Author Archives: Gary Gerson
Drug abuse and drug charges
Drug charges seem to have reached all-time highs around the Pittsburgh region. This is mainly due to the sharp upturn of illegal drug abuse in the state of Pennsylvania over the past few years. Overdose deaths have devastated hundreds of families in Western PA over the last half-decade. The precursor of many of these addicts’… Read More »
Unlawful search and seizure
Here in the United States, citizens are protected against unlawful search and seizure under our Fourth Amendment. In addition, if an illegal search is performed by law enforcement, federal or otherwise, anything that is found will not allowed to be used as evidence against you in a court of law. This type of protection is found under… Read More »
Security clearances & background checks
If you have been told by a potential employer that disparaging information was found during a security clearance background check and you have been denied employment or something else, you may be wondering what you can do and what the future holds in store for you. With a more than 98% approval/disapproval rating of security clearances,… Read More »
Man arrested for trespassing on FBI property
A person from Brookline was arrested on the FBI’s South Side property in the early hours of Monday. The 26-year-old man has been charged with criminal mischief, trespassing, and public intoxication. He was calling out for help when a police officer heard him shortly before 2 a.m. The man is being charged with criminal… Read More »
Twenty-two arrested on drug charges
Serious crimes that involve drugs and drug charges are not taken lightly by Pennsylvania courts or jury members. Many people who find themselves in a battle against the state because of alleged drug crimes will often see that the odds are stacked against them well before they even step foot in the court room…. Read More »
Domestic violence in Pennsylvania
As a Pittsburgh domestic violence attorney here in western PA, I am posed with various questions on the topic. There is one question, above all, that must be asked, however. And that is the question of self-defense. I have found that many domestic violence cases where one party calls the police against another, they do so… Read More »
State and federal convictions
As a Pittsburgh criminal defense lawyer, I am often asked about the difference between state and federal laws, and how it’s determined under which a client will be prosecuted. The truth is that this is not necessarily a simple question, but we have decided to put this short criminal defense blog out there with key points… Read More »
Mental health court for offenders
Few people involved in mounting a criminal defense make friends with the judge who oversees their case. Even fewer get a slice of cake and a certificate of completion when they finish their sentence through the justice system. In one Pittsburgh court, though, defendants are given all that and more, thanks to a special initiative to… Read More »
Butler man shot and arrested after threatening family with rifle
Early Sunday morning, two PA state troopers were called to Bessemer Avenue when they received a phone call about a man wielding a gun. Police shot the man, injuring him, when the man turned at police with his rifle. The gunman, whom police identified as a 24-year-old from Butler, was taken to UPMC Presbyterian in… Read More »
Man charged with drunk driving, other crimes, after accident in Fallowfield
Drunk driving in and around Pittsburgh can you into a lot of trouble. Whether you’re just barely over the legal limit or you’ve had way too much, drunk driving is a terrible mistake. When someone is hurt or killed by a drunk driver, that person can find themselves in serious trouble, serving a long jail… Read More »
