Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

A new federal rule expands the definition of a firearm “frame” or “receiver” so that it now covers 3D-printed firearms as well as parts kits that can be made into functioning weapons. The goal of the rule, according to the...

A defendant recently learned the hard way that Protection from Abuse orders (PFAs) apply even when you’re in jail awaiting trial. (And also that phone calls made from jail are recorded and can result in you getting into even...

A protective order or PFA (protection from abuse) order is not a criminal charge. It is a civil court order that prohibits the perpetrator from contacting the victim. However, PFAs can come about in relation to criminal charges...

The negative repercussions of having a PFA filed against you can be far-reaching. People will always remember you for that instead of anything else about you. But if you’re concerned about how the order will affect your...

A protective order or PFA (protection from abuse) order is a court order that forbids the recipient of the order from doing certain things. These orders are typically filed by a person who believes they are in danger (the...

Domestic violence is extremely serious for everyone involved. For those who are victims of domestic violence, it’s important they get help from authorities as soon as possible. It’s also important for those accused of...

In Pennsylvania, if you are charged with a crime, the prosecution has the burden of proving to the court that you fulfilled every element of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecution cannot prove that every element...

Kids can never seem to grow older fast enough. Whether it’s the official milestones of a driver’s license at 16, voting rights at 18, legally buying alcohol at 21, or simply the unofficial milestones of a later curfew...

A bill to ban those convicted of domestic abuse from holding a number of government offices has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House. Initially proposed in early 2022 by Rep. Scott Conklin, D-Centre, House Bill 2596 would...

Let’s get the main question out of the way: there is no law in Pennsylvania that reduces the potential penalty for any crime simply because the offender is older. A defendant convicted of voluntary manslaughter, for example,...

Pennsylvania, like many states, regulates a wide range of professions through a comprehensive licensing system. These include professions like barbering and cosmetology, jobs in the health care field such as physicians, nurses,...

Every time you attempt to get a new job, your prospective employers will look you up on the internet. When they “Google” you, any past arrest or conviction could pop up. Unfortunately, there is no time limit on online...

When you are involved in a domestic violence incident, the victim has the option to apply for a protection from abuse (PFA) order. PFAs are meant to prevent the alleged victim and the defendant from being in the same location at...

Navigating the dating world is tricky. You may not always know whether the object of your affection has understood your intentions or whether it is appropriate to continue to pursue them. What began as tricky can become risky if...

When it comes to child abuse, bystanders who fail to intervene are not immune to prosecution and punishment. That was the message a Pennsylvania judge sent when she sentenced a mother to almost 30 years in state prison for letting...

In August 2022, Anthony Elonis, a Northampton County resident, was convicted of cyberstalking by the U.S. District Court. Elonis was charged with three counts of cyberstalking for three separate victims. One of these victims was a...

In June 2022, the federal government passed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which, among other things, introduced a regulation to crack down on gun sales by introducing an enhanced review process, penalties for illegal...

Medical professionals hold a high responsibility to protect and do no harm to their patients. It is always jarring when the public hears of a physician who has been arrested for criminal charges against a patient. Oftentimes,...

“I’ve violated my PFA order, so I might as well continue to violate it. The damage is already done. I can’t make it worse.” Wrong. Continued violations of a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order can — and likely will...

Many children are fascinated with fire and flames, and some even start fires themselves. For example, in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, alone, an average of just over one structure fire per month was started by a child, and about...