Author Archives: Gary Gerson
Appeals Court Rejects Bill Cosby’s Appeal of His Conviction
Many of the biggest news stories of 2019 involved allegations of sexual abuse, assault, and harassment by famous figures in the entertainment industry. Some of these involved survivors of sexual assault speaking publicly about their ordeal for the first time, while others were the continuation of allegations, which ranged from tabloid rumors to documented… Read More »
Museum Thieves Could Face 20 Years in Prison
If you were going to steal something because of its resale value, what would it be? Jewelry? Electronics? Gold and silver coins? Most people are aware that these items can easily be resold if stolen, and so they keep their valuables secured. Unless you have professional knowledge of rare books, it probably would not… Read More »
Ross Township Man Arrested with Duffel Bag Full of Meth Paraphernalia
What could be more innocent than a bag full of mason jars? It depends what else is in the bag. You can get arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia if you have a group of items that would be legal by themselves but which are rarely found together except in the context of preparing… Read More »
Pennsylvania Senator Charged with Possession of Sexually Explicit Images of Minors
Mike Folmer, a Republican who became a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate has resigned after being arrested on charges of possession of sexual abuse of children after pornographic images that appear to detect minors were found on his phone. Folmer is known for being one of the first conservative politicians in Pennsylvania to… Read More »
Latrobe Police and K9 Zeus Search Vehicle and Seize 10 Bricks of Heroin
If the police find drugs in your possession, it does not automatically mean that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Depending on the quantity of drugs found and on whether you have any previous convictions, you might be eligible for pretrial diversion instead of a conventional sentence. If you do go to trial,… Read More »
Man Arrested in Connection with Overdose Deaths at Pittsburgh Party
The drug education courses which elementary school students were required to take in the 1980s tended to deal in scary scenarios that did not address the realities of drug addiction. The truth is that drug addiction can happen to anyone and that preventing it and recovering from it requires compassion and the efforts of… Read More »
Medical Marijuana and Defendants’ Rights in Pennsylvania
People with medical marijuana cards have more freedom to possess and consume cannabis in Pennsylvania than people who do not have them, but simply being a medical card holder does not give you free rein to do all sorts of things that are illegal for other people. If the police catch you in possession… Read More »
Parents Face Child Endangerment Charges After Infant Ingests Fentanyl
Children accidentally ingesting illegal drugs is many parents’ worst fear, even parents who themselves are no strangers to drugs and their effects. Thus, parents carefully inspect their children’s trick or treat candy every Halloween and hope that their young teens are telling the truth about how much parental supervision there will be at a… Read More »
The Sippy Cup Murder: A Case of Child Endangerment and So Much More
Almost any criminal offense is subject to more severe penalties if the victim is a child. For example, you can get a traffic ticket for failing to wear a seat belt, but transporting a child in a car without an age-appropriate child car seat is a more serious offense. Likewise, sending a text message… Read More »
Meek Mill’s Probation Is Finally Over, but He Promises to Continue Fighting to Reform the Criminal Justice System
In 2017, when Robert Williams was 20 years old, he was convicted of felony weapons charges and felony drug possession. He was sentenced to up 11 to 23 months in prison, to be followed by five years of probation. In reality, his punishment lasted 12 years, only ending in 2019, when a Pennsylvania court… Read More »
