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Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Legal Questions

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499 legal questions have been posted about criminal law by real users in Pennsylvania. Ask your question and dive into the knowledge of attorneys who handle your issue regularly. Similar topics to explore also include theft, weapons charges, and death penalty. All topics and other states can be accessed in the dropdowns below.
Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Questions & Legal Answers - Page 19
Do you have any Pennsylvania Criminal Defense questions page 19 and need some legal advice or guidance? Ask a Lawyer to get an answer or read through our 499 previously answered Pennsylvania Criminal Defense questions.
Criminal Law
Pennsylvania

Recent Legal Answers

Can a fast food chain be sued for leaving a sharp knife in child's sandwich?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
I think a criminal charge is a stretch unless it was done intentionally or with extreme recklessness. If your child was injured, you may have a civil suit.
I think a criminal charge is a stretch unless it was done intentionally or with extreme recklessness. If your child was injured, you may have a ... Read More

Is it really possible for my attorney to get my warrant dropped at his office that day like he said?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
Non one can answer as your information is not specific enough. Let your attorney explain it to you.
Non one can answer as your information is not specific enough. Let your attorney explain it to you.

Is it possible that it will still show up on an FBI background check?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
No one can answer this without more details. If you pled guilty to a summary offense in court, it should show up on the state police and FBI background. However, if you were cited with some sort of municipal or park ordinance, it should not.
No one can answer this without more details. If you pled guilty to a summary offense in court, it should show up on the state police and FBI ... Read More

Can law enforcement move a person, while handcuffed, in a police vehicle if that person is not under arrest?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
Normally, law enforcement tells a person we are arresting you or you need to come to the station, or we are taking you in. Whatever. For police just to walk up to someone and handcuff them and haul them away is pretty strange. If that is what you allege, they will deny it anyway.
Normally, law enforcement tells a person we are arresting you or you need to come to the station, or we are taking you in. Whatever. For police... Read More

Can police run your plate for no reason?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
If memory serves me right, I think they can as I had a similar stop in West Newton.
If memory serves me right, I think they can as I had a similar stop in West Newton.

Who may send a cease and desist letter?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
I think it is a general term, but to me it connotes a cease and desist order Here in PA, my letter would tell the person to stop the harassment or civil and criminal charges would be filed against them.
I think it is a general term, but to me it connotes a cease and desist order Here in PA, my letter would tell the person to stop the harassment or... Read More

Can I be charged if I only texted about buying or selling drugs but never made any transactions or giving money or drugs?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
Probably not.
Probably not.

What can I do if I am a first time offender charged with false reporting?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
You need an attorney. You possibly may have a defense and if not, you may be eligible for a first time offender's program which would let you finish a program and result in no criminal record.
You need an attorney. You possibly may have a defense and if not, you may be eligible for a first time offender's program which would let you ... Read More

Can an officer charged with murder testify to different arrest she made?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
I cannot possibly answer this without knowing more. Generally, if a police officer has been proven to falsify documents or lie under oath, then his or her credibility can be raised as a defense in other cases in which his or her credibility was the basis of the charge or conviction. It sounds like your friend may want to continue his or her case until the officer's case is resolved.... Read More
I cannot possibly answer this without knowing more. Generally, if a police officer has been proven to falsify documents or lie under oath, then his... Read More

What can I do if I found a purse, returned it the police department but the money is missing?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
If you are neither arrested and/or charge, there will be no criminal record. If you can trust the officers, they likely will live up to their promise and not file.
If you are neither arrested and/or charge, there will be no criminal record. If you can trust the officers, they likely will live up to their ... Read More

What are my chances regarding my 4 year old PFA violation?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
I would get a lawyer. If you cannot do that, save your text messages from her and do the hearing yourself. Just tell the judge what happened and show him her text messages.
I would get a lawyer. If you cannot do that, save your text messages from her and do the hearing yourself. Just tell the judge what happened and... Read More

Will I go to jail for contempt violation for unpaid fine?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
Conceivably you could, but if you can pay it or convince the District Justice you can meet a payment plan, you may be alright. I would review this with an attorney as I don't know all of the facts.
Conceivably you could, but if you can pay it or convince the District Justice you can meet a payment plan, you may be alright. I would review this... Read More

What can an 18 year old be charged with for getting a minor pregnant?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
You are lucky she is 16, but you could still be charged with Corruption of Minors.
You are lucky she is 16, but you could still be charged with Corruption of Minors.

Can I change my story when the trial comes?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
No one can answer this without the complete details, so talk to a lawyer in person to review your entire situation. If you testified differently under oath on a prior occasion, you could be charged with perjury. If you change the story you gave to police in a police report, you could be charged with false reports to law enforcement. You better review this with a lawyer.... Read More
No one can answer this without the complete details, so talk to a lawyer in person to review your entire situation. If you testified differently... Read More

Is there a statute of limitations on absconding on probation?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
I don't think so. The PO will get a bench warrant from the judge and it will be in the system as long as you live. I would talk the facts over with a lawyer and deal with it now.
I don't think so. The PO will get a bench warrant from the judge and it will be in the system as long as you live. I would talk the facts over with... Read More

Can I call the court from the hospital, tell them I've been admitted and won't be able to go on the 27th or do I need an attorney to do that for me?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
If your attorney won't postpone the case for you, call the judge's secretary and tell them the situation. They normally will accept a letter from your doctor's office faxed to them as proof you cannot attend court.
If your attorney won't postpone the case for you, call the judge's secretary and tell them the situation. They normally will accept a letter from... Read More

What happens if I have court coming up but I’m in the hospital?

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
Every court room operates with different procedures, but generally, if you call the judges chambers and tell the clerk or secretary and get your doctor's office to fax the court a letter, it should be ok.
Every court room operates with different procedures, but generally, if you call the judges chambers and tell the clerk or secretary and get your... Read More

what is a motion to suppress

Answered 10 years and 11 months ago by Nikolaus Alexander Baikow (Unclaimed Profile)   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
A motion to suppress is a motion filed by defense counsel to suppress certain evidence in a criminal case.  Typically, this type of evidence can include physical evidence taken during a search and seizure, or incriminating statements made to the police afterward. IF your son wins the motion to suppress, it could result in the charges being dropped against him, depending on what other evidence the prosecutor has.  For this reason, the motion to suppress is one of the most effective tools a criminal defense attorney can use.... Read More
A motion to suppress is a motion filed by defense counsel to suppress certain evidence in a criminal case.  Typically, this type of evidence can... Read More

Will I get a ticket in the mail because I was with a girl who people say is a prostitute?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
Probably not.
Probably not.

If a gun was found in a car not registered to driver, how do fingerprints and DNA affect the outcome of this case?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
You possibly may have a defense as to possession. Review the case carefully with a criminal defense attorney. I have won many of these possession cases at the trial stage with contraband found in the car and not on or about any particular person in the car.
You possibly may have a defense as to possession. Review the case carefully with a criminal defense attorney. I have won many of these possession... Read More

If somebody was blind and somebody made my mom sign pension papers without her knowledge, is that fraud?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
If the somebody was your mom and she signed pension papers without knowing what she was signing, it may be fraud, theft, etc. Blind people sign things all the time when they are explained to them. If no one was there it explain the document or explained it incorrectly, there may be fraud or enough to take back her signature. Call the police and hire an attorney to petition to rescind (undo) whatever it is she signed if she never agreed to it.... Read More
If the somebody was your mom and she signed pension papers without knowing what she was signing, it may be fraud, theft, etc. Blind people sign... Read More

What will happen if my wife took money from a joint account to buy illegal drugs?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
I don't think taking the money from the joint account is a crime. Taking the money from the kids account, might be but is hard to prove if the child is a minor and the money that contributed to the account was owned by the legal guardians, one of which is her. However, her possession of drugs is a crime.... Read More
I don't think taking the money from the joint account is a crime. Taking the money from the kids account, might be but is hard to prove if the ... Read More

Is there any way that he can get house arrest or probation or anything else if it’s his first offence?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
In Allegheny County, with no criminal history, probation is likely. If you live in the sticks, jail is always a possibility, for anything.
In Allegheny County, with no criminal history, probation is likely. If you live in the sticks, jail is always a possibility, for anything.

Do I have any legal right to have my contractor be on my neighbor’s property to finish the project?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
What a jerk. I would call the police and see if they can talk to him. Otherwise, you may have to file a petition in court.
What a jerk. I would call the police and see if they can talk to him. Otherwise, you may have to file a petition in court.

What charges will a pharmacy employee get for stealing 700 pieces of Xanax?

Answered 11 years ago by attorney William R. Pelger   |   1 Answer   |  Legal Topics: Criminal Defense
Probably theft and possession of controlled substances. If she no criminal history, the goal would be to turn her retail theft into a summary (which it probably is anyway) and somehow get her PWV or ARD on the drug case. She needs a lawyer.
Probably theft and possession of controlled substances. If she no criminal history, the goal would be to turn her retail theft into a summary... Read More
Criminal Law
Pennsylvania

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