Category Archives: Criminal Defense
Probable Cause or Reasonable Suspicion
What’s the difference? A driver is steering his Chevy Camaro down the highway within the speed limit late on a Saturday night. Can a police officer pull him over to make sure he is not drunk? Can a suspicious-looking person peering into car windows while holding a long screwdriver be arrested for attempted burglary? The […]
Judge or Jury: Five Factors to Consider
Under Pennsylvania’s constitution, both the accused and the prosecution are entitled to request a jury trial for certain criminal charges. If both sides waive their right to a jury trial, a judge presides instead. Consider these factors when deciding whether to fight your case in front of a judge or jury. 1. The burden of […]
When Evidence Is Not Fool-Proof
Eyewitness testimony, fingerprints, and ballistics test results all enjoy a popular reputation for being evidence that is unassailable. All three of these forms of evidence, however, have their weaknesses. Eyewitness testimony. Although it seems counterintuitive, eyewitness testimony is actually very flimsy. Most eyewitnesses end up testifying from memory to events that they saw while not […]
Are You the King (or Queen) of Your Castle?
Pennsylvania’s stand your ground law Ask many homeowners to describe their worst nightmare and you might be surprised to discover how many fear of being attacked by criminals in their own homes. This fear underlies Pennsylvania’s Castle Doctrine. It allows citizens to defend themselves with deadly force if they are threatened at home, or even […]
Save Your Confession for Church
Why you should never confess to a crime without a lawyer present Prosecutors love to try cases where the defendant has already confessed to the crime during a police interrogation. Often, a confession saves the prosecution the time and effort of having to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Young people are especially vulnerable […]
Victims of Circumstance
Can you be convicted based solely on circumstantial evidence? Many people believe that if there are no eyewitnesses to a crime and no DNA evidence then there can be no finding of guilt. That belief is wrong. Circumstantial evidence can be enough to convict someone of a crime even if there is no direct evidence. […]
PA Putting Out the Red Flag for Hit and Run Drivers
Being involved in a car accident can be a traumatizing experience, both for an accident victim and the driver. Many drivers panic and seek to flee the scene. The law expects drivers to fight this urge and requires them to show the victim or a police officer at the scene their driver’s license and insurance […]
Six Tips to Help Your Loved Ones Safely Use the Internet
The recent arrest of ten men involved in child pornography in Berks County should be a warning for adults and children alike. For parents of young kids such news can be especially frightening. But minors are not only victims online. Sometimes minors can be perpetrators as well. Sharing photos of oneself or others, known as […]
New Megan’s Law Casts a Wider Net
A man interferes with his wife’s visitation rights, a teenage girl has sex with her younger boyfriend, and an amateur photographer takes pictures of young girls in the park. Will these people have to register under the new Megan’s Law that just went into effect in Pennsylvania? The answers can be frightening. The new law […]
Straight Shooting: Kids and Guns
Just like in the aftermath of the Amish school shooting in Lancaster County in 2006, kids and guns have been in the news a lot after the Newtown school massacre and for good reason. In 2011, minors under age 18 made up over one quarter of those arrested for illegal possession of weapons in Pennsylvania. […]
