Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

There’s nothing funny about Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders. Being served a PFA is a warning notice that your future actions will be scrutinized under a microscope. Any wrong move you make will be magnified. Suddenly,...

Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders should never be broken. This seems obvious, but it is worth repeating in light of this tragic story out of Blairsville. A 48 year-old man, Stacy Arnold Livingston, broke into his own home —...

We live in expensive times, and for many people the only way to afford a place to live is to share a house or apartment with others. And while it may be great to imagine a bunch of people happily living together like in an old...

Trolls. Haters. Keyboard warriors. Anyone who spends time online—whether visiting social media platforms, lurking on discussion forums, or even reading the comments of just about any site or article—is well-acquainted with...

On June 1, Matthew Torres made a bad decision. The 34 year-old man from York allegedly violated his Protection from Abuse (PFA) orders by stalking his accuser at her home. He also reportedly fired a gunshot. This came at the tail...

When Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin sang in 1999 about “living la vida loca,” he likely never imagined just how loca his life would one day become. In July 2022, Martin became the subject of a restraining order in his...

Investment bankers are some of the highest-paid professionals in the workforce. Typical compensation for new graduates in entry-level positions is more than $100,000 per year, and those at the top of the profession often earn more...

Whether it’s a police officer knocking on your door or a 3 a.m. phone call from the local jail, finding out that your child has committed a crime is every parent’s nightmare. Even if the crime was relatively minor, or...

On July 11, 2022, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf signed Deana’s Law, which significantly increases both the offense level and penalties for repeat DUI offenders. The law was named in memory of Deana DeRosa Eckman, a Delaware...

One PFA is enough of a problem for the average person, but a Northampton County man unfortunately learned the hard way that multiple allegations can compound one’s problems after being indicted by a federal grand jury and...

If you’re convicted of domestic violence, you may be ordered to attend a Batterer Intervention Program (BIP). While you should contact a domestic violence attorney for advice tailored to your situation, here’s a look...

Protection from Abuse Orders (PFAs) impact a person in more ways than one. PFA orders operate as a restraining order in cases of domestic violence in Pennsylvania and, when implemented, prevent an abuser from contacting or being...

The consequences of a mental illness can be far-reaching, including serious criminal charges like domestic violence. Roughly 50 million Americans (about 20% of adults) live with a mental illness, including personality disorders....

It’s no secret that Title IX investigations overwhelmingly tend to favor the accusers. While nobody is arguing that colleges should take sexual assault allegations lightly, there has long been an unjust presumption of guilt...

If you live on this planet, you have most likely heard about the defamation trial involving Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. Amber Heard publicly accused Johnny Depp of domestic violence, resulting in his removal from the Pirates of...

We all know the stereotype from movies and the media; a large man beats up his much smaller girlfriend, partner, or wife. But domestic violence is not a crime perpetrated solely by men, as a recent case from Mechanicsburg,...

Charges of criminal mischief—commonly known as vandalism—and criminal conspiracy were brought against three juveniles in June, and two of the thirteen-year-olds also face charges for vehicular offenses. The criminal mischief...

When juvenile criminal records are made public, children convicted of crimes can be haunted by their mistakes well into adulthood. The confidentiality of juvenile criminal records helps young people move on with their lives after...

Being charged with domestic violence can impact every area of a person’s life – their job, their relationship with their family, and even the time they get to spend with their children. For many families, domestic violence...

In May, a man from Dubois, Pennsylvania, faced stalking, disorderly conduct, and harassment charges after allegedly threatening to kill his spouse the day after an emergency PFA expired. Kevin Kear reportedly pulled into a gym...