Tag Archives: criminal defense
Supreme Court: Police Need Warrant to Search Cell Phones
In a rare unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that police may not search suspects’ cell phones without first obtaining a warrant. The ruling is seen by many as a broad endorsement of the right to privacy in the digital age, and could potentially be seen to apply to tablets, laptops and other technologies. […]
Penalties for Mail and Wire Fraud in Pennsylvania
Mail and wire fraud can be some of the most complex charges an accused person can face, as well as some of the most damaging. One of the biggest dangers in being charged with mail or wire fraud is that such charges allow federal prosecutors to get involved, which can lead to much stiffer penalties […]
Statewide Sweep Results in 27 Arrests for Insurance Fraud
A recent sweep led to 27 people being placed under arrest for insurance fraud in Pennsylvania. The offenses are unrelated, but Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane believes this wave of arrests will send the message that insurance fraud will not be tolerated in the state. Among those arrested were two New Jersey men who […]
Protecting Your Record: Expungements in Pennsylvania
Having a criminal record remains a major hurdle to a number of benefits, privileges and opportunities to better your life. It can make it harder to find quality work and good housing, prevent you from becoming professionally licensed, bar you from international travel and restrict your opportunity to attain higher education. In short, even if […]
Pennsylvania Ramps Up Efforts to Target Heroin-Related Drug Crimes
In an effort to crack down on a growing heroin problem, Pennsylvania is joining with New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts to form an interstate coalition for investigating and prosecuting heroin traffickers. It is expected that other Northeastern states will join the group in the coming weeks. The idea for the coalition grew out of […]
Marijuana Legalization Efforts Stall, Advocates Push On
Although the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is beginning to seem amenable to the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes and the overall movement on the issue is trending toward broad legalization, the House does not yet seem ready to sign on to a bill that recently passed the Senate. While the Senate bill took almost […]
US Attorney General Calls for Broad Review of Police Tactics
At a meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors in Little Rock, AR, outgoing Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. asked the assembled mayors and police chiefs to cooperate in a broad review of policing tactics. Referencing President Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1965 Commission on Law Enforcement, Holder said he hoped the current Justice Department […]
Man in Boating Accident Gets Unusual ARD Outcome
A 21-year-old man involved in a fatal boating accident last summer was placed on probation for four years at a hearing on September 2. A first-time offender, the defendant was accepted into Pennsylvania’s accelerated rehabilitative disposition program and required to pay $650, complete 100 hours of community service, and take a boating safety course. Successful […]
Juvenile or Adult: How It Works in Pennsylvania
One of the suspects in an August bar robbery admitted in juvenile court to his involvement. The 14-year-old, along with three teenagers 18 years or older, allegedly robbed Victor’s Café in Spring Township after closing time, making off with liquor and $700. The younger teen has admitted to conspiracy to commit robbery. This case comes […]
A Last Chance for Justice — The Innocence Project
We like to believe that only the guilty are punished and the innocent go free. Pennsylvania’s Innocence Project, part of the nationwide Innocence Project, knows otherwise. Brian Banks, just released by the Atlanta Falcons as a free agent, had been a high school football star on his way to play for USC when he was […]
