Author Archives: Jay Butchko

Drug Cases Involving Schools Or Students
School is where most of us first heard of drugs. After a lesson in which a teacher who could only be described as middle-aged by the most charitable of interlocutors told you that cannabis is also known as marijuana, pot, and reefer, you may have noticed, as you were leaving school that afternoon, that… Read More »

What Does It Mean When There Is An Active Warrant Out For Your Arrest?
When you see the blue lights of a police car flashing for you to pull over, your mind races with possibilities of what kinds of accusations the police could make against you. If the only thing the officer is sure you did wrong was violate a traffic law, then if you play it cool,… Read More »

Bipartisan Bill Proposes Legalization Of Recreational Cannabis In Pennsylvania
So many of the things that make Pennsylvania beautiful become even more beautiful when cannabis is involved. Hiking in the mountains of Pennsylvania is even more rejuvenating when you are smoking trees, and Philadelphia soul sounds even smoother through a haze of smoke. All of Pennsylvania’s famous foods, from the Philly cheese steak to… Read More »

Is There Really A Criminal Offense Called Sextortion?
Every generation acts like the one after it invented sex. Parents today are outraged about their kids sexting, just as our parents were outraged about us booty dancing, our grandparents were outraged about the free love movement, and their parents were outraged about the jitterbug. Even though its name sounds like a clickbait neologism,… Read More »

Should You Be Afraid Of Super Meth?
For the past few years, the opioid epidemic has been getting all the publicity, as the nation witnessed a surge in overdoses on prescription opioids, followed by heroin overdoses, followed by accidental overdoses on a variety of drugs adulterated with fentanyl unbeknownst to the people consuming them. Meanwhile, stimulants such as methamphetamine are still… Read More »

Columbia County Home Builder Faces Criminal Charges After Abruptly Closing Business Amidst Unfinished Work
If building or remodeling a house were as simple as it looks on HGTV, then the aisles of Home Depot would be packed with shoppers buying materials for DIY projects. Except in the case of the simplest repairs, most people do not have the skills to modify their houses, so they rely on home… Read More »

A Criminal Defense Lawyer Is Your Best Protection Against Direct File Of Juvenile Cases
Adults often try to scare teenagers out of illegal activities such as stealing and illegal drug use by arguing that a juvenile case will ruin a person’s entire future. The juvenile court system is set up to prevent this from happening. If you get adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court, the record of this incident… Read More »

Can You Get Into Legal Trouble For Secretly Recording Phone Conversations?
These days, we always keep our eyes on our phones, and they always keep their eyes on us. Smartphones are so smart that they know you better than you know yourself. Your phone can help you remember all kinds of things, from your baby’s first smile to the items you want to pick up… Read More »

Couple Who Sold Used Cars On Facebook Marketplace Accused Of Receiving Stolen Property
“Possession is nine tenths of the law” is one of those proverbs that run through people’s heads when they have reason to believe that they will be charged with a crime, but which you should not try to act on when consulting a lawyer. The words “possession is nine tenths of the law” do… Read More »

Greene County Landlords Accused Of Presenting Tenants With Forged Eviction Notice
When you buy a new house without selling the old one, it is easy to imagine how rich you can get by renting out the real estate property that you used to occupy. Once the tenants move in though, you realize that being a landlord is a lot of work. It is not passive… Read More »