Author Archives: Gary Gerson
Search and seizure of mobile phone requires warrant
A recent federal court case unanimously held that police officers must obtain a search warrant before seizing and searching a person’s mobile phone, even if they have already been arrested. This decision stems from a case where a man was stopped by police in California for an expired license tag. The officer found that the driver’s… Read More »
Alleged mob members to present criminal defense at trial
A Pennsylvania man accused of participating in mob-related crimes will be presenting his criminal defense in a long-awaited trial. The man has been indicted on 25 counts, according to the 107-page indictment that was handed down from a federal grand jury. The man, age 47, was sentenced to a 33-month prison term in May 2010 in… Read More »
Couple charged for sex crimes, prostitution website
A man and a woman from Trafford, PA have been charged with sex crimes for allegedly running their prostitution business through a website. The couple hosted men to pay for sex in Allegheny and Westmoreland Counties. The woman, 31, and her boyfriend, 30, were arrested last Friday after police secured a search warrant to search one… Read More »
Six people from Uniontown await preliminary hearings for drug charges
Drug charges for possession and attempted distribution of controlled substances can empty a person’s bank account and land them in jail for a long time upon conviction. People who are part of a “drug ring” can also be charged with crimes they didn’t personally commit, but were committed by a partner in crime. And when… Read More »
Attorney Gerson gets mandatory drug charges sentence of 3-5 years reduced to 12 months probation
My client was an undergraduate student at the University of Pittsburgh and was charged with Possession with Intent to Deliver Controlled Substances, Conspiracy to Traffic in Controlled Substances, Delivery of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Clonazepam and Amphetamine, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. My client foolishly permitted a friend involved in drug trafficking to… Read More »
Drunk driving charges for worker who allegedly ran over friend
An out-of-state worker who was employed in Pennsylvania is facing serious criminal charges in connection with an alleged drunk driving incident. The 25-year-old man was arrested in his hotel room after the incident and allegedly attempted to flee police before being caught. Authorities said the man was intoxicated, but would not submit to a BAC… Read More »
Tracking devices on the table for domestic violence defendants
New domestic violence laws in Pennsylvania could update the state’s mandates, extending extra protection to vulnerable parties who need it. New legislation would allow law enforcement officers to receive domestic violence training and lawmakers believe the additional education will help both accusers and alleged offenders during incidents of domestic violence. Further, provisions that require victims to hand-deliver… Read More »
Judge says PA juvenile sex crimes law is unconstitutional
Juveniles who are convicted of sex crimes in here in Pennsylvania may face very harsh consequences. One of the biggest and most debated of those consequences is having juvenile sex crimes offenders be required to register as sex offenders on the registered sex offender list—a list made public. Current state law requires juvenile sex crimes offenders… Read More »
Student awaits trial for drug charges & weapons possession
A college student from Penn State’s Altoona campus has been arrested on serious charges after allegedly building a homemade bomb. Officers had originally raided the freshman student’s apartment to look for marijuana plants. Authorities say they found a grow operation and five marijuana plants in the young man’s apartment. He is now facing drug charges, including possession… Read More »
Man convicted of domestic violence after victim arrested
Many people don’t know that victims in domestic violence cases may be forced to testify in Pennsylvania. That is what happened in one case in Maine. A woman was arrested because she refused to testify against her alleged abuser. The man was convicted of three domestic violence offenses. The woman did not want to press charges. Attorneys for… Read More »
