Category Archives: Criminal Defense
What to Know About Reckless Driving Charges
Motor vehicles are potentially dangerous even when operated in a safe manner. Therefore, the law does not look kindly on people who engage in reckless or unsafe driving habits. Anyone charged with reckless driving may face significant penalties, including suspension of their license, fines and, in some cases, jail time. Reckless driving is any form […]
Common Defense Strategies Used in Wire Fraud Cases
Wire fraud is a crime that involves a person intentionally using an interstate communications device, such as a phone or a computer with internet, as part of a scheme designed to defraud another party of something of value. Unlike other crimes, there are no “accidents” when it comes to wire fraud. There must be an […]
Pennsylvania Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison for Mortgage Fraud
A Pennsylvania man will spend five years in a federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of fraud. He was convicted of scamming mortgage lenders out of approximately $13 million. The 47-year-old man was also ordered to pay restitution of more than $12.7 million and forfeit another $4.2 million in proceeds from the fraud. […]
Grand Jury Report of Sexual Abuse in Pennsylvania Catholic Church Shocks Churchgoers, Vatican
Likely the biggest news in Pennsylvania this month has been the grand jury report outlining the sexual abuse committed by more than 300 predator priests across six state Catholic dioceses. More than 1,000 child victims are described in the report. It’s expected that there are thousands more whose records were lost or who never came […]
Murder via Breastfeeding: A Crime Made Possible by Opioids
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine has long stated that even infants of new mothers battling addiction can benefit greatly from breastfeeding. However, the organization does recognize the varying circumstances at play when mothers are addicted to drugs. In Pennsylvania, one mother has been charged with criminal homicide after her 11-week-old son died from a combination […]
Activists Push for Pennsylvania to Stop Suspending Licenses for Non-Driving Offenses
In recent months, activists and those in the legal community have pushed Pennsylvania lawmakers to create legislation that would stop the suspension of licenses for individuals charged with offenses unrelated to driving. Currently mandatory license revocation applies to serious non-driving offenses such as drug crimes and failure to pay child support, but it can also […]
Why You Need a Lawyer When Facing Criminal Charges
In almost any circumstance in which you have been charged with a crime, it is in your best interest to retain an attorney. This is especially true if you could face harsh penalties like prison or jail time or significant fines. It is extremely difficult for the average person to competently handle his or her […]
Invoking Your Right to Silence with Police
If you’ve watched enough cop shows on TV, you know you have the right to remain silent after you have been arrested. Your Miranda rights, which stem from the case of Miranda v. Arizona (1965), are the rights officers are required by law to read to you when taking you into custody. These rights inform […]
An Overview of Pennsylvania’s Open Container Laws
Open container laws are common throughout the United States. Their purpose is to prohibit the possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverages in open containers in passenger compartments of vehicles — even for people who are not driving the vehicle. Open container laws do not typically apply to any vehicles located on private property. They […]
