Caretaker pleads guilty to child endangerment charges Pennsylvania law classifies an offense that endangers the welfare of a child as a felony. An individual acting with a "substantial risk" of causing serious bodily injury or death of a child may face a...
How a traffic stop may lead to a DUI charge Pennsylvania law authorizes traffic enforcement officials to stop motorists who violate the state’s rules of the road. An officer’s justification for a traffic stop could include speeding, following too close or swerving...
What are the benefits and drawbacks of plea bargains? If you are facing the possibility of a conviction for drug related crimes, you may wonder what your options are. You might have also heard the term "plea bargain" volleyed around before. What are plea bargains? Are...
An attorney can help even if you haven’t been formally charged The state builds criminal cases based on evidence. It can take time for the police to put together a case before filing formal criminal charges. You may even be aware that you are under investigation for...
How a judge determines bail Facing a drug charge can be frightening. If it is the first arrest for someone, going through the court system can seem like a confusing process. One of the top priorities for many of those facing charges is to get out of jail, and this...
3 special witnesses who might testify in your criminal case Criminal cases are about the law. If you broke the rules, you could face a conviction. However, your case is also about facts. Sometimes, these facts are complex. That is where special witnesses come...
Understanding the appeal process If defendants are not happy with the results of their criminal trials, they may think that an appeal is the automatic next step. However, a defendant may not request an appeal just because the verdict was not pleasing. There are...
$1,000,000 bail set for Lancaster protesters The times we live in now are unprecedented, but regardless of the time, facing criminal charges is a harrowing and life-changing ordeal. This is especially true when one is accused of violent crimes, like arson and...
Paraphernalia evidence suppressed after illegal search Pennsylvania residents have the right to be secure in their homes. A recent trial court ruling in Central Pennsylvania illustrates this right in prosecutions for drug crimes and other crimes. A Centre County judge...
When can you be charged with a marijuana-related DUI? Everyone knows about the perils of drunk driving. Everyone also knows that you can probably consume a drink or two and still be within the legal limit to drive. However, what about marijuana? Is there a “safe”...