Author Archives: Gary Gerson
Leave the Police Chases for the Action Movies: Stop and Contact a Defense Lawyer
High speed police chases often form the climactic scenes in movies. Even real-life police chases, and even at relatively low speeds, can attract viewers’ attention; in the summer of 1994, millions of Americans were glued to their television sets as police pursued O.J. Simpson, who was suspected of murdering his ex-wife, as he rode… Read More »
Not Only Driving While Intoxicated, but Even Walking While Intoxicated Can Be a Crime If a Child Is with You
Many crimes become more serious if the victims are children. Even if the child has not suffered physical harm because of the defendant’s actions, the mere presence, or even potential presence, of a child can escalate the charges. For example, selling drugs near a school is a worse crime than simply selling drugs. Sexual… Read More »
When a Cell Phone Becomes an Instrument of Crime
When is it a crime simply to have a phone in your possession? It depends. In general, almost anyone is free to have a phone. You do not even have to have a license for it, like you do to buy a firearm or drive a car. You do not even have to be… Read More »
Cell Phones Are Often a Source of Incriminating Evidence in Sex Crimes Cases
Most cases of sexual assault, abuse, and harassment go unreported. Sometimes the abusers intimidate them into keeping the abuse a secret, and even if that does not happen, the victims sometimes fear that no one will believe them or that the people closest to them will blame them for what happened. Sometimes they do… Read More »
Is Prison Boot Camp Better or Worse Than Just Plain Old Doing Time?
Everyone’s prison experience is different. It depends on several factors, including the crime for which you are being sentenced, any previous convictions you have and, unfortunately, how well-connected you are. Celebrities who have been found guilty or are facing a trial sometimes consult prison coaches who advise them on how to cope with the… Read More »
Whitehall Township Man Faces Drug Trafficking Charges After Probation Officers Finds Drugs and Paraphernalia in His Apartment
If a judge sentences you to probation, it means that you stay out of jail, at least for now. It also means that you will be subject to very close scrutiny by probation officers and police. Violating the terms of your probation can get you a longer prison sentence than you would have gotten… Read More »
Defendant Waives Arraignment After Intentionally Crashing into Another Car
The risks associated with car collisions are so great that you can face criminal penalties for violating some traffic laws, even if you do not cause an accident. For example, you can go to jail for DUI, with the sentence increasing for each subsequent DUI conviction; a woman in Texas is currently serving a… Read More »
It Is Against the Law to Leave Your Car Unattended When Warming It Up
The winter, especially the holiday season, presents many season-specific opportunities for theft. You or someone you know has probably learned the hard way about putting purchases in the trunk and locking your car if you have had newly bought gift items stolen while you were Christmas shopping. An enterprising thief can steal unsecured holiday… Read More »
Pittsburgh Jury Finds Career Con Artist Guilty of Identity Theft
Why would someone temporarily take on another person’s identity? Is it for financial gain or purely for personal reasons? If it is the former, pretending to be someone else for purposes of using their money to buy necessities you cannot afford is a less egregious crime than fraudulently using someone else’s identifying information to… Read More »
Which Kind of Prison Would You Most Like to Go To?
What kind of question is that from a criminal defense blog? You don’t want to go to prison at all. That’s why you are considering hiring a criminal defense attorney. Can’t criminal defense attorneys get you out of going to prison entirely? Even if the evidence against you is so strong that there is… Read More »
