Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Man Faces Murder Charges After Originally Telling Police That Baby’s Fatal Injuries Were the Result of an Accidental Fall
In the 1990s, the movie Trainspotting and the book on which it is based scared countless teenagers out of trying drugs, especially heroin. By far the most disturbing part is where baby Dawn dies after all the adults around her, all of whom were under the influence of drugs, forgot to feed her. Last… Read More »
Administrator of Contraband Marketplace Website Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering
Laws about drugs are changing, especially at the state level. For example, Pennsylvania, like many other states, is inching closer to completely decriminalizing cannabis possession. Meanwhile, it has enacted Good Samaritan laws to protect bystanders who call for assistance for drug overdose victims from criminal prosecution, even if the bystander is under the influence… Read More »
Shippensburg Man Faces Felony Charges for Soliciting Teen on Facebook Messenger
Every tattoo has a story, but in the case of facial tattoos, the story is never short. Many tattoo artists refuse to apply ink to the faces of clients unless they already have tattoos on other parts of their body, in other words, unless they have already experienced how a person’s feelings toward a… Read More »
Former Director of Emergency Management at University of Pittsburgh Faces Charges for Stealing Personal Protective Equipment from the University and Selling It Online
Sometimes you can find ordinarily expensive items for sale online at much lower prices, and when you do, it feels like a victory, but sometimes there is a dark side. If you ever find Mary Kay cosmetics, Beachbody shakes, or any other products typically sold through a multilevel marketing business model, listed online at… Read More »
Police Revive Man Who Suffered Accidental Overdose at Pittsburgh Mills Walmart
Naloxone, which is also known by the brand name Narcan, can reverse the effects of opioid overdose very quickly. Since it has become available, many people have survived overdoses that would have otherwise been fatal. One of the reasons behind Pennsylvania’s Good Samaritan law, which protects people who call for medical assistance for overdose… Read More »
Doylestown Mom Charged With Harassment for Online Bullying of Daughter’s Cheerleading Teammates
Complaining about the Internet habits of the youth has been a favorite hobby of parents since the mid-90s, when those America Online CDs used to arrive in the mail, and during the pandemic, with kids and parents stuck in the house all day, connected to the outside world only by a Wi-Fi connection, it… Read More »
Greensburg Woman Offered Plea Deal to Drop Felony Charges Related to Wife’s Overdose Death
The pain of losing a loved one to a drug overdose is a devastating experience that many people in Western Pennsylvania know all too well. What is even worse is when other people blame you for not being able to save the person that you desperately didn’t want to lose. Worst of all is… Read More »
Pittsburgh Man Accused of Corrupting a Minor During Snapchat Date Gone Wrong
When you were a child, and a parent or other authority figure caught you doing something you were not supposed to do, you probably made up a wildly implausible excuse. Maybe you told the teacher that the dog ate your homework or that the empty box of Twinkies is in the recycle bin because… Read More »
Allegheny County Man Drops Stamp Bags Marked “Say Hello to My Little Friend” While Fleeing from Police on Foot
Any aspiring entrepreneur will tell you that brand identity is important to business success. You don’t have to be from Pennsylvania to recognize the fluffy shape of Bethlehem’s own marshmallow Peeps or the Utz potato chip logo. Memorable branding might also be an asset in the illegal drug trade, but if your brand of… Read More »
Husband and Wife Plead Guilty to Healthcare Fraud and Tax Fraud
Anyone who has ever received a medical bill has noticed that the math that goes into calculating how much patients and insurance companies are responsible for paying is perplexing. It is unsurprising then, that some healthcare fraud scams go on for years before anyone gets caught. In some healthcare fraud cases, doctors bill insurance… Read More »
