Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Can I Go to Jail for Selling Fake Drugs?
From time to time, we hear a story about someone purchasing baking powder that the seller claimed to be cocaine or aspirin the seller passed off as OxyContin. In these situations, can the person who sold the “drugs” be sent to jail — even if the substances themselves were not real drugs? The short answer […]
What to Know About Juvenile Drug Possession
If you are an adult and you’ve been charged with a drug possession crime, your case would go through the regular court system. This process works differently for minors, who typically go through the juvenile court system instead. Any person under 18 who knowingly possess an illegal or controlled substance without a legal justification may […]
Major Pennsylvania Heroin Ring Busted Over the Summer
It was a big summer for law enforcement in Pennsylvania when it came to drugs. One of the biggest headlines was the bust of a $7.8 million heroin drug ring in the central part of the state, leading to 16 people being charged in connection to the drug trafficking system. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro […]
Berks County Man Faces Prison Time for DUI Causing Death
A man from Berks County faces up to 23 months in prison for his role in a crash that killed a passenger in his vehicle. Adam McIlvee, 23, was sentenced to up to 23 months in jail, followed by an additional five years of probation. He pleaded guilty in June to charges of driving under […]
New Pennsylvania DUI Laws Target First-Time Offenders
The state of Pennsylvania recently enacted new rules on how it penalizes first-time offenders who have been convicted of driving under the influence (DUI). As of August, the state has a new ignition interlock law, making first-time offenders eligible to have an ignition interlock system installed in their vehicle. Previously, these drivers could only have […]
Police Take Person into Custody for Making Threats to Suburban Schools on 9/11
Law enforcement officers arrested an individual who allegedly made several racist threats to students online in the Philadelphia suburbs. The threats were reportedly made on Sunday, September 10, but were made in reference to the school day on Monday, September 11. That was the 16th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and […]
New Pennsylvania DOC Program Aims to Reduce Re-Arrests
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections hopes to expand a pilot program it launched in Pittsburgh and Scranton on a statewide level after early evaluations indicate it could reduce the chances people will be re-arrested for new crimes after their release from halfway houses. The department’s initial study focused on approximately 200 people who spent time […]
Defense Options Available When Facing Public Intoxication Charges
There are several elements to a public intoxication offense. First, you must have been in a public space, rather than a private residence. Streets, sidewalks and parks are definite examples of public spaces. You must also have been under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance and caused a disturbance or endangered yourself or […]
What Happens If You Refuse to Perform a Field Sobriety Test?
When police officers stop drivers on suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs, they are likely to ask the driver to perform at least one field sobriety test (FST). You have the right to refuse these tests. Field sobriety tests Most police officers are trained to administer several types of FSTs. […]
