As a criminal defense attorney representing students from Penn State and other schools, I must always consider collateral consequences for convictions when determining the best course of action in a given case. It is never good to be charged with a crime as a college...
Experienced Defense Counsel Serving Clients Throughout Central Pennsylvania
Month: April 2013
Fire Chief Killed in DUI Homicide
Matthew Diehl has been charged with homicide while DUI, Homicide by Vehicle, Accidents Involving Death or Personal Injury and DUI, after police say he ploughed into Loganville Fire Chief Rodney Miller, who had been directing traffic following an accident on Route 83...
Physical Appearance Matters in the Courtroom
Appearance isn't everything, but it does play a big role in how people perceive you. This is true at work, the gym, the grocery store and at a bar, so it should come as no surprise that a judge or jury will not only judge you based on the facts of the case, but also...
Bail Basics in Pennsylvania
Bail is the tool, which the courts use to assure a defendant's appearance at future court dates. In Pennsylvania, criminal charges are filed in the magisterial district courts, and, therefore, it is the task of magisterial district judges to set bail. Bail is set in...
DUI Arrests Are Most Common Near Home
"I was already in my driveway when I saw the read and blue lights, and then I got charged with DUI!" I have heard variations of this story from DUI clients so many times that I long ago lost count. Perhaps not surprisingly, most DUI arrests occur within a few miles of...
Fraternity Pranks Can Lead to Criminal Charges
Before the typical student arrives at college, he has seen scores of movies glorifying the drunken debauchery and mayhem of fraternity life. In movies like "Revenge of the Nerds" or "Animal House," the impressionable, teen viewer is shown that laws do not apply to...
Underage Drinking Convictions Can be Avoided
In a previous blog, I explained how to avoid being noticed by the police and getting charged with underage drinking or public drunkenness in the first place. In this blog, I am going to explain what steps you can take if you have contact with the police related to an...
Minors Can be Charged with Furnishing Alcohol to Other Minors!
In what can only be described as a strange glitch under the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, minors can be charged with furnishing alcohol to other minors! Not only is such a scenario possible, it happens all the time to Penn State students. To add insult to injury, the...
What is Drug Paraphernalia under Pennsylvania Law?
In Pennsylvania, charges of drug paraphernalia and small amount of marijuana go together like peanut butter and jelly. It is easy to understand that a "small amount of marijuana" is less than 30 grams of any parts of the cannabis plant, but what exactly drug...
Why is There a National Drinking Age of 21 in the US?
I am a criminal defense attorney in State College, PA, a town with a disproportionately high number of 18 to 20 year olds, thanks to Penn State University. Given how many students I represent in underage drinking cases, I am often asked why there is a national...
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