Author Archives: Jay Butchko
Nolle Prosequi And Pennsylvania Criminal Cases
You have probably heard the depressing statistic that many more criminal cases end with guilty pleas than with acquittals, but these are not the only ways that your case can go. Prosecutors have the right to cancel the criminal proceedings at any time between the arrest and the trial, for any reason they choose. … Read More »
Keyword Search Warrants Are As Kafkaesque As They Sound
Children learn early that they should not accept candy from strangers, but it takes people longer to learn not to accept cookies on websites they visit. More recently, Internet users have become more cautious about privacy, and with good reason. Even with privacy settings, web browsers still store more data than consumers are comfortable… Read More »
Pittsburgh Home Health Aide Pleads Guilty To Institutional Sexual Assault Of Patient
In recent decades, the United States and many other countries have stopped imposing criminal penalties for sexual activity between consenting adults. The gender or marital status of the parties involved does not categorize a sex act as a sex crime. Age is one of the factors that can render a sexual pairing legally off… Read More »
Judge Sentences Probationer To Prison For Theft And Home Contractor Fraud
Part of being an adult is realizing that you are not perfect. Sure, there are plenty of social media influencers who tell you that they start every morning with a homemade smoothie made of organic fruits, almond milk, and protein powder. You used to do that, but now you are too broke to replenish… Read More »
Seven Philadelphia Defendants Could Face Life In Prison For Selling Drugs Near Middle School
It isn’t just fear mongering when people tell you that you can get life in prison for drug crimes, but context is everything. No one gets a life sentence just for carrying a baggie with two oxycodone pills in their backpack. For the truly draconian sentences to apply in crimes that do not involve… Read More »
Pennsylvania Drops Charges Against Defendant Because Of Substandard Work By Forensics Laboratory
In many criminal cases, the prosecution bases its case on forensic evidence, such as illegal drugs or weapons recovered from a defendant’s car or DNA evidence showing that the defendant or an item that the defendant had touched was present at the crime scene. Sometimes the prosecution summons expert witnesses to interpret the evidence… Read More »
Bench Trials In Pennsylvania Criminal Cases
Criminal defense lawyers often try to reassure defendants during their initial meetings that prosecutors face a difficult task. The jury cannot convict the defendant unless all 12 jurors are completely sure that the defendant is guilty. Therefore, your defense strategy can be anything that would cause the jurors to doubt your guilt. In some… Read More »
68 Years Of Miranda Vs. Arizona
Until the 1960s, most Americans did not think much about the Fifth Amendment, unless they were law students or criminal defense lawyers. The right to avoid self-incrimination sounds like an abstract concept until you are in a situation where it can make or break your criminal case. What would the world be like if… Read More »
Pittsburgh Area Doctor Pleads Guilty To Healthcare Fraud After Alleged Improper Prescribing Of Steroid Injections And Opioid Painkillers
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines about prescribing opioid painkillers. The new guidelines give more freedom to doctors to use their judgment about the most appropriate dosage and duration for each course of opioids they prescribe. This change is an effort to correct the negative consequences… Read More »
Philadelphia Ecommerce Vendor Faces Fraud Charges For Alleged Scam Involving Wheelchair Accessible Cars
Ecommerce makes it easier and cheaper to buy almost anything than it used to be when you had to go to physical stores or wait for coupons to arrive with the day’s newspaper before you could compare prices. It also presents economic opportunities for people from all walks of life. Family caregiving obligations and… Read More »
