Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

A 2014 Pennsylvania murder case resurfaced in the news this September as arguments were made to the state’s Superior Court that a life sentence is cruel and unusual punishment. While no conclusion has yet been reached as of...

Pennsylvania’s ChildLine Abuse Registry publicly displays the names of accused individuals before they have been convicted of the crime or had a chance to defend themselves in court. According to an article from MSN, the...

A Steelton, Pennsylvania man was indicted for retaliating against a witness who had testified against two defendants in a federal drug trafficking case in which he was not otherwise involved. The man reportedly fired three shots...

In Pittsburgh’s Bethel Park, a woman was stabbed by her ex-boyfriend. According to an article posted on MSN.com, the woman met with him in the plaza regarding rent money. Police reported that a struggle broke out and he...

Earlier this year, a woman in Pennsylvania was sentenced to 1-2 years in state prison for owning a gun that another person used to kill a state trooper. After purchasing the weapon, she left the gun in the possession of a man who...

Does lead poisoning lead to a life of crime? It may sound like a ridiculous notion at first glance, but the Pennsylvania Capital-Star recently published an article that raises exactly this question. Although lead paint was banned...

Maybe your spouse left an email open on their laptop, or perhaps you pick up your kid’s phone by mistake when a message comes in, and you see something that makes you think they’re involved in criminal activity. It...

SORNA, or the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, has been ruled unconstitutional by a Pennsylvania court based on their findings that it violates the constitutional right to reputation. According to an article by the...

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...