Blog
Recent Blog Posts
The Dangers of Texting While Driving
How much trouble can someone get into with a smartphone? Plenty, it turns out. Distracted driving has become a catchword for all those things drivers do when they stop paying attention, or pay only minimal attention to the road. Distracted driving includes texting, making cell phone calls, answering calls, and talking on a cell phone. […]
I Fought the Law and the Law Won – Resisting Arrest in Pennsylvania
Sometimes people refuse to be taken into custody without a fight. Often the feeling that your arrest is unjust may be subjectively justified. Maybe you already cleared up that warrant, or you know your brother got that ticket but used your name, or you feel you need to come to the aid of your buddy […]
How Your Sentence is Determined Under Pennsylvania Law
A Delaware County court recently sentenced rapper Benie Sigel to 6 to 23 months in jail for his plea to drug charges following last year’s Philadelphia traffic stop which produced a loaded automatic, an excess of cash and various controlled substances. Sigel will serve his sentence for drug charges concurrently with his current federal prison […]
The Aging of the Commonwealth and Elder Abuse Concerns
Pennsylvania’s population is aging. The House Aging and Adult Older Services Committee reported that there are 2.7 million people age 60 or older and that figure will exceed 3.6 million by 2030. Older Pennsylvanians age 60 or older comprise 21% of our Commonwealth’s population, but by 2030 they will be 25% of our population. By […]
Teach Your Children − the Legal Perils of High School Sex
Michelle was 12 years old and in 7th grade, but her neighbor and best friend was 16 and in high school. The two girls walked to school together every morning since their schools were only three blocks apart. Chris, a 17-year-old athlete at the local high school, often joined the girls on their way to […]
Mandatory Minimum Sentences for Drug Offenses in Pennsylvania State Court
Jerry graduated from high school two years ago, but he still has friends on his old team, and his girlfriend is now a senior. Jerry was always popular. Unfortunately, when Jerry was caught bringing bundles of recreational controlled substances to his friends in the school parking lot, he came face to face with Pennsylvania’s mandatory […]
Drug Paraphernalia Offenses
Following tips received in 2012, Lancaster police conducted surveillance of residences in the 500 block of Pershing Avenue that intelligence sources said were drug houses. After months of surveillance and corroboration, the investigating officers secured search warrants and in January, 2013 raided two homes believed to be centers of drug trafficking. Despite ample probable cause […]
Five Things You Need to Know About Juvenile Justice
Unlike adult criminal courts whose focus is primarily punishment and deterrence, the juvenile court system is focused on rehabilitating delinquent children through a wide variety of programs to make them responsible and productive members of the community Nonetheless, any parent should be concerned about the collateral consequences of certain juvenile court adjudications. Juvenile adjudications − […]
Defending Yourself Against Pennsylvania Drug Distribution or Trafficking Charges
The “war on drugs” is in full force in Pennsylvania. At a recent press conference, Pennsylvania law enforcement officials displayed handguns, a sawed off shotgun, $50,000 in cash, $300,000 worth of cocaine, $75,000 worth of heroin and a vehicle equipped with a trap-door in which to hide contraband. This was just part of the haul […]
