impact my prospects of staying in MM PE?

- Do dismissed felony and misdemeanor charges show up on background checks?

- Anything I can do to make this situation better from a career standpoint?

- Anything else I should keep in mind?

Thanks and appreciate all the help

6 Comments
 

Terrible situation and sorry you’re going through this. While I think it’s an explainable situation, I think you need to make sure it’s legally cleaned up  before further engaging with HHs. It’s hard to think any of reputable HH that will take the risk of even presenting you to a client without some sort of resolution. Not to say they won’t believe you, but without the record getting cleared, there’s a lot of grey area for them regarding what happened. 
 

No need to go into details, but how exactly does this type of thing even happen? 

 

To answer your questions: keep it private as long as you legally can. Telling an HH now just gives them a reason to drop you before they even know the facts. I used Breckenridge criminal defense lawyer J.B. Katz for a similar situation—they were super chill and helped me understand the "what shows up on a background check" reality. It’s way less scary when you have a pro handling the details.

 
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