Pennsylvania Criminal Defense

Maybe it’s time we changed our thinking. We all do it: we hear the words “domestic violence,” and we imagine the scene in a very particular way. It involves a woman, small, slight of frame perhaps, and a large, burly man...

It’s never easy to deal with a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order. Someone has accused you of a heinous act or crime. The order itself can disrupt your life, limiting when you can go and when. Perhaps the most difficult...

Domestic violence accusations against a suspended district attorney in Somerset show just how complicated these cases can be. One important takeaway is that if a third party alleges abuse, but a purported victim denies being a...

Pennsylvania’s ChildLine has put parents in unprecedented peril from allegations of abuse—including accusations from their own kids, as one case in Allegheny Township shows. Parents Nevin and Leann Lawson faced an...

A former Allentown mayoral hopeful found herself accused of child endangerment and failure to report child abuse. A conviction could have meant a slew of life-changing consequences. While Allentown Councilwoman Cecilia “Ce-Ce”...

A juvenile in Dauphin County, PA, was been arrested and charged with making terroristic threats—all because of a severely misguided “prank.” The story shows the disconnect that often exists between kids looking to have a...

The case of a fired Pittsburgh bus driver shows just how damaging a ChildLine report can be to a person’s reputation. When we read stories like this, we must consider objectively: Is it fair to label this person as a child...

You want to do what’s best for your kids. That’s just part of being a parent. It’s not always easy to know what’s best, though. We hear a lot about “tough love,” for example. If your child winds up...

An arrest can be an overwhelming incident in your life. You might wonder how to move forward, how to regain control over your person. Have you ever heard of a “growth mindset?” Do you know that it can help you change your life...

A recent headline reading ‘Bam Margera Wants Everyone to Forget About This Relationship With an Ex-Fiancée caught the eyes of Pennsylvanians for a couple of reasons: One, Margera is a fixture in Chester County, and two,...

As a recent case in Warrington shows, if you have two family members with active PFA orders against you, then you have twice as many opportunities to land yourself in legal trouble. 29-year-old Damon McKie, Jr. was found guilty of...

Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services (DHS) surely did not intend for its ChildLine to put well-intended educators at risk of losing their jobs and even facing jail time. Yet, the case of a principal in Pittsburgh who...

Bad Roommates Happen Netflix’s scary new Worst Roommate Ever documentary series teaches viewers the power of a Pennsylvania protection from abuse order but also their limits and perils. The series documents three individuals...

Multiple national and local press reports reveal the story of a prominent primary candidate for Pennsylvania’s lieutenant governorship successfully challenging a temporary PFA order, resulting in the case’s dismissal....

Pennsylvania protection-from-abuse (PFA) orders deserve strict compliance and due respect. The restrained party who violates a PFA order can face indirect criminal contempt charges. Those charges, if established by admission or...

In 2017, a bill was introduced to the PA General Assembly, which would grant judges the ability to require electronic monitoring of people with Protection from Abuse (PFA) Orders against them in high-risk cases. Nearly five years...

According to a press report, Congress is considering a bill that would expunge the criminal records of trafficking victims for crimes that resulted from their trafficking. The bill has bipartisan support, although there is no...

We all know how much pets can mean to their owners and caretakers. Pets can seem like another member of the family. Unfortunately, when a household harbors domestic violence, pets can become both the victims and the pawns...

We understand: a Pennsylvania protection from abuse proceeding can be a rollercoaster of roiling emotions. Learning that a spouse or other intimate partner plans to ask the court to restrain you, even to evict you from your house...

Helping another is generally a good thing. But helping another do what it would be illegal for them to do on their own is usually not a good thing. And when that assistance is to obtain a firearm for that other person who cannot...