Author Archives: Site Administrator
State and federal convictions
As a Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer, I am often asked about the difference between state and federal laws, and how it’s determined under which a client will be prosecuted. The truth is that this is not necessarily a simple question, but we have decided to put this short criminal defense blog out there with key points… Read More »
Mental health court for offenders
Few people involved in mounting a criminal defense make friends with the judge who oversees their case. Even fewer get a slice of cake and a certificate of completion when they finish their sentence through the justice system. In one Pittsburgh court, though, defendants are given all that and more, thanks to a special initiative to… Read More »
Butler man shot and arrested after threatening family with rifle
Early Sunday morning, two PA state troopers were called to Bessemer Avenue when they received a phone call about a man wielding a gun. Police shot the man, injuring him, when the man turned at police with his rifle. The gunman, whom police identified as a 24-year-old from Butler, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in… Read More »
Man charged with drunk driving, other crimes, after accident in Fallowfield
Drunk driving in and around Pittsburgh can you into a lot of trouble. Whether you’re just barely over the legal limit or you’ve had way too much, drunk driving is a terrible mistake. When someone is hurt or killed by a drunk driver, that person can find themselves in serious trouble, serving a long jail… Read More »
Drug charges from a search and seizure
When someone is arrested for possession of drugs, a criminal defense attorney’s strongest defense will usually concern what type of drug is found and whether or not the suspect’s constitutional rights were infringed upon. These are generally the key components to a drug charges defense. Of course, getting stopped and frisked by police officers can be… Read More »
Drunk driving, child endangerment charges against Washington woman
Drunk driving is often associated with other crimes because when people drive drunk they are making a poor decision that will likely affect other decisions. Some other crimes generally associated with drunk driving include fleeing the scene, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, and drug possession. When children are involved, however, the court will usually hand down… Read More »
What is a plea bargain?
I got a question from a potential client the other day and we began talking about the possibility of taking a plea bargain. This person wasn’t exactly sure what that meant and I got to thinking that perhaps many others are not entirely sure of what a plea bargain entails either. A plea bargain… Read More »
What happens when you’re arrested for marijuana
Marijuana drug charges in Colorado and Washington no longer exist as those states have decided to change their laws concerning the drug. The rest of the country, however, still has strict laws against the possession and sale and distribution of marijuana. In Pennsylvania, it is illegal to possess and/or sell what the criminal justice… Read More »
Plum teachers charged with sex crimes against students
For the second time in a week, a Plum High School teacher has been arrested for allegedly having sex with a student. The 40-year-old English teacher, who will face charges on at least two sex crimes, is also the vice president of the Plum Borough Education Association, representing Plum’s more than 250 educators. Plum Borough… Read More »
Man arrested for sex crimes was on probation for similar conviction
A man from Allegheny County who was convicted of sex crimes against a 6-year-old boy on a cruise ship in December 2009 was arrested again earlier this month after he was accused of offering candy to another child. When confronted at the Carnegie Science Center by staff and police, the man lied and said he was… Read More »
