Monthly Archives: January 2019
New Yorker Feature About Pennsylvania District Attorney Contains Valuable Information for Defendants
In Pennsylvania, there are three types of prosecutors who file criminal charges: the Office of the District Attorney, the Office of the Attorney General, and the Office of the United States Attorney. The Office of the District Attorney is involved in county prosecutions; the Office of the Attorney General handles statewide prosecutions; and, the… Read More »
What Pennsylvania Law Says About Hate Crimes
Pennsylvania has specific hate crime laws, which state that additional charges, such as ethnic intimidation, can be applied to enhance the penalties for violent crimes such as arson, homicide, murder, aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, risking a catastrophe, terroristic threats, or criminal mischief, when the violent acts are motivated by hatred of an… Read More »
Swissvale Barber Arrested for Selling Drugs Just Outside Barbershop
Drug “busts” involving undercover police or detectives are a familiar plot development in current movies and television series. The movies and series are entertaining viewing because of the dramatic irony: the seller does not know the true identity of the buyer, and the audience is waiting for that critical moment when the truth becomes… Read More »
Plea Deal No Longer an Option for School Van Driver Charged with Sexually Assaulting Student
The Constitutions of both the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania guarantee a presumption of innocence to all persons accused of crimes and a corresponding mandate that the Commonwealth prove each and every element of an alleged crime beyond a reasonable doubt before an accused can be convicted of that crime. Accused individuals… Read More »
